April 14, 2013--R.D. (Dan) Musser Jr., whose leadership and attention to detail helped bring Mackinac Island's Grand Hotel to greater prominence, died of congestive heart failure in Lansing on Saturday. He was 80.

Mr. Musser began working at the renowned hotel as a college student in 1951. When he retired from day-to-day operations in 2011 and became chairman emeritus, the hotel had nearly doubled in size, expanded its season and established a reputation for having a summery ambience in which no two rooms were alike.

Former Gov. James Blanchard said Mr. Musser and his family championed Michigan tourism.

"Dan wrote the book on hospitality," Blanchard said in a statement. "He and his family have done more for tourism in Michigan than anyone. The Grand Hotel is not only the crown jewel of Michigan, but a fabulous gathering place for the leaders of Michigan and America. People come from all over the world to go to the Grand Hotel.

"Dan's passing is a great loss for Michigan and the world of hospitality."

Mr. Musser became president of the Grand Hotel in 1960 and began making significant changes.

He decided to lengthen the hotel's season -- its operations now extend from the beginning of May to the end of October -- when the previous July 4 to Labor Day schedule couldn't accommodate a visit from a presidential candidate.

"John F. Kennedy was running for president and he came to the island on Memorial Day weekend to meet with Gov. Williams at the governor's residence to ask for his support," Mr. Musser said of G. Mennen Williams, according to a news release from the hotel. "It was a beautiful day, a beautiful weekend and the downtown was busy, but we weren't open. I thought, 'This is crazy.' That was when we started figuring out how to lengthen the season."

Under Mr. Musser's leadership, the hotel grew from 200 rooms to 385. In the 1970s, he brought in Carleton Varney, the owner of Dorothy Draper Design in New York, to transform the hotel's unremarkable interior with brighter colors.

Mr. Musser also was known to be meticulous. The day before the hotel opened each season, he would take a room-by-room tour, looking for any last-minute problems. He would write several notes to employees, sometimes up to 60 a day, alerting them to things that needed attention, according to the hotel news release.

Mr. Musser purchased the hotel with his wife, Amelia, in 1979. This year marks the family's 80th year of stewardship for the hotel. The Grand Hotel celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2012.

Mr. Musser was born in Circleville, Ohio. He graduated from Dartmouth College and served in the U.S. Army as an intelligence officer during the Korean War.

Mr. Musser and his wife were passionate about show dogs. Their Scottish terrier, Sadie, earned Best in Show honors in 2010 at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The American Kennel Club also named Sadie Dog of the Year that year.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Musser is survived by daughters Robin Agnew and Margaret Cunningham; son R.D. Musser III, and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at All Saints Episcopal Church in East Lansing. Burial will take place on Mackinac Island at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Mackinac Island Community Foundation Library Fund.

Contact Joe Guillen: 313-222-6678 or [email protected]

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