Editing John Engler (section)

==Early life and education==
Engler, a [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]],<ref>{{cite web |title=John Engler |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/John_Engler.htm |work=[[On the Issues]] |date=2015 |access-date=January 24, 2017}}</ref> was born in [[Mount Pleasant, Michigan]], on October 12, 1948, to Mathias John Engler and his wife, Agnes Marie (née Neyer), but grew up on a cattle farm near [[Beal City]].

He attended [[Michigan State University]], graduating with a degree in [[agricultural economics]] in 1971, and [[Thomas M. Cooley Law School]], graduating with a [[Doctor of Jurisprudence]] degree in 1981.

He was elected to the [[Michigan House of Representatives]] as a state representative in 1970 at the age of 22. He served in the House from 1971 to 1978. His campaign manager in that first election was a college friend, [[Dick Posthumus]]. Engler later became the first Republican youth vice-chair for the Michigan Republican Party, defeating future U.S. Senator [[Spencer Abraham]]. Posthumus later went on to be elected a state senator, Senate Majority Leader and Lieutenant Governor. He was Engler's running mate in the 1998 election and served from 1999 to 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan on July 22, 1998 · Page 65 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99630681/ |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=Newspapers.com |date=July 22, 1998 |language=en}}</ref>