Joseph Overton

Shortly after his death, he was honored by the State Policy Network with the creation of the Overton Award, a special distinction. It is bestowed infrequently and limited to COOs or Executive VPs of non-profit, free market organizations who demonstrate the personal qualities that Overton possessed. These include humility in supporting their peers, leadership that builds a great team, and developing effective strategies that magnify the ideas and influence of their organization. As of 2022, only five individuals had received this honor.

In 1998, Overton was honored with the Roe Award from the State Policy Network (SPN) at their meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. The award, presented annually, honors individuals who have successfully promoted free market philosophy while displaying innovation, accomplishment and innovation in public policy.

Overton was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1994. He was appointed to the Michigan Appellate Defender Commission by Governor John Engler. His appointment was recommended by the Michigan Supreme Court. Before joining the Mackinac Center, he worked as a quality specialist, project manager and electrical engineer at the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan.

Overton was born in Southwestern Michigan, but his family moved to Midland, Michigan in 1965 for a job with the Dow Chemical Company. He graduated from Herbert Henry Dow High School in 1978.

Joseph Paul Overton (4 January 1960 – 30 June 2003) was an American political scientist who served as the senior vice president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He is best known for developing the idea of the Overton window.