Bob Walkup

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Bob Walkup
40th Mayor of Tucson
In office
December 6, 1999[1] – December 5, 2011
Preceded byGeorge Miller
Succeeded byJonathan Rothschild
Personal details
Born(1936-11-14)November 14, 1936
Industrial engineer

Robert E. Walkup (November 14, 1936 – March 12, 2021) was an American politician who served as the 40th mayor of Tucson from 1999 to 2011.

Early life and career

Walkup was born in

Hughes Aircraft Company.[2] While working at Rockwell International, Fairchild Republic, he oversaw the production of the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II.[4] He also served as the chairman of the Tucson Economic Council.[1]

Mayoral career

Walkup was first elected on November 2, 1999, defeating Democratic former City Councilwoman Molly McKasson and local businessman Bob Beaudry. Benefitting from a split in the Democratic vote,[5] he was sworn into office on December 6, 1999, succeeding two-term Tucson mayor George Miller, who retired from office as the city's longest-serving official.[1] He became the first Republican mayor of Tucson since 1983.[6]

During his first term as mayor, Walkup intervened after both the University Medical Center and Tucson Medical Center announced the closure of their trauma centers in 2001. He phoned every hospital in the city and hosted a meeting at his office, where plans were formulated for a new world class trauma center, opened on January 8, 2008.[3] He oversaw Tucson's resumption of using Colorado River water in 2001, which was suspended in the 1990s after it corroded residents' pipes. The city corrected this issue by diminishing its salinity and mineral levels. The reintroduction added to the potable supply and decreased reliance on groundwater.[2]

Walkup was re-elected for a second term

Green Party candidate with 72% of the vote[9] after the Democrats opted not to field a candidate.[10]

Walkup announced on February 22, 2011 that he would not seek re-election after his current term ended in December.

election and was sworn into office on December 5, 2011.[12]

Personal life

Walkup was married to his second wife,[8] Beth LaRouche for over 30 years until his death.[2] They met while working at the Children’s Museum Tucson, and had five children.[2]

Walkup died on the night of March 12, 2021, at his home in midtown Tucson. He was 84, and had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.[2][13]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Tucson's longest serving official leaves office". Associated Press via The Daily Courier. December 6, 1999. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Duarte, Carmen (March 13, 2021). "Bob Walkup, who served three terms as Tucson mayor, dies at 84". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Former Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup has died". KVOA. March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Duarte, Carmen. "Bob Walkup, who served three terms as Tucson mayor, dies at 84". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  5. ^ "The Skinny: Top Dog". Tucson Weekly. February 15, 2001. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  6. ^ Nintzel, Jim (June 19, 2003). "City Hall Brawl". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  7. ^ Simmons, Devin & Greg Holt (November 5, 2003). "UA prof trails in mayoral election". Arizona Daily Wildcat. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  8. ^ a b Nintzel, Jim (March 13, 2021). "Former Mayor Bob Walkup Dies at 84: "Always Strived To Create the Best Tucson Possible"". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  9. ^ "2007 election results summary". USA Today. November 7, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  10. Fox11AZ.com. Archived from the original
    on June 30, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  11. ^ Bodfield, Rhonda (February 22, 2011). "Pueblo Politics: Walkup won't seek re-election". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  12. KGUN. Archived from the original
    on March 24, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  13. ^ "Former Tucson Mayor Robert 'Bob' Walkup dies at 84". Associated Press. March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Walkup&oldid=1100430093"