SJ Stovall
SJ Stovall | |
---|---|
Mayor of Arlington, Texas | |
In office January 11, 1977 – 1983 | |
Preceded by | Tom Vandergriff |
Succeeded by | Harold Patterson |
Personal details | |
Born | Lufkin, Texas | September 26, 1925
Died | July 14, 2010 Mansfield, Texas | (aged 84)
Spouse | Margie Stovall |
SJ Stovall (September 26, 1925 – July 14, 2010) was an American politician and civil engineer. Stovall served as the mayor of Arlington, Texas, the seventh largest city in the state, from 1977 until 1983.[1] In total, Stovall held office either on the Arlington City Council or as Mayor for twenty years.[2]
Biography
Early life
SJ Stovall was born on September 26, 1925, in Lufkin, Texas.[1] Stovall's parents could not decide on a given name for their son so they wrote his father's initials, SJ, temporarily on his birth certificate.[2] However, his parents never chose a permanent given name for Stovall, so SJ remained his legal first name.[2] In a late 1970s interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, he recalled, "I guess I was 13 before I realized that SJ – my father's initials – didn't stand for anything."[1]
He enlisted in the United States Air Force before attending Texas A&M University.[1]
Career
Stovall moved with his family to Arlington, Texas, in 1950 to take a position as a civil engineer with the United States Army Corps of Engineers.[2] Stovall worked for Army Corps of Engineers for more than thirty years before his retirement.[1]
He would later be elected to the Arlington City Council in 1963, where he served as a councilman and mayor until leaving office in 1983.
Mayor of Arlington
Stovall became Mayor of Arlington in January 1977, following the abrupt resignation of his predecessor,
Vandergriff, Stovall's predecessor, has successfully brought the
Stovall focused on improving the city's basic infrastructure and city services during his tenure as mayor.[1] Arlington voters aided Stovall's efforts by approving two large bond programs, including a $69 million bond issue to improve the city's streets.[1]
Stovall spearheaded the city's efforts to build the $10 million
Stovall is widely credited with leading a number of important projects in Arlington during his tenure as mayor, as well as his time on the city council. He recruited national companies, such as National Semi-Conductor, to relocate to the city.
Stovall decided not to seek run for re-election in 1983.[2] He was succeeded by Harold Patterson.
Later life
Just two months after leaving office as mayor, Stovall was appointed County Judge
The city of Arlington named the 52-acre (210,000 m2) SJ Stovall Park in honor of the former mayor in 1991.
SJ Stovall died at a nursing home in Mansfield, Texas, on July 14, 2010, at the age of 84.[2] His wife, Mary Margaret "Margie" Stovall, predeceased him.[1] He was survived by a son, Marc, and a daughter, Beth.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Schrock, Susan (2010-07-15). "Former Arlington Mayor SJ Stovall dies". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2010-07-25.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Schrock, Susan (2010-07-15). "SJ Stovall, mayor of Arlington during key period of development, dies". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2010-07-25.