Samuel Pearson Goddard Jr.
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Samuel Pearson Goddard Jr. | |
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Jack Williams | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Samuel Pearson Goddard Jr. August 8, 1919 Clayton, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | February 1, 2006 (aged 86) Paradise Valley, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Julia Hatch
(m. 1944; died 1999)Myra Ann Pearson (m. 1999) |
| Children | 3 (including Terry) |
| Alma mater | Harvard University University of Arizona College of Law |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  U.S. Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1941–1946 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit | Air Force Reserve |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Samuel Pearson Goddard Jr. (August 8, 1919 – February 1, 2006) was an American politician who served as the 12th governor of Arizona from 1965 until 1967. He remained active in politics following his term in office, serving on the Democratic National Committee and as chairman of the Arizona Democratic State Committee.
Early life and career
Goddard was born in
Soon after graduation, Goddard enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps as a private for World War II service. He was commissioned by the Air Corps in 1942 and served as an operations and communications officer in England, India, North Africa, and the South Pacific. He was discharged from the Air Corps in 1946 as a major, remained active in the Air Force Reserve, and rose to the rank of colonel.
Goddard married Julia "Judy" Hatch of
In 1946, Goddard purchased land in
Goddard earned his law degree at the
Goddard became a widower in 1999 following the death of his first wife, former Arizona First Lady Judy Goddard. He died in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Goddard was survived by his three sons and his second wife, Myra Ann.
Political career
He became a community leader, helped organize the Tucson Civic Chorus and the Tucson Watercolor Guild, and took an active role in charitable fundraising. In 1959, he became the chairman of the Tucson Youth Study Group and was selected as a member of the White House Conference on Youth and Children. His community efforts earned him the title Tucson Man of the Year 1959.
He first was elected chairman of the Arizona Democratic State Committee in 1960. In 1961–1962 he served as president of the 11 state Western Conference of United Funds. He became recognized as a rising power in Democratic politics in the state and in 1962 made an unsuccessful bid for the governorship. He ran for governor again in 1964, and this time won, beating future
As Governor, Goddard helped to organise a compromise amongst regional governors supporting the Colorado River Basin Project including the Central Arizona Project. This secured a reliable water source for the state, providing a foundation for the subsequent rapid economic population and economic growth that has occurred.
Governor Goddard signed a bill banning discrimination on grounds of race, gender, religion and ethnicity. He also established the state's first budget office and worked to improve relations with the Mexican state of Sonora.
He stood for re-election in 1966 but was defeated by
References
Further reading
- "A governor who made the most of change". East Valley Tribune. 3 February 2006.[permanent dead link]
- Goff, John F. Arizona Biographical Dictionary. Black Mountain Press. Cave Creek, Arizona 1983. p. 272
- Fischer, Howard (1 February 2006). "Former Arizona governor, Goddard, dead at 86". Arizona Daily Star. Archived from the original on 3 February 2006.
- Sherwood, Robbie (2 February 2006). "Former Gov. Sam Goddard dies at 86". The Arizona Republic.
- "Obituary: Samuel P. Goddard 1919–2006". Tucson Citizen. 2 February 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
External links
- Samuel P. Goddard Papers Online from Arizona State University Libraries
- Biography from National Governors Association.
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