Rose Perica Mofford
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Rose Mofford (born June 10, 1922 in Globe, Arizona), served as Democratic governor of the U.S. state of Arizona from 1988 to 1991. She was the state's first female governor.
She was born Rose Perica, and attended Globe High School, graduating not only as valedictorian, but with the highest GPA ever achieved there. She was also a gifted athlete who played competitive fast-pitch softball. In 1939, she played first base for the Phoenix Queens. She toured with the Queens and even played in Madison Square Garden.
She spent her lifetime working for the Arizona state government, eventually being appointed Secretary of State by Governor Wesley Bolin in 1977, and retaining that post after the elections of 1978, 1982, and 1986.
She took over as acting governor on February 2, 1988 when Governor Evan Mecham was impeached for obstruction of justice and misuse of public funds. Arizona has no lieutenant governor, so the Secretary of State stands first in the order of succession. After Mecham was convicted and removed from office on April 4, Mofford was sworn in as governor. Her main accomplishments were stabilizing the political scene and restoring honor to the now disgraced Governor's office.
Mofford would have been heavily favored for a full term in 1990, but decided not to run. Instead, former Phoenix mayor Terry Goddard received his party's nomination and lost to Republican Fife Symington III.
She married T.R. "Party" Mofford, founder of the Phoenix Police Department, in 1957, but they had no children.
Mofford has served most recently in the 2004 US presidential election as an Arizona elector for Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry.
| Preceded by Wesley Bolin |
Arizona Secretary of State Oct 1977 – Apr 1988 |
Succeeded by James Shumway |
| Preceded by Evan Mecham |
Governor of Arizona Apr 1988–1991 |
Succeeded by Fife Symington |
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