Paul Fannin
Paul Jones Fannin (January 29, 1907 – January 13, 2002) was an American businessman and politician. A Republican, he served as a U.S. Senator from Arizona from 1965 to 1977. He previously served as the 11th governor of Arizona from 1959 to 1965.
Paul Fannin
Early life and career[edit]
Paul Fannin was born in Ashland, Kentucky, to Thomas Newton and Rhoda Catherine (née Davis) Fannin.[2] His father worked as a dairy farmer and also owned a harness shop.[2] Fannin and his family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, when he was eight months old due to his father's health.[3] He received his early education at Kenilworth Elementary School, and graduated from Phoenix Union High School in 1925.[4]
Fannin attended the University of Arizona for two years before transferring to Stanford University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration in 1930.[5] He then returned to Phoenix, where he joined his family's hardware business.[4] He and his brother Ernest later established the Fannin Gas and Supply Company, a gas and petroleum equipment company.[3] He served as president of the company from 1945 until 1956, when he and his brother sold the company.[2]
In 1934, Fannin married Elma Addington, to whom he remained married until her death in 2001. The couple had one daughter and three sons,[2] including Bob Fannin.[6]
Governor of Arizona[edit]
A conservative Republican,[7] Fannin was elected Governor of Arizona in 1958, defeating Attorney General Robert Morrison by nearly 30,000 votes.[3] He was sworn into office on January 5, 1959.[8] He was re-elected in 1960 and again in 1962.[5]
During his tenure, Fannin increased funding for the public school system by raising sales taxes, equalized property taxes, established the first medical school in the state, and created the Arizona-Mexico Commission to promote tourism and trade across the border.[8] He also served as chairman of the Western Governors Association, as well as a member of the Executive Committee of Council of State Governors and of the National Civil Defense Advisory Council.[5]