John Howard Pyle
Encyclopedia
John Howard Pyle was the ninth Governor of the U.S. state
of Arizona
, serving from 1951 to 1955. He was a Republican
. A 1930 graduate of Arizona State University
, he also was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha
fraternity.
Born in 1906 in Sheridan, Wyoming
, Pyle was the first governor of Arizona to be born in the 20th century and was the Program Director of KFAD (now KTAR
) Radio in Phoenix
from 1930 to 1951. He also served as a war correspondent during World War II
and covered the surrender ceremony of the Japanese. Pyle defeated pioneering female politician Ana Frohmiller
in his 1950 campaign for governor.
In 1953, he attempted to break up a polygamous fundamentalist Mormon compound in Colorado City, Arizona
, in what became known as the Short Creek Raid
, which resulted in two dozen men arrested and 236 children placed in foster homes. This move alienated many voters in the state after photographs of tearful children being forcibly removed from their distraught mothers appeared in the newspapers. Pyle subsequently lost his 1954 re-election bid to former Democratic Senator Ernest W. McFarland.
Pyle was an aide to President Dwight D. Eisenhower
in the late 1950s.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE2D71F31F932A35751C1A961948260
Pyle died in 1987 in Tempe, Arizona
, and is buried there in the Double Butte Cemetery.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, serving from 1951 to 1955. He was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. A 1930 graduate of Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, he also was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
fraternity.
Born in 1906 in Sheridan, Wyoming
Sheridan, Wyoming
Sheridan is a city in Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States. The 2010 census put the population at 17,444 and a Micropolitan Statistical Area of 29,116...
, Pyle was the first governor of Arizona to be born in the 20th century and was the Program Director of KFAD (now KTAR
KTAR (AM)
KTAR is the callsign for a radio station in Phoenix, Arizona. It airs programming from ESPN Radio, in addition to KTAR-acquired broadcast rights for local teams...
) Radio in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
from 1930 to 1951. He also served as a war correspondent during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and covered the surrender ceremony of the Japanese. Pyle defeated pioneering female politician Ana Frohmiller
Ana Frohmiller
HISTORY OF ARIZONA/biographical/volume 3/illustrated. Born at Burlington, Vermont, July 28, 1891 to M.E. and Mary Collins. One of eight children. In 1898 her family moved the Phoenix, Arizona. In 1920 was elected deputy county treasurer of Coconino County...
in his 1950 campaign for governor.
In 1953, he attempted to break up a polygamous fundamentalist Mormon compound in Colorado City, Arizona
Colorado City, Arizona
Colorado City is a town in Mohave County, Arizona, United States, and is located in a region known as the Arizona Strip. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 4,607...
, in what became known as the Short Creek Raid
Short Creek raid
The Short Creek raid is the name given to Arizona state police and Arizona National Guard action against Mormon fundamentalists that took place on the morning of July 26, 1953, at Short Creek, Arizona. The Short Creek raid was the largest mass arrest of polygamists in American history...
, which resulted in two dozen men arrested and 236 children placed in foster homes. This move alienated many voters in the state after photographs of tearful children being forcibly removed from their distraught mothers appeared in the newspapers. Pyle subsequently lost his 1954 re-election bid to former Democratic Senator Ernest W. McFarland.
Pyle was an aide to President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
in the late 1950s.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE2D71F31F932A35751C1A961948260
Pyle died in 1987 in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
, and is buried there in the Double Butte Cemetery.