Rose Perica Mofford
Encyclopedia
Rose Perica Mofford is a retired American
civil servant and politician
. Beginning her career with the State of Arizona as an office secretary
, she worked her way up through the ranks to become the state's first female Secretary of State
and first female and 18th Governor of Arizona.
on June 10, 1922. The youngest of six children, her parents, John and Frances Perica, had immigrated to the United States from Austria–Hungary. The first female class president
in the history of Globe High School, she had great success in both academics and athletics. She played basketball and was an All-American softball
player. She graduated in 1939 as class valedictorian
and, based upon her father's advice, turned down an opportunity to play professional basketball with the All American Red Heads
.
Perica married T. R. "Lefty" Mofford, a captain
with the Phoenix Police Department
, in 1957. The couple divorced after a decade but remained friends until his death in 1983. They had no children.
for Arizona Highways. She returned to the Tax Commission in 1947 as executive secretary. Following Hunt's retirement in 1960, new commissioner Thad Moore fired Mofford, saying "we felt it was better to have a man in that job."
Following her dismissal from the Tax Commission, Mofford was hired as an executive secretary by Secretary of State Wesley Bolin
. She remained in the Secretary of State's office until 1975, when she became assistant director of the State Revenue Department (formerly the Tax Commission).
announced his resignation to become Ambassador to Argentina
, Secretary Bolin ascended to the governorship. Arizona has no lieutenant governor; the secretary of state stands first in the line of succession to the governorship. Bolin in turn appointed Mofford to serve the remainder of his term as Secretary of State. Bolin died in office on March 4, 1978. Although Mofford was Secretary of State, she did not succeed to the office of Governor, because she was not holding the office by election, as required by the Arizona Constitution. At the end of the term she ran for the office and won reelection three times in 1978, 1982 and 1986.
Becoming known in the state capital as the friendly woman with a beehive hairdo
, Mofford's office gained a reputation as an efficient operation. She herself was noted for her punctuality, answering her own phone, and replying directly to her mail. In addition to her state position, she served from 1982 until 1983 as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State
.
Governor Evan Mecham
was impeached
on February 8, 1988. Per the Arizona Constitution, Mecham's powers were suspended and Mofford became acting governor, since by that time, she was holding the office of Secretary of State by election. While most observers complimented her on the job she performed, Mecham objected to Mofford replacing the one state department head that he had appointed. Upon Mecham's removal from office following his impeachment trial, Mofford was sworn in as Governor on April 4, 1988
Mofford's primary goal as governor was to return stability to Arizona. Her efforts were widely held as providing a calming effect following the tumultuous impeachment and recall proceedings of her predecessor. State Senate Democratic leader Alfredo Gutierrez said of her actions, "What she did was reinvest the system with dignity and honor." In early 1990, she announced that she had decided not to run for election at the end of her term.
fund was established in her name. A member of the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame, she has municipal softball fields named in her honor in both Butler and Phoenix
.
Mofford served as chair of the campaign committee of Attorney General Terry Goddard
's 2010 election bid for Governor of Arizona.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
civil servant and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Beginning her career with the State of Arizona as an office secretary
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant is a broad job category that designates an individual who provides various kinds of administrative support to people and groups in business enterprises.-Kinds of Administrative Assistants:...
, she worked her way up through the ranks to become the state's first female Secretary of State
Secretary of State (U.S. state government)
Secretary of State is an official in the state governments of 47 of the 50 states of the United States, as well as Puerto Rico and other U.S. possessions. In Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, this official is called the Secretary of the Commonwealth...
and first female and 18th Governor of Arizona.
Early life
Mofford was born Rose Perica in Globe, ArizonaGlobe, Arizona
Globe has an arid climate, characterized by hot summers and moderate to warm winters. Globe's arid climate is somewhat tempered by its elevation, however, leading to slightly cooler temperatures and slightly more precipitation than Phoenix or Yuma....
on June 10, 1922. The youngest of six children, her parents, John and Frances Perica, had immigrated to the United States from Austria–Hungary. The first female class president
Class President
A class president is usually the leader of a student body class, and presides over its class cabinet or organization within a student council, in a grade school class presidents are generally elected by the class, a constituency composed of all students in a grade level.The practice of electing a...
in the history of Globe High School, she had great success in both academics and athletics. She played basketball and was an All-American softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
player. She graduated in 1939 as class valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
and, based upon her father's advice, turned down an opportunity to play professional basketball with the All American Red Heads
All American Red Heads Team
The All American Red Heads was one of the first professional women's basketball teams. In 1936, almost 50 years after women's basketball began, C. M. "Ole" Olson started a barnstorming team which would play around the country until 1986. The name of the team came from Olson's wife, who owned a...
.
Perica married T. R. "Lefty" Mofford, a captain
Police captain
- France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant....
with the Phoenix Police Department
Phoenix Police Department
The Phoenix Police Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for the city of Phoenix, Arizona.Today, the Phoenix Police Department comprises more than 3,500 officers and 700 support personnel who protect a population of more than 1.6 million and patrol almost of the sixth largest city...
, in 1957. The couple divorced after a decade but remained friends until his death in 1983. They had no children.
Civil service career
Following high school, Mofford began her career as a secretary for State Treasurer Joe Hunt. Two years later, when Hunt was promoted to the Arizona Tax Commission, she followed her boss to the new position. In 1945, she left the Tax Commission and became business managerBusiness manager
In a general context, a business manager is a person who manages the work of others in order to run a business efficiently and make a large profit...
for Arizona Highways. She returned to the Tax Commission in 1947 as executive secretary. Following Hunt's retirement in 1960, new commissioner Thad Moore fired Mofford, saying "we felt it was better to have a man in that job."
Following her dismissal from the Tax Commission, Mofford was hired as an executive secretary by Secretary of State Wesley Bolin
Wesley Bolin
Wesley Bolin was a Democratic Party politician who served as the 15th governor of the U.S. state of Arizona between 1977 and 1978. His five months in office mark the shortest term in office for any Arizona governor....
. She remained in the Secretary of State's office until 1975, when she became assistant director of the State Revenue Department (formerly the Tax Commission).
Elected office
When Governor Raúl CastroRaúl Héctor Castro
Raul Hector Castro is a Mexican-born American politician. He has served in both elected and non-elected public offices, including United States Ambassador and the 14th Governor of Arizona. He was the first Mexican American to be elected governor of Arizona...
announced his resignation to become Ambassador to Argentina
United States Ambassador to Argentina
The United States Ambassador to Argentina is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state of Argentina....
, Secretary Bolin ascended to the governorship. Arizona has no lieutenant governor; the secretary of state stands first in the line of succession to the governorship. Bolin in turn appointed Mofford to serve the remainder of his term as Secretary of State. Bolin died in office on March 4, 1978. Although Mofford was Secretary of State, she did not succeed to the office of Governor, because she was not holding the office by election, as required by the Arizona Constitution. At the end of the term she ran for the office and won reelection three times in 1978, 1982 and 1986.
Becoming known in the state capital as the friendly woman with a beehive hairdo
Beehive (hairstyle)
The Beehive is a woman's hairstyle that resembles a beehive; it is elegant and it is also known as the B-52, for its similarity to the bulbous nose of the B-52 Stratofortress bomber. It originated as one of a variety of elaborately teased and lacquered versions of "big hair" that developed from...
, Mofford's office gained a reputation as an efficient operation. She herself was noted for her punctuality, answering her own phone, and replying directly to her mail. In addition to her state position, she served from 1982 until 1983 as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State
National Association of Secretaries of State
The National Association of Secretaries of State , founded in 1904, is the oldest non-partisan professional organization of public officials in the United States, composed of the Secretaries of State of U.S. states and territories. Currently, all secretaries of state, including Washington D.C.,...
.
Governor Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham was the 17th Governor of Arizona. A decorated veteran of World War II, Mecham earned his living as an automotive dealership owner and occasional newspaper publisher...
was impeached
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
on February 8, 1988. Per the Arizona Constitution, Mecham's powers were suspended and Mofford became acting governor, since by that time, she was holding the office of Secretary of State by election. While most observers complimented her on the job she performed, Mecham objected to Mofford replacing the one state department head that he had appointed. Upon Mecham's removal from office following his impeachment trial, Mofford was sworn in as Governor on April 4, 1988
Mofford's primary goal as governor was to return stability to Arizona. Her efforts were widely held as providing a calming effect following the tumultuous impeachment and recall proceedings of her predecessor. State Senate Democratic leader Alfredo Gutierrez said of her actions, "What she did was reinvest the system with dignity and honor." In early 1990, she announced that she had decided not to run for election at the end of her term.
After office
Since leaving office, Mofford has dedicated her time to civic and charitable activities. In 1997, a scholarshipScholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
fund was established in her name. A member of the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame, she has municipal softball fields named in her honor in both Butler and 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...
.
Mofford served as chair of the campaign committee of Attorney General Terry Goddard
Terry Goddard
Samuel Pearson "Terry" Goddard III was the Attorney General of Arizona, from 2003 to 2011, who also served as Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona from 1984 to 1990....
's 2010 election bid for Governor of Arizona.