Wes Bolin Youth Activity Center - Arizona State Fairgrounds - Phoenix AZ
N 33° 28.010 W 112° 05.854
12S E 398010 N 3703580
This building, dedicated to Wesley Bolin, is at the southwest corner of the Arizona State Fairgrounds.
Waymark Code: WMK1Z9
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 01/31/2014
Views: 4
THE PERSON:
"Wesley Bolin (July 1, 1909 – March 4, 1978) 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."
"One stroke of fate made Wesley Bolin governor of Arizona in Ocotber 1977. Another ended his life five months later. Bolin, Arizona's Secretary of State from 1949 to 1978, became governor when Raul Castro resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to Argentina. Bolin's brief tenure as governor ended March 4, 1978, when he died following a heart attack. Best known for his record-breaking longevity--almost 30 years-- as secretary of state, Bolin earned a national reputation as a political leader. Tall, handsome, grey-haired and dignified, the popular Democrat functioned with equal effectiveness under both Democratic and Republican State administrations.
Born at Butler, Missouri, July 1, 1908, Bolin came to Phoenix with his family in 1917. He attended Phoenix Union High School and Phoenix College, and later studied law through extension courses. He first ran for public office in 1938, when he was elected constable of the West Phoenix Precinct. He served as Justice of the Peace in that precinct from 1942 to 1948, when he entered the Democratic primary race for Secretary of State. Opposed by five well-known contenders, he surprised the pundits by winning the primary with a 10,000 vote margin. He then won the general election by 50,000 votes.
Bolin was re-elected as secretary of state every two years, rarely with serious challenges, until becoming governor in 1978. He was elected president of the National Association of Secretaries of State in 1953 and was a leader in that organization for many years. Bolin served his community well, as a Boy Scout leader, a promoter of charitable efforts, political advisor, and champion of Arizona's disadvantaged people. He was an avid horseman, and was a familiar rider in scores of Arizona rodeo parades. He was a political conservative, and a man whose self effacing personality won him thousands of friends across Arizona. Few men understood the workings of Arizona government as well as he, and few served his state longer, and more effectively."
THE PLACE:
This building has been functioning as one of the commercial exhibit halls for several decades during the Arizona State Fair.
The 39000 sq.ft Wesley Bolin Youth Activities Center was constructed in 1980
2010 replacement value: was $1,768,985
2013 renewal cost: $29,386
Above text taken from: http://jeff.scott.tripod.com/Bolin.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Bolin