http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0201az-samgoddard01-ON.html
Former Ariz. governor Sam Goddard dies
Robbie Sherwood The Arizona Republic Feb. 1, 2006 12:30 PM
Former Gov. Sam Goddard, a longtime stalwart of Arizona Democratic politics who advanced equal rights and fiscal reforms in his one term in office, died this morning at age 86.
Once a strapping athlete who was a member of the Rowing Hall of Fame, Goddard's health had worsened in the past several months after a fall late last spring when he was traveling on the East Coast. The fall broke Goddard's hip, which didn't heal and led to serious complications in November.
The former governor, who resided in Paradise Valley and is the father of Attorney General Terry Goddard, had been in hospice care for several weeks.
Goddard's wife Judy died in Phoenix in Aug. of 1999. He is survived by his second wife, Myra Ann; three sons, Terry, Tim and Bill; and three grandchildren.
Samual Pearson Goddard Jr. was elected Arizona's 12th governor in 1964, defeating Republican Richard Kleindienst, who would go on to be embroiled in Watergate as Richard Nixon's Attorney General.
Godddard had run once before in 1962 against Gov. Paul Fannin and lost. He would run four times in all, each time using a roadrunner as mascot and the motto "Go Go Goddard!" In office he advanced a platform of equal rights, fiscal reform and industrial development.
Inaugurated on Jan. 4, 1965, his time in office was short, only two years, which was the length of one gubernatorial term at the time. Goddard lost to Republican Jack Williams in 1966. An incumbent governor has not been defeated in Arizona since. He ran against Williams again in 1968 and lost.
In office, Goddard was a strong advocate for the rights of minorities and women. He signed a civil rights bill in 1965 that - over the protestations of many groups in Arizona -- prohibited discrimination in voting, employment and access to public places because of race, sex, religion, color, nationality or ancestry.
Goddard was a strong supporter of the Central Arizona Project, which has provided the sustainable water source that has fueled the state's subsequent population and economic growth. He also greatly improved the state's trade relationships with Mexico.
Goddard's "Fair Share" tax program shifted large portion of the state's tax burden from property taxes to sales taxes, which improved funding for schools and public services, but hurt his popularity. Goddard also pushed a 1965 referendum to raise the state debt limit from $350,000 to over $100 million. Voter anger over Goddard's tax and debt proposals hurt him at the polls against the Republican Williams, who favored a "pay as you go" philosophy to pay for the state's infrastructure.
Goddard helped launch the political career of former U.S. Senator Dennis DiConcini, who joined the governor's team first as a legal advisor before being promoted to chief of staff.
Goddard's own political and public service career began shortly after he graduated from the University of Arizona law school in 1949 and opened his first law practice in Tucson. He got involved in a number of civic organizations including the United Way and the Tucson Festival Society. He helped found the Tucson Arts Festival in 1959.
Goddard became chairman of the Arizona Democratic Committee in 1960. He would later become the staunch elder statesman for his party when he served as Arizona Democratic Committee chairman from 1979 to 1989.
Goddard was born on Aug. 8, 1919, in Clayton, Mo., near St. Louis. Goddard's father and namesake was a Harvard graduate and a wholesale grocer. Goddard would also attend Harvard, as did his son Terry.
Standing 6 feet 3, Goddard was a member of Harvard's venerated varsity crew team. In 1976 he was inducted into the Rowing Hall of Fame. Goddard, who majored in history, also sang in the Harvard Glee Club.
Shortly after graduating in 1941, Goddard enlisted as a private in the United States Air Force. During World War II, he served as an operations and communications officer in all theatres of operation, rising to the rank of Major.
He met and married his wife, Julia "Judy" Hatch in Springfield, Ill. It was Judy who brought the Goddard family to Arizona. Her doctor recommended her move to Tucson because the dry climate would help her rheumatoid arthritis. She fell in love with the area. When Sam was discharged from the Air Force in 1946, he joined his wife in Tucson and joined the Air Force Reserves, where he would rise to the rank of Colonel. He also enrolled in the University of Arizona law school.