Evan Mecham

Evan Mecham
Name	Evan Mecham
Caption	Mecham in 1987
Order	17th
Office	Governor of Arizona
Term start	January 5, 1987
Term end	April 4, 1988
Lieutenant	Rose Mofford
Predecessor	Bruce Babbitt
Successor	Rose Mofford
Birth date	12 May 1924
Birth place	Duchesne, Utah, U.S.
Death date	21 February 2008
Death place	Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Party	Republican
Spouse	Florence Lambert, 1948, 2008
Branch	United States Army Air Forces
Serviceyears	1943–1945
Battles	World War II

Evan Mecham was an American businessman and politician who served as the 17th Governor of Arizona from 1987 until his impeachment and removal from office in 1988. His brief tenure was one of the most tumultuous periods in the state's modern political history, marked by intense controversy, widespread protests, and significant legal battles. A staunch conservative and member of the Republican Party, his governorship was defined by a series of political missteps and scandals that led to his unprecedented ouster.

Early Life and Education

Evan Mecham was born in Duchesne, Utah, and his family moved to Arizona when he was a child, settling in the small community of Cibecue on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. He attended Glendale High School before his education was interrupted by service in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Following the war, he utilized the G.I. Bill to study at Arizona State University, though he did not complete a degree, instead focusing on building his business career in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Career

Before entering politics, Mecham established himself as a successful entrepreneur, founding Mecham Motors, a profitable American Motors dealership in Glendale, Arizona. He also published a conservative newspaper, *The Arizona Conservative*, and authored a book titled *Impeachment: The Arizona Conspiracy*. His business acumen provided the financial foundation for his political ambitions and shaped his pro-business, anti-tax philosophy, which he later championed during his time in the Arizona Senate and as governor.

Political Career

Mecham's political career began with an unsuccessful run for the United States Senate in 1962. He later served in the Arizona Senate from 1961 to 1962 and again from 1965 to 1977, where he was known for his socially conservative views. He made multiple unsuccessful bids for the governorship, running in 1964, 1974, 1978, and 1982, before finally winning the office in the 1986 election, defeating Democrat Carolyn Warner and former Republican Bill Schulz in a three-way race.

Governorship of Arizona

Mecham's governorship was immediately controversial. Upon taking office, he fulfilled a campaign promise by rescinding the state's Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, a move that sparked national outrage, led to an economic boycott of Arizona, and drew condemnation from figures like Coretta Scott King. He faced further scandal over an alleged "loan" from his inaugural committee and was accused of obstructing an investigation into a death threat made by a staffer. These issues led to his impeachment by the Arizona House of Representatives and subsequent conviction and removal from office by the Arizona Senate on charges of obstruction of justice and misuse of government funds, with Rose Mofford succeeding him.

Personal Life

Mecham was married to Florence Lambert from 1948 until his death, and the couple had four children. A devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his faith deeply influenced his personal and political life. Following his removal from office, he remained active in Arizona's conservative political circles, making a final, unsuccessful gubernatorial run in 1990. He died in Phoenix, Arizona in 2008 from complications of Alzheimer's disease.

Legacy

Evan Mecham's legacy is that of a cautionary tale in Arizona politics, remembered for one of the shortest and most scandal-plagued governorships in state history. His administration's controversies, particularly the Martin Luther King Jr. Day decision, significantly damaged Arizona's national reputation for a time. The events of his governorship led to increased scrutiny of executive power in the state and solidified the political ascendancy of his successor, Rose Mofford. Historians often cite his impeachment as a pivotal moment that reshaped the state's political landscape for decades.

Category:1924 births Category:2008 deaths Category:Governors of Arizona Category:American businesspeople Category:Republican Party state governors of the United States