Governor
John Howard Pyle
(1951-1955)
"The man who governed Arizona from 1951 to 1955 achieved national prominence in three careers: radio broadcaster and executive, political leader and as president of the National Safety Council. J. Howard Pyle became Arizona's first Republican governor in 20 years when he won an upset victory over Democrat Ana Frohmiller in the 1950 general election. A man of high principles and superlative administrative skills, he worked effectively with his Democratic state legislature in a period of rapid Arizona growth.
The son of a Baptist Minister, Pyle was born March 25, 1906, in Sheridan, Wyoming, and lived for a time in Texas before moving with his family to Tempe, Arizona in 1925. He joined the advertising staff of The Arizona Republican, the state's largest newspaper, and was a featured vocal soloist on Radio Station KFAD, Phoenix. When the Republican became the Republic in 1930 and bought KFAD (now KTAR) Pyle became a popular radio broadcaster, vice president of the Arizona Broadcasting Company, and the best known radio voice in Arizona. Pyle Conducted the famed Easter sunrise service at the Grand Canyon for 25 years and made the event so famous that NBC broadcast it nationally. During World War II, he was a war correspondent in the Pacific. He broadcast a report of the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri, and was the first radio reporter to land in conquered Japan.
In 1950 Arizona's Republicans drafted him as their gubernatorial candidate. Under the skillful management of his friend Barry Goldwater, he campaigned throughout the state and won a surpise victory. Pyle's address, "What is Right for America?", was a highlight of the 1952 National Republican Convention, which nominated Dwight D. Eisenhower for President. After completing his second term as governor in 1955, he joined President Eisenhower's staff in Washington as director of Federal-State Relations. In 1959 he was appointed president of the National Safety Council and served 15 years in that capacity.
Now retired and living in Tempe, Pyle is deeply involved in community service, writes a newspaper column, and is much in demand as a speaker."
Goff, John F. Arizona
Biographical Dictionary. Black Mountain Press. Cave Creek,
Arizona 1983.
p. 269
