House Engrossed

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature Second Regular Session 2014

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2038

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

on the death of the Honorable Arthur J. Hubbard, Sr.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Former Senator Arthur J. Hubbard, Sr. passed away on February 7, 2014 at the age of 102.

Mr. Hubbard was born on January 23, 1912 in Topawa, Arizona into a large Native American family.  He was a member of the Diné and Tohono O'odham Nation.  Raised with traditional Navajo values but also with a strong belief in the Christian faith, he was taught that each individual has a responsibility to "give back" by serving his or her community.

Dedicated to his country, Mr. Hubbard ably served in the United States Marines during World War II.  After the Japanese deciphered the military code that was developed by the United States for transmitting messages, the government called on Mr. Hubbard and other members of the Navajo Nation to serve as Marine Corps Radio Operators.  The Navajo Marine Corps Radio Operators, who later became known as the Navajo Code Talkers, developed a code using their language to communicate military messages in the Pacific.  As a trainer, it was Mr. Hubbard's job to teach this famed Navajo code to Marine candidates.  Mr. Hubbard and his fellow Navajo Code Talkers were so successful that military commanders credited the Code Talkers' code with saving the lives of countless American soldiers and the successful engagements of the American forces in the battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

After the war, Governor Jack Williams appointed Mr. Hubbard to serve as Director of the Indian Development District of Arizona.  In 1972, Mr. Hubbard made history when he became the first Native American to be elected to the Arizona Senate.  He ably served in this capacity for 12 years, during which time he worked to improve the welfare, education and health of the Arizona Native American Tribes.  A tireless advocate for the rights of the Native American people, Mr. Hubbard helped bridge the divide between Native American and non-Native American communities.

Despite the demands of his political and professional endeavors, Mr. Hubbard gave freely of his time, energy and expertise to numerous community organizations and worthy causes.  He served on the Annie D. Wauneka Nursing Home's Board of Directors and as a task force member of the San Xavier Community Allottee Association.  Passionate about education, he played an instrumental role in establishing Diné College.

Despite his many accomplishments, Mr. Hubbard never sought public admiration for his successes.  Always displaying a quiet and dignified demeanor, his humble spirit earned him the respect of all whom he encountered.

Mr. Hubbard will be greatly missed by his family, friends and the people of the Navajo Nation.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature sincerely regret the passing of Arthur J. Hubbard, Sr. and extend their deepest sympathies to his family, friends and the people of the Navajo Nation.