Rose Mofford
| Rose Mofford | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 18th Governor of Arizona | |
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In office February 18, 1988 – March 6, 1991 Acting: February 18, 1988 – April 4, 1988 |
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| Preceded by | Evan Mecham |
| Succeeded by | Fife Symington |
| 12th Secretary of State of Arizona | |
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In office October 20, 1977 – April 4, 1988 |
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| Governor |
Wesley Bolin Bruce Babbitt Evan Mecham |
| Preceded by | Wesley Bolin |
| Succeeded by | James Shumway |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rose Perica June 10, 1922 Globe, Arizona, U.S. |
| Died |
September 15, 2016 (aged 94) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Thorald Robert (Lefty) Mofford (1957–1967) |
| Signature |  |
Rose Perica Mofford (June 10, 1922 – September 15, 2016) was an American civil servant and politician. Beginning her career with the State of Arizona as an office secretary, she worked her way up the ranks to become the state's first female Secretary of State and first female and 18th Governor of Arizona.
Mofford was born Rose Perica in Globe, Arizona, on June 10, 1922, the youngest of six children. Her parents, Frances (Oberstar) and John Perica, had immigrated to the United States from Croatia, then part of Austria–Hungary. The first female class president in the history of Globe High School, she had great success in both academics and athletics. She played basketball and was an All-American softball player.
She graduated in 1939 as class valedictorian and, based upon her father's advice, turned down an opportunity to play professional basketball with the All American Red Heads. She was married to Thorald Robert "Lefty" Mofford from 1957 to 1967, when they amicably divorced.
Following high school, Mofford began her career as a secretary for State Treasurer Joe Hunt. Two years later, when Hunt was promoted to the Arizona Tax Commission, Mofford followed her boss to the new position. In 1945, she left the Tax Commission and became business manager for Arizona Highways. Mofford returned to the Tax Commission in 1947 as executive secretary. Following Hunt's retirement in 1960, new commissioner Thad Moore fired Mofford, saying "we felt it was better to have a man in that job." Following her dismissal from the Tax Commission, Mofford was hired as an executive secretary by Secretary of State Wesley Bolin. She remained in the Secretary of State's office until 1975, when she became assistant director of the State Revenue Department (formerly the Tax Commission).
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