Jay Morago
Encyclopedia
Jay R. Morago Jr. was an American
Native American
activist who served as the first Governor
of the Gila River Indian Community
and helped to draft the reservation
's first constitution
in 1960. Morago served as the Governor of the Gila River Indian Community from 1954 until 1960.
Jay Morago was born in Sacaton, Arizona
, to parents, Jay R. and Florence Morago, on June 17, 1917. He attended Arizona State College, which is now known as Arizona State University
.
Morago served as a sergeant in the 158th Bushmasters Regiment of the Arizona National Guard
during World War II
. He saw active duty in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
in the Noemfoor
, Philippines
, Dutch East Indies
and New Guinea campaign
s during the war. Morago received four Bronze Star
s and a Purple Heart
for being wounded on active duty
. He remained active in veterans' affairs for the rest of his life, becoming a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
chapter in Coolidge, Arizona
, and the Ira Hayes
American Legion Post
in Sacaton.
Morago became the first Governor of the Gila River Indian Community in 1954. He held the governorship of the reservation, which includes members of both the Akimel O'odham and Maricopa tribes, until 1960. Morago led an effort to secure water rights for the Gila River Indian Community from the state
and federal
governments during the 1950s. He also helped to establish and draft the 1960 constitution for the Gila River Indian Community. Additionally, Morago served on the Gila River Farm Board. Morago remained active in the Gila River Indian Community community after leaving office. He worked professionally as a water master for the United States federal government until his retirement
.
Jay Morago died at the age of 90 at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona
, on May 14, 2008, after a long struggle with cancer
. His funeral was held at the St. Anthony Catholic
Mission in Sacaton, the capital of the Gila River Indian Community. He was buried at the St. Anne Cemetery in Santan, Arizona
. Morago's wife was the late Mary Catherine Morago. He was survived by seven daughters, three sons, two sisters, nineteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
activist who served as the first Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Gila River Indian Community
Gila River Indian Community
The Gila River Indian Community is an Indian reservation in the U.S. state of Arizona, lying adjacent to the south side of the city of Phoenix, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area in Pinal and Maricopa Counties. It was established in 1859, and formally established by Congress in 1939...
and helped to draft the reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
's first constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
in 1960. Morago served as the Governor of the Gila River Indian Community from 1954 until 1960.
Jay Morago was born in Sacaton, Arizona
Sacaton, Arizona
Sacaton is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census...
, to parents, Jay R. and Florence Morago, on June 17, 1917. He attended Arizona State College, which is now known as Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
.
Morago served as a sergeant in the 158th Bushmasters Regiment of the Arizona National Guard
Arizona National Guard
The Arizona National Guard is the National Guard of the American state of Arizona. It consists of the Arizona Army National Guard and the Arizona Air National Guard.Both components are part of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He saw active duty in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
in the Noemfoor
Noemfoor
Numfor is one of the Biak Islands in Papua province, Indonesia. It was the site of conflict between Japanese and the Allied forces during World War II, and was major airbase for both sides.-Geography:The island is situated just north of the large Cenderawasih Bay...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
and New Guinea campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
s during the war. Morago received four Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
s and a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
for being wounded on active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
. He remained active in veterans' affairs for the rest of his life, becoming a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
chapter in Coolidge, Arizona
Coolidge, Arizona
Coolidge is a city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 8,154.Arizona Highway 87 and Arizona Highway 287 pass through the town. Coolidge is 56 miles southeast of Phoenix, and 69 miles northwest of Tucson. It is 21 miles...
, and the Ira Hayes
Ira Hayes
Ira Hamilton Hayes was a Pima Native American and an American Marine who was one of the six men immortalized in the iconic photograph of the flag raising on Iwo Jima during World War II. Hayes was an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community in Sacaton, Arizona, and enlisted in the Marine...
American Legion Post
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
in Sacaton.
Morago became the first Governor of the Gila River Indian Community in 1954. He held the governorship of the reservation, which includes members of both the Akimel O'odham and Maricopa tribes, until 1960. Morago led an effort to secure water rights for the Gila River Indian Community from the state
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
governments during the 1950s. He also helped to establish and draft the 1960 constitution for the Gila River Indian Community. Additionally, Morago served on the Gila River Farm Board. Morago remained active in the Gila River Indian Community community after leaving office. He worked professionally as a water master for the United States federal government until his retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
.
Jay Morago died at the age of 90 at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, on May 14, 2008, after a long struggle with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. His funeral was held at the St. Anthony Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Mission in Sacaton, the capital of the Gila River Indian Community. He was buried at the St. Anne Cemetery in Santan, Arizona
Santan, Arizona
Santan is a census designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The name comes from the San Tan Mountains Regional Park that is the main landmark...
. Morago's wife was the late Mary Catherine Morago. He was survived by seven daughters, three sons, two sisters, nineteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.