Raúl Héctor Castro
Encyclopedia
Raul Hector Castro is a Mexican
-born American
politician. He has served in both elected and non-elected public offices, including United States Ambassador
and the 14th Governor of Arizona. He was the first Mexican American to be elected governor of Arizona. At the age of , he is the oldest living United States governor, since October 10, 2011 after the death of Washington Governor Albert Rosellini
at the age of 101.
Castro lived in his native Mexico until 1926, when he moved to the U.S. state
of Arizona
and later became a United States citizen. Through gruelling physical labor and self-denial, he saved enough to enter Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff
, from which he graduated in 1939. He worked for five years for the U.S. State Department as a foreign service clerk at Agua Prieta
, a border city in his native Sonora, but he never forgot his dream of becoming a lawyer. Accepted by the University of Arizona
Law College, Castro earned his Juris Doctor degree and was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 1949. After practicing law in Tucson for two years, he became deputy Pima
County attorney
. In 1954 he was elected county attorney and served in that capacity until 1958, when he became a Pima County Superior Court Judge. His national stature grew over the years, and President Lyndon Johnson appointed Castro as U.S. Ambassador
to El Salvador
in 1964. After four years there, he served as Ambassador to Bolivia
until the end of 1969.
Returning to Tucson, Arizona
in 1969 to specialize in international law, Castro continued to rise to the top in Arizona Democratic politics. Seeking state office for the first time in 1974, he was elected governor, ending eight years of Republican control. In 1977, after two years as governor, President Jimmy Carter
selected him to be ambassador to Argentina
.
In 2007, his Alma Mater now known as Northern Arizona University
named the home of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in his honor. He also competed in track and boxing for the school and was inducted into the Northern Arizona University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician. He has served in both elected and non-elected public offices, including United States Ambassador
Ambassadors from the United States
This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to individual nations of the world, to international organizations, to past nations, and ambassadors-at-large.Ambassadors are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
and the 14th Governor of Arizona. He was the first Mexican American to be elected governor of Arizona. At the age of , he is the oldest living United States governor, since October 10, 2011 after the death of Washington Governor Albert Rosellini
Albert Rosellini
Albert Dean Rosellini was the 15th Governor of the state of Washington for two terms, from 1957 to 1965, and was the first Italian American, Roman Catholic governor elected west of the Mississippi River...
at the age of 101.
Castro lived in his native Mexico until 1926, when he moved to the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Arizona
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 later became a United States citizen. Through gruelling physical labor and self-denial, he saved enough to enter Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
, from which he graduated in 1939. He worked for five years for the U.S. State Department as a foreign service clerk at Agua Prieta
Agua Prieta
Agua Prieta is a pueblo and municipality in the northeastern corner of the Mexican state of Sonora . It stands on the U.S.–Mexico border, adjacent to the town of Douglas, Arizona, USA. The municipality covers an area of 3,631.65 km²...
, a border city in his native Sonora, but he never forgot his dream of becoming a lawyer. Accepted by the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
Law College, Castro earned his Juris Doctor degree and was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 1949. After practicing law in Tucson for two years, he became deputy Pima
Pima County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.3% White*3.5% Black*3.3% Native American*2.6% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.7% Two or more races*12.4% Other races*34.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
County attorney
County attorney
A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
. In 1954 he was elected county attorney and served in that capacity until 1958, when he became a Pima County Superior Court Judge. His national stature grew over the years, and President Lyndon Johnson appointed Castro as U.S. Ambassador
Ambassadors from the United States
This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to individual nations of the world, to international organizations, to past nations, and ambassadors-at-large.Ambassadors are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
to El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
in 1964. After four years there, he served as Ambassador to Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
until the end of 1969.
Returning to Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
in 1969 to specialize in international law, Castro continued to rise to the top in Arizona Democratic politics. Seeking state office for the first time in 1974, he was elected governor, ending eight years of Republican control. In 1977, after two years as governor, President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
selected him to be ambassador to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
In 2007, his Alma Mater now known as Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
named the home of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in his honor. He also competed in track and boxing for the school and was inducted into the Northern Arizona University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988.
Links
- The Raul Castro Collection at the University of Arizona UAiR Collection