13 Facts About Wesley Bolin

Harvey Wesley Bolin was an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 15th governor of Arizona between 1977 and 1978.

Harvey Wesley Bolin was born on a farm near Butler, Missouri, a son of Doc Strother Bolin and Margaret Bolin.

Wesley Bolin's family moved to Arizona when he was six, and Bolin was raised and educated in Phoenix.

Wesley Bolin attended Isaac Elementary School, graduated from Phoenix Union High School, and attended Phoenix College.

Wesley Bolin became active in the dry cleaning business and completed an LL.

Active in politics as a Democrat, Wesley Bolin was elected constable of West Phoenix Precinct in 1938.

Wesley Bolin served as Arizona's secretary of state for a total of 28 years, 9 months, 17 days, and remains the longest-serving secretary of state in Arizona history.

Wesley Bolin was first elected to the state's second highest-post in 1948 and was re-elected every two years between 1950 and 1968, when executive offices had two-year terms, and twice more in 1970 and 1974, when four-year terms began.

Wesley Bolin succeeded to the governorship in October 1977 after the previous governor, Raul H Castro, was named ambassador to Argentina by President Jimmy Carter.

Wesley Bolin was the second secretary of state to succeed to the Arizona governorship, after Dan Edward Garvey in 1948.

Wesley Bolin died at home of a heart attack on March 4,1978.

Wesley Bolin was cremated and his ashes were scattered at multiple sites, one in each of Arizona's 14 counties.

Wesley Bolin finished the remaining nine months of the term, then was elected to two terms as governor in his own right.