Pyle, Howard, 1906-1987

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Governor of Arizona, 1950-1954.

From the description of Howard Pyle photograph collection, 1883-1987. (Scottsdale Public Library). WorldCat record id: 53073146

Government executives.

From the description of Reminiscences of Howard Pyle and Charles Masterson : oral history, 1967. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122619735

9th governor of Arizona, president of the National Safety Council, 1959-1973, chairman of the OSHA National Advisory Committee, director of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District.

From the description of Howard Pyle collection, 1883-1987 (bulk 1935-1987). (Scottsdale Public Library). WorldCat record id: 25403799

Howard Pyle was born on March 25, 1906 in Sheridan, Wyoming. He held a number of positions early in his career, including staffer in the advertising department at the Arizona Republican; program director and vice president at the radio station KTAR, 1930 to 1950; and Pacific War correspondent for Arizona Broadcasting Service, NBC. He also was Governor of Arizona from 1951 to 1955. He was known for ordering a raid on the polygamous Arizona community in Short Creek in 1953. In 1955 he was appointed Deputy Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations, to help encourage State and local governments to assume more responsibility for providing necessary public services. He resigned on January 31, 1959 to devote his time to his new position as President of the National Safety Council (a non-federal organization.) Pyle was also a member of the Joint Federal-State Action Committee from July 20, 1957 to January 31, 1959, and a member of the President's Committee for Traffic Safety from June 1, 1959 to January 1961. He was chairman of an advisory committee for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at the Department of Labor from 1971 to 1975. He died on November 29, 1987 in Tempe, Arizona.

From the description of Pyle, Howard, 1906-1987 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10573758

John Howard Pyle, ninth governor of Arizona, was born at Sheridan, Wyoming on March 25, 1906. He was the son of the Reverend Thomas Miller Pyle and Marie (Anderson) Pyle. On August 9, 1930, he married Lucile Hanna at Tempe, Arizona. Their two daughters were named Mary Lou and Virginia Ann. He held honorary doctoral degrees in Laws from the University of Redlands (1950) and in Humane Letters from Chapman College (1953).

After graduation from high school at Columbus, Nebraska in 1924, Pyle found employment as a radio singer at Lincoln, Nebraska until his family moved to Tempe. In 1930, following periods of activity as a railway timekeeper, a realtor, and an advertising writer with the Arizona Republican newspaper, Pyle was named program manager and vice president of the Phoenix area affiliate of the National Broadcasting Corporation, KTAR radio. In 1935 he organized the annual Grand Canyon Easter Sunrise broadcast. In the 1930's, he also began radio narrations of the Flagstaff (Arizona) All Indian Pow Wows.

Pyle was an NBC correspondent in the Pacific Theater of Operations in the Second World War, where he prepared a radio program comprising interviews with Arizonans in the military services in various combat zones. He also reported the Japanese surrender, the American occupation of Japan, and the World Security Conference at San Francisco.

In 1948, Pyle circulated nominating petitions for the office of Governor of Arizona but withdrew his candidacy before the primary election. In 1950, however, his campaign was successful. He was re-elected in 1952. As a part of his campaign of that year, he delivered the address What is Right for America at the Republican National Convention at Chicago, Illinois. Pyle was defeated in the gubernatorial race by former senator Ernest W. McFarland in 1954. Some analysts subsequently attributed his defeat to a raid conducted by state police, in that year, on a community of polygamists at Short Creek, Arizona. While Governor, Pyle was a de facto member of the Arizona Board of Regents of the University and State Colleges. He was also a Trustee of the University of Redlands.

A month after leaving the Governor's Office, Pyle was appointed an administrative assistant to President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the area of intergovernmental relations. He was soon promoted to deputy assistant for federal state relations. Among his duties were the publishing of an Administration newsletter among departmental and party leaders and planning for the President's committee on traffic safety.

Pyle left the White House in 1959 to assume the presidency of the National Safety Council. He described the Council's life saving accomplishments during his tenure as the most rewarding of experiences . He remained president until his retirement in 1973 and thereafter continued his appointment as a Director. In connection with his safety related activities, Pyle also became Chairman of the OSHA National Advisory Committee upon the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

In 1980, Pyle was elected a director of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, which was established by the same election to administer the distribution of waters brought to Arizona by the Central Arizona Project canal network. He remained in this directorship until his death at Tempe in 1987.

In addition to his official and professional posts, Governor Pyle was active in civic affairs and occupied numerous chairmanships and directorships in community service and philanthropic organizations, including the Western Governors' Conference, the Tempe Historical Society, the Tempe St. Luke's Hospital, the Arizona Boys' Ranch, Tempe's Chamber of Commerce and United States Bicentennial Committee, and the Phoenix Stock Show.

SOURCES:

Carr, Janelle Howard Pyle 1981, Pyle Collection, Box 103, Folder 4.

Gryder, Robert John Howard Pyle, 1951-55, in John Myers, ed. The Governors of Arizona, 1912-1990 (Phoenix, Arizona: Heritage Publishers, Inc.) 1989.

Howard Pyle, Pyle Collection, Box 25, Folder 1.

Howard Pyle: The Man Behind Arizona's Best Known Voice, unattributed pamphlet, Pyle Collection, Box 99, Folder 5.

From the guide to the Howard Pyle Photograph Collection, 1883-1987, 1935-1987, (Arizona State University Libraries Arizona Collection)

John Howard Pyle, ninth governor of Arizona, was born at Sheridan, Wyoming on March 25, 1906. He was the son of the Reverend Thomas Miller Pyle and Marie (Anderson) Pyle. On August 9, 1930, he married Lucile Hanna at Tempe, Arizona. Their two daughters were named Mary Lou and Virginia Ann. He held honorary doctoral degrees in Laws from the University of Redlands (1950) and in Humane Letters from Chapman College (1953).

After graduation from high school at Columbus, Nebraska in 1924, Pyle found employment as a radio singer at Lincoln, Nebraska until his family moved to Tempe. In 1930, following periods of activity as a railway timekeeper, a realtor, and an advertising writer with the Arizona Republican newspaper, Pyle was named program manager and vice president of the Phoenix area affiliate of the National Broadcasting Corporation, KTAR radio. In 1935 he organized the annual Grand Canyon Easter Sunrise broadcast. In the 1930's, he also began radio narrations of the Flagstaff (Arizona) All Indian Pow Wows.

Pyle was an NBC correspondent in the Pacific Theater of Operations in the Second World War, where he prepared a radio program comprising interviews with Arizonans in the military services in various combat zones. He also reported the Japanese surrender, the American occupation of Japan, and the World Security Conference at San Francisco.

In 1948, Pyle circulated nominating petitions for the office of Governor of Arizona but withdrew his candidacy before the primary election. In 1950, however, his campaign was successful. He was re-elected in 1952. As a part of his campaign of that year, he delivered the address What is Right for America at the Republican National Convention at Chicago, Illinois. Pyle was defeated in the gubernatorial race by former senator Ernest W. McFarland in 1954. Some analysts subsequently attributed his defeat to a raid conducted by state police, in that year, on a community of polygamists at Short Creek, Arizona. While Governor, Pyle was a de facto member of the Arizona Board of Regents of the University and State Colleges. He was also a Trustee of the University of Redlands.

A month after leaving the Governor's Office, Pyle was appointed an administrative assistant to President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the area of intergovernmental relations. He was soon promoted to deputy assistant for federal state relations. Among his duties were the publishing of an Administration newsletter among departmental and party leaders and planning for the President's committee on traffic safety.

Pyle left the White House in 1959 to assume the presidency of the National Safety Council. He described the Council's life saving accomplishments during his tenure as the most rewarding of experiences . He remained president until his retirement in 1973 and thereafter continued his appointment as a Director. In connection with his safety related activities, Pyle also became Chairman of the OSHA National Advisory Committee upon the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

In 1980, Pyle was elected a director of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, which was established by the same election to administer the distribution of waters brought to Arizona by the Central Arizona Project canal network. He remained in this directorship until his death at Tempe in 1987.

In addition to his official and professional posts, Governor Pyle was active in civic affairs and occupied numerous chairmanships and directorships in community service and philanthropic organizations, including the Western Governors' Conference, the Tempe Historical Society, the Tempe St. Luke's Hospital, the Arizona Boys' Ranch, Tempe's Chamber of Commerce and United States Bicentennial Committee, and the Phoenix Stock Show.

From the guide to the Howard Pyle Collection, 1883-1987, 1935-1987, (Arizona State University Libraries Arizona Collection)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Motion picture photograph collection, ca. 1914-1971 (bulk 1940-1959). Arizona Historical Society, Southern Arizona Division
creatorOf Pyle, John. Indenture : Istleworth, Middl[ese]x County, [Eng.], to Edward Gisbey, 1668 Sept. 29. Newberry Library
referencedIn United Presbyterian Men collection, 1957. Billy Graham Archive & Research Center
referencedIn Broadsides collection, 1793- Arizona Historical Society, Southern Arizona Division
referencedIn Shadegg, Stephen C. Stephen C. Shadegg collection, 1855-1991, 1930s-1990 [manuscript]. Arizona State University Libraries
creatorOf Pyle, Howard, 1906-1987. Howard Pyle collection, 1883-1987 (bulk 1935-1987). Arizona State University Libraries
referencedIn Newcomer, E. D., 1896-1973. Newcomer portraits, M-Z, 1926-1970 (bulk 1950-1969). Arizona Historical Society, Southern Arizona Division
referencedIn Rice, Ross R. (Ross Richard), 1922-. Ross R. Rice papers, 1971-1979. Arizona State University Libraries
Howard Pyle Records Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Howard Pyle Collection, 1883-1987, 1935-1987 Arizona State University Libraries Arizona Collection
creatorOf Pyle, Howard, 1906-1987. Reminiscences of Howard Pyle and Charles Masterson : oral history, 1967. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Howard Pyle Records. 1955 - 1959. Office Records Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Arizona Historical Foundation. Arizona Historical Foundation Oral History Collection, 1968-1998. Arizona State University Libraries
creatorOf Howard Pyle Photograph Collection, 1883-1987, 1935-1987 Arizona State University Libraries Arizona Collection
creatorOf Pyle, Howard, 1906-1987. Howard Pyle photograph collection, 1883-1987. Arizona State University Libraries
referencedIn Newcomer, E. D., 1896-1973. Newcomer photographs - Military series, 1954-1968. Arizona Historical Society, Southern Arizona Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Arizona Board of Regents. corporateBody
associatedWith Arizona Boys Ranch. corporateBody
associatedWith Arizona Cattle Growers' Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Arizona Historical Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Arizona Safety Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Arizona. State Highway Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith Arizona Town Hall. corporateBody
associatedWith Banister, Jno. person
associatedWith Burtnett, Earl, 1896-1936. person
associatedWith Central Arizona Project (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Earhart, Amelia, 1897-1937. person
associatedWith Edwin, Ed, person
associatedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969. person
associatedWith Fannin, Paul J. (Paul Jones), 1907- person
associatedWith Fort McDowell Mohave-Apache Indian Community. corporateBody
associatedWith Freedoms Heritage, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Gisbey, Edward. person
associatedWith Goldwater, Barry M. (Barry Morris), 1909- person
associatedWith KTAR (Radio station : Phoenix, Ariz.) corporateBody
associatedWith Lohr, Lenox R. (Lenox Riley), 1891-1968. person
associatedWith Masterson, Charles F. (Charles Francis), 1917-1998. person
associatedWith Mission San Xavier del Bac (Tucson, Ariz.) corporateBody
associatedWith Missouri (Battleship : BB 63) corporateBody
associatedWith National Safety Council. corporateBody
associatedWith Newcomer, E. D., 1896-1973. person
associatedWith Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994 person
associatedWith Pyle family. family
associatedWith Pyle, Lucile. person
associatedWith Pyle, Mary Lou. person
associatedWith Pyle, Thomas Miller. person
associatedWith Pyle, Virginia Ann. person
associatedWith Queen Creek Tunnel (Ariz.) corporateBody
associatedWith Republican National Convention 1952 : Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith Rice, Ross R. (Ross Richard), 1922- person
associatedWith Rio Salado Development District. corporateBody
associatedWith Shadegg, Stephen C. person
associatedWith Shrine of the Ages Chapel (Grand Canyon, Ariz.) corporateBody
associatedWith Slood, John. person
associatedWith Tempe Historical Museum. corporateBody
associatedWith Tempe St. Luke's Hospital. corporateBody
associatedWith Tempe St. Luke's Hospital (Tempe, Ariz.) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. corporateBody
associatedWith Wainwright, Jonathan Mayhew, 1883-1953. person
associatedWith Wells, Carveth. person
associatedWith Western Governors' Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Woorsley, Charles. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Isleworth (London, England)
Arizona
United States
England
Grand Canyon (Ariz.)
Phoenix (Ariz.)
Luke Air Force Base (Ariz.)
United States
Central Arizona Water Conservation District
Colorado City (Ariz.)
Arizona
England--Isleworth (London)
Subject
Easter service
Government executives
Governor
Governors
Land use, Rural
Leases
Legal instruments
Manuscripts
Polygamy
Rent
Traffic safety
Water resources development
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1906-03-25

Death 1987-11-29

English

Information

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