Mofford, Rose, 1922-2016

Rose Perica Mofford (June 10, 1922 – September 15, 2016) was an American civil servant and politician of the Democratic Party whose career in state government spanned 51 years. Beginning her career with the State of Arizona as a secretary, Mofford worked her way up the ranks to become the state's first female secretary of state and first female governor.

Mofford was born Rose Perica in Globe, Arizona. The first female class president in the history of Globe High School, she had success in both academics and athletics. She played basketball and was an All-American softball player, graduating in 1939 as class valedictorian. 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, a state magazine. 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).

When Governor Raúl Castro announced his resignation to become Ambassador to Argentina, Secretary Bolin ascended to the governorship. Arizona does not have a lieutenant governor; the secretary of state stands first in the line of succession to the governorship if retaining office by election. Bolin in turn appointed Mofford to serve the remainder of his term as Secretary of State. At the end of her partial term, Mofford ran for a full term as Secretary of State and won. She was reelected in 1982 and 1986.

After Governor Evan Mecham was impeached on February 8, 1988, his powers were suspended and Mofford became acting governor. After Mecham's removal from office on April 4, Mofford was sworn in as Governor for the remainder of Mecham's term. During her time in office, Mofford was one of only three female governors in the country. In early 1990, Mofford announced that she had decided not to run for election to a full four-year term.

Mofford devoted her retirement to civic and charitable activities. She died in hospice on September 15, 2016.