Robert “Bob” Lee Stump

Legislative Resolution

View Legislative Resolution File for Robert “Bob” Lee Stump

Biographical Information

The following is from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress:

STUMP, Robert Lee, a Representative from Arizona; born in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz., April 4, 1927; graduated from Tolleson High School, Tolleson, Ariz., 1947; B.S., Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz., 1951; United States Navy, 1943-1946; farmer; member of the Arizona state house of representatives, 1959-1967; member of the Arizona state senate, 1967-1976; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth and to the two succeeding Congresses; reelected as a Republican to the Ninety-eighth and nine succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1977-January 3, 2003); chair, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (One Hundred Fourth through One Hundred Sixth Congresses); chair, Committee on Armed Services (One Hundred Seventh Congress); not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Eighth Congress in 2002; died on June 20, 2003, in Phoenix, Ariz.; interment in Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, Phoenix, Ariz.

The following is from the Legislative death resolution:

Congressman Bob Stump was born in Phoenix, Arizona on April 4, 1927.  He was a lifelong cotton farmer at his family farm in Tolleson, Arizona, a WorldWar II United States Navy combat veteran and an esteemed public servant of the State of Arizona.

Bob Stump began his career of public service in 1943 when, just after his sixteenth birthday, he enlisted in the United States Navy by convincing military officials that he was eighteen years old.  He served as a Navy pharmacist mate aboard the U.S.S. Lunga Point and U.S.S. Tulagi, participating in some of the most decisive campaigns of the Pacific theater, including the liberation of Luzon in the Philippines, the invasion of Iwo Jima and the assault on Okinawa.

On his return from military service, Bob Stump graduated from Tolleson High School and subsequently attended Arizona State College [now Arizona State University], where he served as student body vice president and earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy in1951.

Bob Stump’s tenure as an elected official began in 1959 when he was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives.  During his eight-year tenure in the House, he served on the agriculture and irrigation, livestock and public lands, civil defense and veterans affairs, welfare, education and appropriations committees as well as the Legislative Council.  He sponsored legislation dealing with taxes, education, juvenile crime and immigration and he urged Congress to establish a National Veterans Cemetery in Arizona.

In 1967, Bob Stump was elected to the Arizona State Senate, where he served as a member of the highways and transportation, state government and county and municipal affairs committees, vice chairman of the agriculture and livestock committee, minority whip, minority leader and, during the thirty-second legislature in 1975 and 1976, president of the Senate.

Congressman Stump continued his service to the state when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1976 representing Arizona’s third congressional district in the 95th Congress.  He was reelected to serve thirteen consecutive congressional terms.

While one of the most senior members of Congress, Congressman Stump never forgot his Arizona roots and the values of honesty, integrity and hard work he learned from a lifetime of farming.  His service reflected his dedication to the people of Arizona and his voting record strongly reflected his dedication to promoting individual liberty and personal responsibility, a strong national defense, a better-not-bigger government and unwavering support for the free enterprise system.

Congressman Stump served on the House committees on public works and transportation, armed services, intelligence and veterans’ affairs, and he is one of the few in the history of the United States House to have served as chairman of both the House veterans’ affairs committee and the House armed services committee.  He served as chairman of the veterans’ affairs committee from 1995 to 2001, gaining a reputation as an outspoken advocate and supporter of our nation’s veterans and earning him the prestigious “Lone Sailor” award, the AMVETS Silver Helmet Congressional Award, the Legislator of the Year Award from the Vietnam Veterans Association and the Distinguished Public Service Award from the American Legion.  In addition, Congressman Stump will be the only member of Congress to have a street in Arlington National Cemetery named after him in recognition of his service to veterans.

Congressman Stump, as a longtime member of the House armed services committee, was influential in the Reagan-era rebuilding of our national defense and was an early and persistent advocate of the technological advances that have come to characterize the United States military.  Later, as chairman of the armed services committee, he introduced and secured passage of landmark legislation establishing a World War II memorial on the National Mall and was honored with the naming of the annual defense bill as the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2003 in recognition of his longtime support of our national defense and the men and women who serve in uniform.

Congressman Stump was the proud father of his daughter, Karen Stump, his sons, Dr. Bob Stump and Dr. Bruce Stump, and his five grandchildren, Britt, Morgan, Bailey, Sara and Robert Patrick.  He spent nearly thirty joyous years with his longtime friend, companion and wife, Nancy Stump.

Congressman Stump, who remained humbled by the high honor of representing the people of Arizona in Congress, retired at the conclusion of the 107th Congress on January 2, 2003 after forty-four years of continuous service as an elected public servant.

On June 20, 2003, Congressman Stump passed away from a terminal illness.

Military Experience

U.S. Navy, 1943 – 1946, World War II veteran:  He lied about his age and enlisted at age 16.  He participated in the invasions of Luzon, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.  He was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame on November 7, 2002.

Additional Information

LEGISLATIVE FAMILY (Yellow Sheet Report (Arizona Capitol Times), May 25, 2011):  son of Rep. Jesse Patrick Stump

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: Arizona Legislative Biography sheet "Bob Stump" parents:  Jesse P. and Floy (Fields) Stump, AZ birth record "Robert Lee Stump"; Death: Biographical Directory of the US Congress, obituary:  The Arizona Republic, June 24, 2003, p. B 7; Cemetery:  obituary; Military Service:  clipping attached to Arizona Legislative Biography sheet, obituaries:  The Arizona Republic, June 23, 2003 and June 24, 2003