Frederick "Fred" Tuttle Colter

Legislative Resolution

View Legislative Resolution File for Frederick "Fred" Tuttle Colter

Biographical Information

The following is from Jo Conners' Who's Who in Arizona (Tucson, AZ:  Jo Conners, 1913), pp. 408-410:

Fred Tuttle Colter, widely known and generally recognized as one of Arizona's most entrprising and public spirited men, is the son of James H. G. and Rosa Rudd Colter, and a native of this State, having been born at Nutrioso, February 2, 1879.  Living on one of the finest and most thoroughly equipped ranches in Arizona, he is known throughout the State as a stock raiser, and considered an authority on matters pertaining to this business, a reputation which is truly merited, for Mr. Colter's knowledge of the subject has been a part of his lifelong education.  His father was extensively interested in cattle raising, and in 1880 moved to Alma, New Mexico, where he had a large range.  This was, however, situated on an Indian trail leading from the Apache Reservation to Mexico, and the Indians killed most of the stock and many of the settlers.  In 1883, after a three days fight in which 27 white men were combating 300 Indians led by Geronimo, his father sold out and moved to Newton, Kansas, where he again engaged in live stock raising and farming.  In 1888 he returned to Arizona, and located at Springerville, which then became the permanent home of the family.  Mr. Colter's tendency toward independence and unusual energy which have been among his most marked characteristics in later life asserted themselves when he was quite a small boy, as at the age of twelve years he started out to work for himself before and after school hours and during vacation periods to pay his way through school, and his surplus earnings, even at that time, where invested in cattle.  His public school course having been completed, in 1899-1900 he took a business course in Pueblo, Colorado, and this is the only actual lapse in his career as stockman from early boyhood.  Returning to Arizona in 1900, he engaged in the stock business in a larger way, and has since continued to add to his stock of cattle, horses and sheep, until his business may now be ranked among the leading ones of Arizona.  While gradually increasing the range of his personal business, at this time he accepted a position as manager for a cattle outfit owned by Mr. W. H. Phelps, who had the utmost confidence in his ability and integrity, as he had previously been employed by Mr. Phelps in a different capacity, and to him Mr. Colter feels that he is indebted in many ways.  In addition to the live stock business, Mr. Colter is a large dealer in land and a well known developer of the same.  In 1905 he made some investments in land and commenced reclaiming other land by taking out ditches and building reservoirs, of which he built six.  He is now prominently identified with various construction and reservoir companies throughout the State, being President of the Colter Construction Company and of the American Valley Reservoir Company, and Director of the Lyman Reservoir Company.  He is also President of the Colter-Tyler Livestock Company.  Besides the demands made on his time and energy by his business affiliations, Mr. Colter has served in various political capacities.  In 1904 he was Democratic nominee for Supervisor in Apache, a strongly Republican county, and was defeated by but 15 votes; while in 1906 he was elected for the long term, and served as Supervisor until February 14, 1912, when Arizona became a State.  He was elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention and was made chairman of the Committee on Mode of Amending Schedule and Miscellaneous.  In March, 1912, Governor Hunt appointed Mr. Colter a member of the State Sanitary Sheep Commission.  He is also a member of the Executive Committee from Apache County of the Democratic State Central Committee.  He is now serving his second term as Vice President of the Arizona Cattle Grower's Association.  He is also one of the Committee on Forest Reserves and Public Grazing of the American National Live Stock Association, and a long time member of the Elks Lodge, he is at present one of the Executive Committee of the same.  Mr. Colter was married November 11, 1904, to Miss Duge Phelps, who is well known and popular in the social life of both Arizona and California.

The following is from the Legislative death resolution:

WHEREAS, on January 8, 1944, Hon. Frederick Tuttle Colter, at the age of sixty-four, succumbed to injuries sustained in an automobile accident, which occurred three days previously; and

WHEREAS, Frederick Tuttle Colter, native of Arizona, educated in its public schools, and lifetime resident of Arizona as territory and state, cowboy, cattleman, businessman, civic enthusiast, constitution-maker, legislator, and leading advocate of highline development of the Colorado river, was one of Arizona's most colorful, most earnest, best known characters.

In addition to serving as a delegate from Apache county in the Constitutional Convention of 1910 which formulated Arizona's organic law, the deceased was a member of the Senate of the Second, Third, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Legislatures and of the House of Representatives of the Eleventh Legislature, representing his native Apache county, and member of the House of Representatives of the Fifteenth Legislature, representing Maricopa county, in all of which bodies he was known for his fearlessness, aggressiveness and energy.

As head since 1922 of the Arizona Highline Reclamation Association, organized and maintained for the advocacy of diversion of the waters of the Colorado river at a high point on that stream, Mr. Colter gained his greatest fame.  In the cause he espoused and of which he was long recognized as the outstanding advocate he may be said to have devoted the best years of his life, unselfishly and unswervingly.

Additional Information

“Fred T. Colter” signed the Arizona State Constitution on December 9, 1910 as a delegate from Apache County.

LEGISLATIVE FAMILY:  brother of Sen. Bert J. Colter

In 1962, the Senate passed the following memorial requesting that a dam be named for the Honorable Fred T. Colter:

SENATE CONCURRENT MEMORIAL NO. 1
A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL REQUESTING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO NAME THE GLEN CANYON DAM THE FRED T. COLTER DAM.

To the Congress of the United States of America and the Secretary of the Department of Interior:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

The Honorable Fred T. Colter, a native Arizonan, distinguished himself by his civic and political activities throughout his life up until the time of his death.

Mr. Colter was born in the village of Nutrioso, Apache County, Arizona.  In addition to being an established rancher, he participated in Arizona political activities and was instrumental in developing not only the Constitution of Arizona but many of the laws which make up the Arizona Revised Statutes.

Fred T. Colter was a member of the Constitutional Convention which met in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1910.  Mr. Colter, along with former Governor Osborne, had the distinction of being one of the youngest members of the Constitutional Convention.  Moreover, he served the citizens of this State as State Senator and Representative and also in other county offices.

The interest of Fred T. Colter in the development of Arizona was maintained by him throughout his life.  He became interested in the utilization of water from the Colorado River and pushed his program forward relentlessly for many years.  For their time, his ideas relating to the use of water appeared visionary but as the years passed it was realized that he had proposed a practical program of water utilization.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1.  That in honor of Fred T. Colter, a person of established eminence, the Glen Canyon Dam be hereafter named the "Fred T. Colter Dam."

2  That the Congress of the United States and the Secretary of Interior recognize the achievements of Fred T. Colter and his importance in development of the State of Arizona, and take appropriate action which would result in changing the name of the Glen Canyon Dam to the "Fred T. Colter Dam."

3.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona be directed to transmit a certified copy of this Memorial to the President of the Senate of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, the Secretary of the Department of Interior, and to each member of the Arizona Congressional delegation.

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth:  Jo Conners.  Who's Who in Arizona (Tucson, AZ:  Jo Conners, 1913), pp. 408, "Frederic" in 1880 NM census with parents J. H. and Rosa Colter; Death: AZ death record: Fred T. Colter, Legislative death resolution; Cemetery:  Find A Grave Memorial 32852905 created by: Pat Christensen, record added: Jan 11, 2009