John Harms Haugh

Legislative Resolution

View Legislative Resolution File for John Harms Haugh

Biographical Information

The following is from the Legislative death resolution:

The Honorable John H. Haugh passed away on July 2, 1996 at the age of eighty-five.

Born in Clinton, Iowa, John Haugh attended Lake Forest College and the University of California before moving to Tucson in 1938.  He established himself as an exceptional businessman through his endeavors as founder of the Tucson Hide & Wool Company, which later became known as Tucson Tallow Inc.  Despite the demands of operating his business, John Haugh simultaneously established an exceptional political career.

A lifelong Republican and political activist, John Haugh began his public service as a precinct committeeman in Tucson in 1950.  He went on to join the Arizona House of Representatives in 1952, where, in 1964 he was elected as majority leader by a coalition of Democrats and Republicans, even though Democrats held the majority and the speakership.  In 1966, he ran for governor in the primary election and lost narrowly to Jack Williams, who went on to win the post.

John Haugh returned to the House in 1968 where he achieved a remarkable record of service during two years as Speaker.  Under his capable leadership, Republican efforts supporting government reorganization and reform proposals were continued, the first state bilingual education program was passed, air pollution control measures were expanded, law enforcement merit systems were implemented and state services for the mentally retarded were increased.  Throughout eighteen years of dedicated service in the Arizona legislature, John Haugh earned the well-deserved reputation as being hard-working and dependable among individuals on both sides of the political aisle.

Outside of the Arizona legislature, John Haugh continued his tradition of public service through his efforts as Arizona's Republican National Committeeman from 1966 through 1976 and as a public member of the U. S. delegation to the United Nations Geneva Conference of the Economic and Social Council in 1971, the Colombo Conference of the Economic Council of Asia and the Far East in 1974 and the United Nations General Assembly in 1975.

In addition to his outstanding political contributions, John Haugh gave selflessly of his time and abilities to numerous worthwhile business organizations.  He served admirably as director and president of the National Renders Association and as a member of the boards of the American By-Products Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Pima Pork Producers, Tucson Poultry Processors, the former Tucson Gas & Electric Company and American Savings & Loan.

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: Arizona Legislative Biography sheet:  "John H. Haugh" parents:  John A. and Paula (Harms) Haugh; Death:  obituary:  Keith Bagwell.  "John Haugh dies at 85; Tucson Tallow Co. founder." The Arizona Daily Star, July 4, 1996, p. 14A; Occupation(s): obituary; Cemetery:  Find A Grave Memorial 22368999 created by: A. Newman, record added: Oct 21, 2007