Douglas Stanley Holsclaw

Legislative Resolution

View Legislative Resolution File for Douglas Stanley Holsclaw

Biographical Information

Arizona Senate Resolution No. 1002 (33rd Legislature, 2nd Regular Session, 1978):

A Resolution establishing Wednesday, May 17, 1978 as Senator Douglas S. Holsclaw Day.

Whereas, it is incumbent upon a state to recognize the contributions and preserve the memory of its greatest leaders; and

Whereas, a measure of the strength of a society is the guidance and accomplishments of such leaders; and

Whereas, Senator Douglas S. Holsclaw served twenty-two outstanding years as an Arizona legislator which has benefited every citizen of this state; and

Whereas, Senator Holsclaw was responsible for the enactment of more than two hundred laws and memorials during his legislative tenure; and

Whereas, his support for the improvement of public education from primary through graduate level instruction was unequaled and his dedication to providing better health care and an adequate living standard for all persons was unwavering; and

Whereas, Senator Holsclaw has served with distinction in such diverse organizations as the Governor's State Planning Committee for the 1971 White House Conference on Aging, the Governor's Advisory Committee on Traffic Safety, the Governor's Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Arizona Bicentennial Commission, the Arizona Historical Society, the National Council on Crime and Delinquency and the Nature Conservancy; and

Whereas, Douglas Holsclaw has been recognized as an outstanding citizen and received more than fifty awards including the prestigious Carnegie Human Relations Award, Arizona Association for Retarded Children Award, Arizona Hospital Association Service Award, the Arizona Senior Citizen of the Year Citation of Merit, the Tucson Man of the Year Award, the University of Arizona Alumni Service Award and the National Delta Chi Social Fraternity Alumni Service Award; and

Whereas, his unmatched civic record includes membership in the American Legion, Disabled Veterans of World War I, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, YMCA Board, Tucson Community Council, Tucson Boys Club Board of Directors, Tucson Boys Chorus Board of Directors, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Humane Society, participation for many years in the Arizona Academy Town Hall, Wildlife Federation and Tucson Mountains Association and a patron of the Tucson Opera Company, Tucson Museum of Art and the Tucson Symphony; and

Whereas, Senator Holsclaw has had a distinguished education in both the fields of law and of medicine at the University of Arizona, Stanford University and at Harvard Medical School; and

Whereas, Douglas Holsclaw has made an outstanding contribution to the development of the University of Arizona by authoring the University fight song, donating scholarship money for needy students, leading the Legislature in locating the medical school at the University of Arizona and was a major contributor for its first buildings; and

Whereas, this energetic leader, as a legislator and statesman, a husband to the former Alice Templer Young and a father to Dr. Douglas Holsclaw, Jr., has contributed a lifetime of public service for the betterment of this state and this country

Therefore
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona:
That Wednesday, May 17, 1978 is established as Senator Douglas S. Holsclaw Day.

The following is from the Legislative death resolution:

The Honorable Douglas S. Holsclaw passed away on February 10, 1995 at the age of ninety-six in Tucson.

A native of Idaho, Douglas Holsclaw moved to Arizona in 1921 where he distinguished himself as an outstanding businessman, philanthropist and political and civic leader.  After graduating from the University of Arizona in 1925, he went on to study medicine at Harvard Medical School and law at the University of Arizona.  He and his wife, Alice, established a highly successful real estate business in the Tucson area.

First elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 1952, Douglas Holsclaw served in this capacity for seven terms before being elected to the Senate for another four terms, where he served as chairman of the Health Committee.  Throughout twenty-two years of distinguished service in the State Legislature, he diligently served his constituents as an outspoken advocate for various causes.  His background in medicine, real estate and law enabled him to approach legislative issues from an informed and knowledgeable perspective.  Among his many accomplishments, Douglas Holsclaw was instrumental in the establishment of the medical school at the University of Arizona in 1963, and he set a state record in sponsoring more than two hundred bills that were passed into law.

In addition to his outstanding political contributions, Douglas Holsclaw and his wife made numerous donations of time and resources to educational and cultural causes in the Tucson area.  Their generous contributions include such community institutions as the Temple of Music and Art, the Arizona Cancer Center, the Arizona Training Program, the YMCA Child Care Center, the Beacon Foundation, the Arizona Boys Chorus, the Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind and Pima Community College.

Military Experience

World War I veteran

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: Arizona Legislative Biography sheet, "Douglas S. Holsclaw" parents:  John Cling Holsclaw and Abbie Oliver Holsclaw, however, name on WWI draft card:  "Dugald Stanley Holsclaw" and "Dougal Holsclaugh" born July 1898 in Idaho was listed with his parents:  John C Holsclaugh and Jennette Holsclaugh in the 1900 federal census of Grangeville, Idaho Co., Idaho, "Dugald S. Holsclaw" was listed in the Veterans' Hospital in the 1930 federal census of Tucson, Arizona; Death: obituary:  Tom Turner.  "Enduring legislator, benefactor Douglas S. Holsclaw dies at 96." The Arizona Daily Star, February 11, 1995, p. 1 A; Military Service: Arizona Legislative Biography sheet