Joseph "Joe" James Lane

Biographical Information

From ALIS, HCR 2040, Fifty-First Legislature, Second Regular Session (2014):

Former Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives Joseph James Lane III passed away on March 6, 2014 at the age of seventy-eight.

Born on September 16, 1935 in Roswell, New Mexico, Joe was raised on the Lane family ranches in Arizona and New Mexico. In 1957, Joe graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in agriculture. After his graduation, he ably served his country in the United States Army as a First Lieutenant in the Armor Division in Killeen, Texas.

A self-proclaimed cattleman, Joe owned ranches in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. He spent the majority of his ranching career on the O Bar O Ranch, located in Bonita, Arizona. In 1983, he sold this ranch so that he could devote his full attention to government service in Arizona.

Joe embarked on his political career in 1978 when he won a seat in the Arizona Legislature. He served in this capacity until 1988, serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 38th Legislature (1987-1988). He subsequently worked as an aide to Governors Fife Symington and Jane Hull. Additionally, Joe served as Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture until his retirement.

Despite the demands of his work, Joe gave selflessly of his time, energy and abilities to various civic and charitable organizations. Among his many professional affiliations, Joe served as President of the Arizona Cattlegrowers Association, Chairman of the Arizona State Transportation Board and Chairman of the Arizona Chapter of the American Heart Association. In 1997, he received the University of Arizona College of Agriculture Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2007, he was named Cattleman of the Year by the Arizona Cattlegrowers Association.

Dedicated to his family, Joe is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Charles B. "Doc" and Patti, son and daughter-in-law, Walter and Karen, daughters, Denise and Nora, son-in-law, Phil, ten grandchildren, Dylan, Emma, Andrew, Neil, Adam, Beth, Erin, Alex, Josh and Christian, and four great-grandchildren, Emma, Kavin, Cameron and Kalie. He is also survived by his former wives, Mari and Susan.

A humble man who cared deeply about his community, state and country, Joe will be missed greatly by the many people whose lives he touched.

Military Experience

US Army, First Armoured Division, Rank of 1st Lieut.

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: AZ Leg Bio American Legislative Leaders in the West, 1911-1994 and HCR 2040, Fifty-First Legislature, Second Regular Session (2014), p. 316. Death: "Former House Speaker Joe Lane, 78, dies", AZCapitolTimes.com, 6 Mar 2014.