John Mickelson

Legislative Resolution

View Legislative Resolution File for John Mickelson

Biographical Information

The following is from the Legislative death resolution:

On May 28, 1982, the Honorable John Mickelson, a former colleague in the State Senate, passed away in Safford, Arizona at the age of seventy-four.

Mr. Mickelson was born December 29, 1907 in Colonia Dublan, Mexico and came to Arizona in 1912.  Settling in Thatcher, he received his education at Gila Junior College, now Eastern Arizona Community College, where he was a member of the championship basketball team.  He was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and devoted a lifetime of service to his church, community and state.  Although he was a licensed contractor and merchant by trade, his interests and influence went far beyond commercial enterprise.

Among his many positions of service were those with the Safford-Graham County Chamber of Commerce and the Safford Rotary Club, each of which he served as president.  He was a charter member and captain of the Graham County sheriff's posse and an Arizona highway patrolman.  He served on and was chairman of Selective Service Board #5 of Graham County for twenty-five years.  Mr. Mickelson was especially active in the area of education and was instrumental in establishing the state's system of junior colleges.  He was chairman of the board of directors of State Institutions for Juveniles, president of the Board of Education of Eastern Arizona Junior College for twelve years, president of the Eastern Arizona Junior College Alumni and received the Eastern Arizona Junior College "man of the year" award in 1956.  The Eastern Arizona Community College athletic field was dedicated as "John Mickelson Field".  He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America where he helped charter and served on the Three-G Council and received the Silver Beaver award for outstanding service.  He was an Exalted Ruler and Secretary of Safford Elks Lodge 1607 and was serving as president of the Past Exalted Rulers at the time of his death.  He and his wife Eunice were co-chairmen of the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration in Graham County.

Mr. Mickelson was a Democrat and served as Justice of the Peace in Graham County District #5.  He was twice elected Mayor of the Town of Thatcher.  In 1958 he was elected to the State Senate where he served in the Twenty-fourth through Twenty-seventh Legislatures.  His committee assignments included Agriculture and Irrigation, Appropriations, Banking and Insurance, Education, Enrolling and Engrossing, Finance and Revenue, Fish and Game, Livestock and Public Lands, Military and Veterans Affairs, Rules, State Institutions, Suffrage and Elections, Tourists and Industry Development and Public Health and Welfare, where he served as chairman.

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: Arizona Legislative Biography sheet, parents:  Marius and Minnie (Jensen) Mickelson; Occupation(s): Arizona Legislative Biography sheet and Legislative death resolution; Death: SSDI, obituary:  The Arizona Republic, May 31, 1982, p. D-2:1