JANUARY 28, 2015
Sen. Barry Goldwater statue to be installed at Statuary Hall
PHOENIX – U.S. House Speaker John Boehner announced a statue of the late Sen. Barry Goldwater will be installed Wed., Feb. 11, 2015 at 3 p.m. in National Statuary Hall.
“Senator Goldwater is truly ‘Mr. Arizona’ and represents our state’s grit and spirit,” said Sec. of State Michele Reagan. “I am proud to have such a great American and native Arizonan represent the state.”
Barry Goldwater was born in the Territory of Arizona on New Year's Day in 1909. Goldwater's political career began with a successful run for Phoenix City Council in 1949. Three years later he won a seat representing Arizona in the United States Senate. Although, his 1964 presidential bid proved unsuccessful, he is seen as a leader and visionary of the conservative movement.
In addition to politics, Goldwater was passionate about the people and landscapes of Arizona.
He traveled extensively throughout the state photographing the wonders of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River plateau. He retired from the Senate in 1987 and passed away in 1998.
“Artist Deborah Copenhaver Fellows has crafted a likeness of Senator Goldwater that brilliantly captures his spirit,” said Ken Bennett former Secretary of State whose office spearheaded the creation of the statute.
“The installation of Senator Goldwater’s statue represents the culmination of work began by the Legislature and carried forth by the Arizona Historical Advisory Committee,” said State Librarian Joan Clark. “AHAC is honored to have been part of this worthwhile endeavor.”
In 2008, the Arizona Legislature passed House Joint Resolution 2001 urging the U.S. Congress to allow a statue of Senator Goldwater to be displayed in National Statuary Hall in place of the current John Campbell Greenway statue. Greenway, a Rough Rider who was one of the leaders in the charge up San Juan Hill, was instrumental in the mining industry in Arizona. He developed a method for extracting low-grade ore and he built the City of Ajo.
Statuary Hall was created by Congress in 1864 in the Old Hall of the U.S. House of Representatives. Each state is able to contribute two statutes that represent important historical figures of that state. The statue of Goldwater joins the statue of Father Eusebio Kino in representing the Arizona.
