Hunt, George

Hunt, George (Wylie Paul) (1859–1934) governor; born in Huntsville, Mo. Settling in the silver mining town of Globe, Ariz., in 1881, he worked for the Old Dominion Commercial Company, becoming its president in 1900. He also acquired a ranch on the nearly Salt River. Supported by the silver miners union, he served on the territorial legislature and presided over the constitutional convention that led to statehood. He then became Arizona's first governor (1912–19) and returned to office twice more (1923–29, 1931–33). Although a prosperous businessman, as governor he was noted for policies that favored labor and prison reforms; alternately popular and hated, he became a nearly legendary figure in Arizona.