Benjamin Baker Moeur

Benjamin Baker Moeur (born December 22, 1869 in Decherd , Tennessee , † March 16, 1937 in Tempe , Arizona ) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) and from 1933 to 1937 governor of the state of Arizona.

Early years and political advancement

Moeur graduated from Arkansas Industrial University in 1896 , where he earned a medical degree . He then moved to Tempe, Arizona that same year, where he founded a medical practice and took part in a number of business ventures. He chose a political career in 1910 when he became a member of Arizona's Constitutional Convention. Moeur served on the Tempe School Board for eight years and on the Tempe Normal School Board (now Arizona State University ) for twelve years .

Governor of Arizona

He was elected Governor of Arizona on November 8, 1932 and sworn in on January 2, 1933. He was re-elected for a second term on November 6, 1934. Moeur held the post during the height of the Great Depression and took some steps to ease the economic situation. He introduced sales , luxury and income taxes , reduced property taxes to 40 percent, and proposed that state legislatures cut the budget by $ 4.5 million. He also started the Yuma-Gila Reclamation Project during his administration , the 21st constitutional article was ratified by Arizona and the overflow for the Hoover Dam was officially opened to provide water for irrigation of the country within the state. Moeur ran unsuccessfully for a third term as governor in 1936. He left office on January 4, 1937.

Benjamin Baker Moeur died on March 16, 1937, just two months after he left office. He was then buried in Butte Cemetery in Tempe, Arizona. He was married to Honor G. Anderson. The couple had four children together.

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personal data
SURNAME	Moeur, Benjamin Baker
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	December 22, 1869
PLACE OF BIRTH	Decherd , Tennessee
DATE OF DEATH	March 16, 1937
Place of death	Tempe , Arizona