Former Arizona Governor Ernest W. McFarland will be honored with a new memorial that will be unveiled next weekend near the state Capitol in Phoenix.
The landmark at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza will feature a 24-foot spire and depict significant events in McFarland's life. It was designed by Phoenix-based Ryden Architects and replaces a structure that had fallen into disrepair due to faulty construction.
McFarland, a Democrat, was governor from 1955 to 1959. Before that, he served two terms as a U.S. senator before being defeated by Barry Goldwater in 1952. After his governorship ended, he was elected to the Arizona Supreme Court. He served as chief justice of the court in 1968. He died in 1984.
McFarland is remembered for his support of the GI Bill, which funds education and low-interest home loans for American veterans. As governor, he championed high-tech industries and the Central Arizona Project's sustainable water initiatives.
The new memorial will be unveiled Saturday, February 14 (Arizona Statehood Day, as well as Valentine's Day), from 2 to 3 p.m. The dedication will include a ceremony to transfer the memorial site to the state of Arizona.
Above: Former Arizona Governor Ernest W. McFarland. | Courtesy of Jameson & Associates
Below: A rendering of the new memorial. | Courtesy of Ryden Architects
