Raul Castro left a legacy in Arizona as the state's first Mexican American governor, and (at OneAZ) as a founding member of The Arizona State Employees’ Credit Union.
Raul H. Castro had a lifetime of impact on the state of Arizona, from international ambassadorship to state governor, to being a founding member of OneAZ Credit Union. With his upcoming birthday, we’re celebrating and remembering the life of Raul Castro.
A brief history
Raul H. Castro was born in Sonora, Mexico on June 12, 1916, and raised in Douglas, Arizona. Castro became a naturalized American citizen in 1939 and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in teaching from Northern Arizona University, followed by a J.D. degree from the University of Arizona in 1949.
In 1951, Castro was the only Hispanic founding member of The Arizona State Employees’ Credit Union, which would eventually become OneAZ Credit Union. From 1955 to 1959, Castro served as Pima County Attorney. In 1958, Castro was elected as a Pima County Superior Court Judge. This led to his appointment by Lyndon B. Johnson as the U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador, followed by an ambassadorship to Bolivia. From 1959 to 1964, he served as a judge on the Pima County Superior Court.
Castro first ran for governor of Arizona in 1970 and again in 1974. A trailblazer for Latinos in Arizona politics, Castro made history when he won. He became the first Mexican American to be elected governor of Arizona in 1974. As governor, he visited Native American reservations and rural areas of the state that historically saw few visits from politicians.
A notable accomplishment during his time as Governor, Castro signed Executive Order No. 77-6 for Floodplain Management that documented the intent of the State of Arizona to comply with the floodplain management provisions contained in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP provided FEMA floodplain maps, the ability for flood insurance and federal disaster grants to each community.
In the 1980’s, following his run as state governor, he continued his law practice, focusing on international and immigration law. He moved to Nogales in 1996 and retired from his law practice in 2003.
Castro passed away on April 10, 2015, at 98 years old. His Nogales home was donated to his alma mater, University of Arizona. Castro was many things to the state of Arizona – teacher, advocate, judge, governor, and more – and all of us at OneAZ are proud to call him a founding member. His life is an inspiration and reminder that we are capable of creating our own paths to success.
