Fred O. Wilson

Fred O. Wilson (July 24, 1903 – July 30, 1983) was an American politician who served as the Attorney General of Arizona from 1949 to 1953.

Fred O. Wilson
16th County Attorney of Navajo County
In office
January 1, 1961 – 1963
Preceded byEdwin R. Powell
Succeeded byJohn F. Taylor
11th Attorney General of Arizona
In office
1949–1953
GovernorDan Edward Garvey
Preceded byEvo Anton DeConcini
Succeeded byRoss F. Jones
Personal details
BornJuly 24, 1903
Tempe, Arizona
DiedJuly 30, 1983 (aged 80)

Early life and education

Fred O. Wilson, son of Edna Ozanne and Walter S. Wilson (1877-1964), was born in Maricopa County in 1903. Wilson attended Stanford University and was admitted to the United States Supreme Court bar on May 24, 1937.

Career

From 1938 to 1942, he lived in Washington, DC and served as an assistant attorney for the Federal Security Agency. He then spent two years in Denver, Colorado working for the Agency as Assistant Regional Attorney. Moving to Arizona, he worked a in a number of government jobs including as an Assistant Attorney General at the Employment Security Commission and the Arizona Industrial Commission.[1]

Wilson unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for Arizona Attorney General in 1944. He prevailed against Yale McFate in the 1948 Democratic primary. He then defeated his Republican challenger Laurens Henderson in the following election. In 1950, Wilson faced John Jacob Rhodes and won reelection. In 1952, Wilson defeated Robert Morrison in the primary but then lost the general election to Republican Ross F. Jones.[2]

After his election defeat and subsequent bribery trial, Wilson went into private practice in Phoenix. In 1954, he moved to Show Low and became City Attorney.

In 1960, he was elected as Navajo County Attorney.[3][4][5][6]

In 1962, he ran for a judgeship in Navajo County,[7] but lost to Melvyn T. Shelley. He was succeeded as county attorney by John F. Taylor.[8]

Wilson died on July 30, 1983.[9]

Bribery trial

In 1953, Pima County Attorney Robert Morrison charged Wilson with bribery and conspiracy to violate the state's gambling laws.[10] The trial venue was moved from Tucson to Yuma and took place in April 1953, with newly elected attorney general Ross F. Jones, county attorney Morris K. Udall, and Special Prosecutor Norman Herring forming the prosecution team.[11] Maurice T. Gurney, claimed that Wilson offered Gurney $800 to $1,000 a month if he would allow a friend of his to operate gambling in Pima county. Wilson denied ever having a meeting with Gurney and testified: "As God is my Judge, I never had a meeting with Gurney except for saying a few words to him in the sheriff's office and seeing him once in the Elks Club."[12]

Wilson was acquitted.[13]

Further reading

References
  1. Arizona Sun, May 21, 1948, Page Five
  2. Fred O. Wilson at the Website Our Campaigns
  3. 1962 Letter to Frank O. Wilson, Navajo County Attorney
  4. History of Holbrook pdf
  5. Opinion No. 61-73, 24. October 1961
  6. Letter Opinion No. 61-147-L, 10. November 1961
  7. The Fort Apache Scout, September 01, 1962, Page 6
  8. John F. Taylor
  9. Arizona Republic, August 2, 1983
  10. Yuma Sun Newspaper Archives April 16, 1953
  11. Arizona Daily Star Friday, January 16, 1953
  12. Yuma Sun Newspaper Archives, April 23, 1953
  13. Yuma Sun Newspaper Archives April 25, 1953 Page 1
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