Daniel E. Garvey Collection

Daniel Edward Garvey, eighth governor of Arizona, was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1886 and attended St. Aloysius College. Upon graduation he briefly worked as a clerk for the Yazoo and Mississippi Railroad before moving to Tucson in 1909, where he worked as a clerk on the Espes Randolph Line.

In 1912 Garvey married Thirza Jeanette Vail and they soon moved to Globe, where he worked as an accountant for the Arizona Eastern Railroad. Garvey's work for the railroad necessitated his return Tucson and there he joined the Tucson City Council. He later served as chief deputy assessor for Pima County, as chief deputy county treasurer, and finally was elected Pima County Treasurer in 1934. He resigned that post in 1938 to become Tucson city treasurer.

In 1939 Garvey was appointed assistant secretary of state and in 1944 Governor Sidney P. Osborn appointed him secretary of state, filling the vacancy left by the sudden death of Harry M. Moore. Garvey became acting Governor of Arizona in May of 1948 after the death of Sidney P. Osborn and he was elected governor in November of 1948.

Garvey's term as governor was notable for achievements in water issues. He initiated the signing of the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact and assisted in securing approval of the Central Arizona Water Project Authorization bill by the Senate Interior Committee. Garvey joined forces with Carl T. Hayden, John R. Murdock and others in gaining approval for the Central Arizona Project.

Garvey lost the 1949 Democratic primary election but in 1950 was appointed Arizona administrator of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. In 1955 he was appointed state examiner by governor Ernest McFarland, a position he maintained until his retirement in 1969. Garvey passed away on February 6, 1974.