John Scott Alexander

John Scott Alexander 1936-2007 John Scott Alexander passed away peacefully at home on October 14, 2007 after a long illness. Known by his family and friends as "Scott", he was a former State Representative and State Senator with an accomplished career in public service. He was born in Tulsa, OK on Sept 24, 1936 to Ruth and Jack Alexander. His childhood was spent on a farm in Coppell, Texas; he was in charge of all the animals and maintenance of the land. He was a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and won a blue ribbon for raising his pigs. Scott had a great love of nature and he enjoyed the symphony, summer musicals and traveling with his parents. His adult appreciation of opera, symphony and the arts stems from his early childhood experiences and his love of country music originated with his rural upbringing. A favorite time of Scott's life was his attending St Mark's High School of Texas, a private boys school; he kept in touch with his classmates there for the rest of his life. At age 17, Scott attended the University of Arizona in Political Science. In 1958 he was a Ford Foundation legislative intern which began his career in Arizona politics. In 1964 he was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives. He subsequently served in the Arizona Senate. During his tenure in the legislature, he was instrumental in creating the Executive Budget Act, the State Personnel Act, and the State Purchasing Office, all unique for the State of Arizona. In addition, Senator Alexander was instrumental in funding the new University of Arizona College of Medicine, the University Hospital and the Arizona Cancer Center. He received the Distinguished Citizen Award by the University of Arizona Alumni Association for his role in the founding and funding of the Arizona Cancer Center. After leaving the legislature, he formed the Public Policy Associates of which he was President. He was also very active in the Tucson, Arizona and Sonora, Mexico communities. He was an active member of the Catalina Rotary, the Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce, the Wildcat Club and Harvill Society of the U of A, Trout Unlimited, the Arizona Town Hall, the Arizona Historical Society, the Sons of the American Revolution, and St. Phillips in the Hills Episcopal Church. Scott loved the Arizona Wildcats and attended every game he could to cheer them on. Scott was instrumental in the 300th Anniversary of the arrival of Father Kino to what became Sonora and Arizona by heading the campaign to fund three statues of Father Kino; in Tucson (on Kino Parkway), in Magdalena, Mexico, and in Trento, Italy. He also received the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award from the University Of Arizona Department Of Journalism for his contributions to the freedom of the press, and for the creation and passage of the Arizona Open Meetings Law. Scott loved the State of Arizona and all of its connections to the rest of the country and world. He was a fount of knowledge of the desert Southwest, Arizona and Sonoran history, the politics of Arizona, and little known facts about our region. He could recall information on all of these topics with humor and specifics. Anyone could ask him for a spontaneous, authoritative answer to any question in these areas. Senator Alexander is survived by his loving wife, Sarah Christian Alexander; his children Colonel John Scott Alexander (wife Maria, grandchildren John, Caroline and Colin), Jeff Alexander (wife Jennifer and grandchild Connor); his sister Carol Alexander Vesey (husband John Vesey); nephews Kevin Duncan and Sean Alexander, niece Stacy Alexander; stepchildren Chad Christian, Van Christian, and Beth Christian Brewer (husband Walter). Services will be held at St. Phillips Episcopal Church in the Foothills at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 20th, 2007. Donations in his honor may be made to the Arizona Cancer Center, 3838 N. Campbell Ave.