Jesse Addison Udall

Jesse Addison Udall (June 24, 1893 – May 11, 1980) was an American jurist and member of the Udall political family who served as chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. He also served in the Arizona House of Representatives.

Jesse Addison Udall
Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
In office January 1964 – December 1964
Preceded by	Charles C. Bernstein
Succeeded by	Lorna E. Lockwood
Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
In office 1960–1972
Preceded by	Levi Stewart Udall
Succeeded by	William A. Holohan
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 14th district
In office 1931–1938
Personal details
Born	(1893-06-24)June 24, 1893 Eagar, Territory of Arizona
Died	May 11, 1980(1980-05-11) (aged 86) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Lela Lee ​ (died 1976)​ Lillian Cluff Jenkins ​ ​ (m. 1978)​
Children	6
Parents	David King Udall (father) Ida Hunt Udall (mother)
Relatives	Addison Pratt (great-grandfather) Stewart Udall (nephew) Mo Udall (nephew) Gordon H. Smith (grandson)
Alma mater	University of Arizona Law School

Early life

Jesse Udall was born on June 24, 1893, at a house near Eagar, Arizona, to Ida Frances (née Hunt) and David King Udall.^{[1][citation needed]} He was named after Jesse Nathaniel Smith and Addison Pratt, his great-grandfather.^{[citation needed]} He served as an ambulance driver for the U.S. Army in France during World War I.^[1] He graduated from the University of Arizona Law School in 1924.^{[1][citation needed]}

Career

Udall practiced law in Safford. He was a county attorney in Graham County in 1925 and 1926. He was a Republican and served as in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1930 to 1943. In 1939, he became judge of the Arizona Superior Court.^[1][2]

Udall helped organize an Arizona National Guard company during World War II. He was the chief of the Army Internal Security Division's review section in Washington, D.C.^[1] In 1945, he continued his law practice in Safford. In 1956, he returned as judge of the Arizona Superior Court. He served in that role until 1958.^[1] He then served as president of the Southern California mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.^[1] In 1960, Governor Paul Fannin appointed him to succeed his brother Levi on the Arizona Supreme Court. He was chief justice of the supreme court in 1964 and 1969.^[1]

Udall was bishop of the Thatcher Ward and was twice president of St. Joseph Stake Academy. He was also a patriarch of Tempe Stake.^[1]

Personal life

Udall (right) and Arizona Governor George W. P. Hunt, 1916.

Udall married Lela Lee. She died in 1976.^[2] He married Lillian (née Cluff) Jenkins in 1978.^[3] He had six children, Jessica, Addison R., Kenyon, Lela Lee, Mary Louise and David K.^[1] His nephews were U.S. Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall and U.S. Representative Mo Udall.^[2] His grandson, Gordon H. Smith was a U.S. Senator from Oregon. His grandson Jesse Udall is the husband of Michelle Udall.^{[citation needed]} He lived on Alameda Drive in Tempe.^[1]

Udall died on May 11, 1980, aged 86, at a hospital in Phoenix.^[2]