Raúl Héctor Castro

Raul Hector Castro (June 12, 1916 – April 10, 2015) was a Mexican-born American politician. He has served in both elected and non-elected public offices, including Ambassadors from the United States and the 14th Governor of Arizona (1975–77).

Raúl Héctor Castro
Castro as a law student, c. 1940
United States Ambassador to Argentina
In office November 16, 1977 – July 30, 1980
President	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Robert Hill
Succeeded by	Harry Shlaudeman
14th Governor of Arizona
In office January 6, 1975 – October 20, 1977
Preceded by	Jack Williams
Succeeded by	Wesley Bolin
United States Ambassador to Bolivia
In office September 3, 1968 – November 3, 1969
President	Lyndon B. Johnson Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Douglas Henderson
Succeeded by	Ernest Siracusa
United States Ambassador to El Salvador
In office December 11, 1964 – July 17, 1968
President	Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded by	Murat Williams
Succeeded by	William Bowdler
Personal details
Born	Raúl Castro (1916-06-12)June 12, 1916 Cananea, Sonora, Mexico
Died	April 10, 2015(2015-04-10) (aged 98) San Diego, California, U.S.
Resting place	Sonora Community Cemetery Sedona, Arizona
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Patricia Steiner ​ (m. 1959)​
Education	Northern Arizona University (BS) University of Arizona (JD)

He was the first hispanic to be elected governor of Arizona.^[1] At the age of 98, he became the oldest living United States governor, after the death of former Washington Governor Albert Rosellini at the age of 101.

Early life

Castro was born on June 12, 1916 on Cananea, Mexico. He studied at Northern Arizona University and at James E. Rogers College of Law.

Career

In 1954, he was elected county attorney and served in that capacity until 1958, when he became a Pima County Superior Court Judge. His national stature grew over the years, and President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Castro as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador in 1964. After four years there, he served as Ambassador to Bolivia until the end of 1969.

Returning to Tucson, Arizona in 1969 to specialize in international law, Castro continued to rise to the top in Arizona Democratic politics. Seeking state office for the first time in 1970, he won the Democratic nomination for governor, but narrowly lost the general election to Republican incumbent Jack Williams. In 1974, Castro was elected governor. In 1977, after two years as governor, he was selected by President Jimmy Carter to be ambassador to Argentina. Castro held that post until 1980.

Detention

On June 12, 2012, despite searing temperatures, Castro was stopped by U.S. Border Patrol after they detected traces of radiation in his vehicle. After explaining that the radiation was due to a medical procedure from the previous day, the ex-governor was released after a short detention.^[2]

Death

Castro died in his sleep while under hospice care in San Diego, California, aged 98.^[1]