Celora M. Stoddard

A World War I veteran, he helped establish the first American Legion post in Arizona in 1919, and became its first commander.

He would later be selected the Legion's state commander, and also served a term as the national vice-commander of the organization.

[5] His maternal grandfather was Celora E. Martin, who he was named after, was a judge on the New York Supreme Court.

[6] His father, who had been splitting his time between Arizona and New York during the late 1880s and 1890s, moved the family permanently to Yavapai County in 1892, settling in a camp mining town, which was named Stoddard in his honor.

[3] In 1914 he purchased The Rose Tree, a tea parlor and confectionary in Phoenix, refurbished it and turning it into a very successful establishment.

The wife was given custody of their son, and given a monthly allowance, and the real estate assets, which included houses in Phoenix and Long Beach, California, were split up by the court.

[19][20] He invested along with McClung Francisco and Webster Cullison, and put up a bond guaranteeing film production in Tucson.

[25][26] In early 1919, after his discharge from the army, Stoddard remarried, this time to Betty Howard of Pasadena, California.

[31] In July 1920, Stoddard announced his intention to run on the Republican ticket for one of the two Arizona State Senate seats from Maricopa County.

[43] In 1938, the Republicans failed to have any candidates step forward and seek the nomination for State Senator from Maricopa County.