Robert L. Fletcher

Robert L. Fletcher was an American farmer who was a pioneer of the west valley of the Phoenix Metropolitan area.

[2] Fletcher served in Africa and Italy during World War II in the Army Air Corps 41st Depot Repair Squadron.

[9][10] In 1958, Fletcher served on the Arizona Cotton Growers Association’s committee to study an issue with pink bollworms in the area and try to eradicate them.

Fletcher farmed 10 acres for the university, testing pesticides, grafting techniques and growth stimulants, as well as planting varieties of citrus trees to see which was better suited to desert climates.

[14] In 1972, a class action suit was filed against the Arizona Citrus Growers for failure to comply with requirements of Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act (FLCRA).

Numerous workers began striking along with filing the lawsuit stating that, “working and living conditions are ‘appalling.’”[15][16] The case eventually went to the Ninth Circuit United States Court of Appeals in 1990 under the case name Six Mexican Workers.

Art Pollard, Bobby Unser, Pancho Carter and Lee Kunzman raced for the team.

[6][22][23][24] The end of the Fletcher Racing team was often given to the fatal accident of Gordon Smiley in the practices of the Indy 500 of 1982.

[26] Fletcher was named president of the raceway in 1977, credited to his close association to the United States Auto Club and his racing background.