Antonio Alfonso "Tony" Gabaldon (June 3, 1930 – January 3, 1998) was a Mexican-American teacher and principal, who became a politician and was elected as Arizona state senator.
He remained an enthusiastic supporter of athletic events in the community through his later work as a teacher, coach and principal.
[1] Elected to the Arizona senate in 1972, Gabaldon served for 16 years, being re-elected through that period.
Gabaldon died at his home from a heart attack on January 3, 1998, at the age of sixty-seven.
The Arizona Senate passed a resolution celebrating Gabaldon's life, praising his "tremendous ability" in politics, generosity with his "time, energy, and abilities" in voluntary endeavours, and "exceptional cooking skills", which he employed for fundraising purposes and the provision of meals for senior citizens' centers in his district.