Ernest W. McFarland and the American Dream

Ernest W. McFarland and the American Dream Welcome to a page dedicated to the legacy of Arizona statesman Ernest W. "Mac" McFarland and to unsu As U.S. McFarland served as a U.S.

Ernest W, McFarland came to Arizona with a few dollars in his pocket and left a legacy for our state’s future, and that of the nation, that can still be seen today. Senator, “Mac” as he was known, drafted the educational and loan opportunities of the GI Bill, providing opportunities for veterans returning from World War II and the Korean War. As Arizona Governor, Mac guided our state in its post-W

WII economic transition from agriculture to high tech industries and was instrumental in removing obstacles to the Central Arizona Project. McFarland also served in the Arizona Supreme Court, rising to the position of Chief Justice and writing over 300 opinions during his six-year term on the bench. Senator from 1941 to 1953, as Arizona Governor from 1955-1959, and as Arizona Supreme Court from 1964-1970, and was Chief Justice in 1968. A new memorial was dedicated to McFarland and "The American Dream" and unveiled on Saturday, February 14th, from 2-3 pm at Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix. Interested parties can also learn more about Mac at the McFarland State Historic Park located at 24 W. Ruggles in Florence, Arizona.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 📣Due to illness, we will be temporarily pausing this page. A new admin will be announced soon. This...
04/30/2026

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 📣
Due to illness, we will be temporarily pausing this page. A new admin will be announced soon.
This page was founded to honor the legacy of Ernest W. "Mac" McFarland (1894-1984) and other unsung heroes in history. Mac served as US Senator, US Senate Majority Leader, Governor of Arizona, Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, and so much more. Learn more at www.ewmcfarland.org.
A sincere thank you to all who have followed our page. We have appreciated your support!

Wild West Wednesday: Doc Holliday’s GraveJohn Henry Holliday (1851– 1887), better known as Doc Holliday, was an American...
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Wild West Wednesday: Doc Holliday’s Grave

John Henry Holliday (1851– 1887), better known as Doc Holliday, was an American dentist, gambler, and gunfighter who was a close friend and associate of lawman Wyatt Earp.

Holliday is best known for his participation in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. He developed a reputation for having killed more than a dozen men in various altercations, but modern historians have concluded that Holliday killed only between one and three men.

Doc Holliday's grave in Colorado states that he died in bed. This reflects his peaceful passing after a long illness, as he was known to have died of tuberculosis.

Famous Birthdays: Harper Lee Nelle Harper Lee (April 28, 1926 – 2016) was an American novelist whose 1960 novel To Kill ...
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Famous Birthdays: Harper Lee

Nelle Harper Lee (April 28, 1926 – 2016) was an American novelist whose 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize and became a classic of modern American literature.

In 1949, Lee moved to New York City and took jobs—first at a bookstore, then as an airline reservation agent—while writing in her spare time.

After publishing several long stories, Lee found an agent in November 1956; Maurice Crain would become a friend until his death decades later. The following month, at Michael Brown's East 50th Street townhouse, friends gave Lee a gift of a year's wages with a note: "You have one year off from your job to write whatever you please. Merry Christmas."

American Originals: Like Father, Like Son - The First Black GeneralsThe first two Black generals in the US military were...
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American Originals: Like Father, Like Son - The First Black Generals

The first two Black generals in the US military were father and son: Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. and Benjamin O Davis, Jr. They broke barriers and were instrumental in the desegregation of the military.

Davis Sr. was the first Black general in both the US military and the US Army. He was born in 1880 and joined the Army in 1898. After a brief hitch with the 8th US Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American War, he joined the “Buffalo Soldiers” – the 9th Cavalry Regiment – in Utah as a private. The Army largely kept him from military assignments so he wouldn’t be in command of white soldiers. In 1940, he was promoted to brigadier general.

Benjamin O. Davis Jr. attended West Point as the only Black cadet. Other cadets shunned him, speaking to him only when necessary. He would go on to lead all three units that would become known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Davis began WWI as a Lt. colonel and ended the war as a full colonel. After President Truman ordered the armed forces to integrate in 1948, Davis helped write the Air Force’s integration plan. He flew in the Korean War and later served with distinction in the Pentagon and overseas. He was promoted to full General in 1998.

Monday's Words to Live By: Helen KellenHelen Adams Keller (1880 – 1968) was an American author, disability rights advoca...
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Monday's Words to Live By: Helen Kellen

Helen Adams Keller (1880 – 1968) was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist, and lecturer.

Born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama, she lost her sight and her hearing after a bout of illness when she was 19 months old. She communicated primarily using home signs until the age of seven, when she met her first teacher and lifelong companion, Anne Sullivan.

Sullivan taught Keller language, including reading and writing. After an education at both specialist and mainstream schools, Keller attended Radcliffe College of Harvard University and became the first deafblind person in the US to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Keller was also a prolific author, writing 14 books and hundreds of speeches and essays on topics ranging from animals to Mahatma Gandhi.[2] Keller campaigned for those with disabilities and for women's suffrage, labor rights, and world peace. In 1909, she joined the Socialist Party of America (SPA). She was a founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).[3]

American Humor: Calvin CoolidgeThe First President to Attend the White House Correspondents Dinner The inaugural White H...
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American Humor: Calvin Coolidge
The First President to Attend the White House Correspondents Dinner

The inaugural White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) Dinner took place on May 7, 1921, at the Arlington Hotel in Washington, D.C.

In 1924, Calvin Coolidge (1872 – 1933) became the first president to attend. It was an intimate gathering with just 50 guests. Today, the annual event attracts over 3,000 politicians, reporters, and celebrities.

Coolidge earned the nickname "Silent Cal" due to his quiet demeanor, minimal speech, and preference for listening over talking. His dry wit often surprised those who expected him to be humorless.

Do you agree? Quote of the Day from Mark Twain
04/25/2026

Do you agree? Quote of the Day from Mark Twain

Unsung Hero: James B. Stockdale James Bond Stockdale (1923 – 2005) was a US Navy vice admiral and aviator. After being s...
04/24/2026

Unsung Hero: James B. Stockdale

James Bond Stockdale (1923 – 2005) was a US Navy vice admiral and aviator. After being shot down over Hanoi in 1965, he spent eight years in a North Vietnamese POW camp, and consistently exhibited bravery - even when subjected to torture.

For his sacrifice, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Gerald Ford in 1976.

During his time as a prisoner, Stockdale was in solitary confinement for four years and in leg shackles for two. Though his left knee was permanently damaged from torture, he refused to denounce the US – going so far as to smash his face against his cell so he couldn’t be used for propaganda films. The fascinating story of James Stockdale and his later foray into politics
https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Stockdale-Stanford-vice-president-debate-1992-15427467.php?

Famous Veteran: Leif Erickson - 2 Purple HeartsLeif Erickson (born William Wycliffe Anderson; 1911 – 1986) was an Americ...
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Famous Veteran: Leif Erickson - 2 Purple Hearts

Leif Erickson (born William Wycliffe Anderson; 1911 – 1986) was an American stage, film, and TV actor, best known for playing rancher Big John Cannon on The High Chaparral, which aired on NBC from 1967 until 1971.

Erickson enlisted in the US Navy during WWII. He served as a military photographer, shooting film in combat zones. He was shot down twice in the Pacific and received two Purple Hearts. He was in the unit that filmed and photographed the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.

In November of 1969, he became the first man ever singled out by the West Point Society of Southern California to be cited in recognition of his many visits to military hospitals and installations throughout the US and Vietnam.

How he got his name: Erickson sang with the dance band of Ted Fio Rito during the 1930s. It was Fio Rito who changed his name to the more memorable Leif Erickson.https://military-history.fandom.com/.../Leif_Erickson...

Famous Birthdays: James Buchanon James Buchanan Jr. (April 23, 1791 – June 1, 1868) was the 15th president of the US, se...
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Famous Birthdays: James Buchanon

James Buchanan Jr. (April 23, 1791 – June 1, 1868) was the 15th president of the US, serving from 1857 to 1861.

Buchanan's leadership before the American Civil War has been widely criticized. He faced criticism from both the North and South during the secession crisis. Historians rank him as among the worst presidents in American history. He was also the only bachelor president in US history

Why Buchanan bought slaves their freedom – but not for the reason you may think https://www.history.com/articles/james-buchanan-bought-and-freed-slaves-but-not-for-the-reason-you-might-think

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