Bob Stump

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Bob Stump
Bob Stump

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 3rd district
In office
January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by Sam Steiger
Succeeded by Trent Franks

Born April 4, 1927
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Died June 20, 2003 (aged 76)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Political party Democrat
Republican

Robert Lee "Bob" Stump (April 4, 1927June 20, 2003) was a U.S. Congressman from Arizona.

Stump was born in Phoenix and was a U.S. Navy World War II combat veteran, where he served on the USS Tulagi from 1943-1946. He graduated from Tolleson High School in 1947, and Arizona State University in 1951. For many years, he owned a cotton and grain farm in the Phoenix suburb of Tolleson.

He served four terms in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1959-1967, and five terms in the Arizona State Senate, from 1967 to 1976. He served as President of the Arizona State Senate from 1975 to 1976.

He was first elected to the 95th Congress on November 2, 1976, originally as a Democrat from the 3rd Congressional District. The district took in the entire northwestern part of the state, but most of its vote was cast in its share of Phoenix and its fast-growing suburbs. Despite his Democratic affiliation, he considered himself a "Pinto," or rural, Democrat and his voting record was very conservative. He voted for Ronald Reagan's tax cuts in 1981. Shortly after that vote, he announced he would become a Republican when Congress reconvened in January 1982. Regardless of his party affiliation, he never faced serious competition at the ballot box. He briefly considered running for the Senate in 1986 after Barry Goldwater decided to retire.

In his 26 years in the House, he became a noted member of the House Armed Services Committee, serving as chairman from 2001 to 2003. He was also well-known for taking good care of his constituents, frequently answering the phone himself at his Washington office.

He decided not to run for re-election in 2002 due to declining health. He endorsed his chief of staff, Lisa Atkins, as his successor in what was now the 2nd District, but Atkins was defeated in a seven way Republican primary by Trent Franks, who still holds the seat. Stump died June 20, 2003.

The Bob Stump Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Prescott, Arizona was named in his honor. Stump is of no relation to the member of the Arizona Corporation Commission of the same name.

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United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Sam Steiger
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 3rd congressional district

1977–2003
Succeeded by
Trent Franks
Political offices
Preceded by
Sonny Montgomery
Mississippi
Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee
1995–2001
Succeeded by
Chris Smith
New Jersey
Preceded by
Floyd Spence
South Carolina
Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee
2001–2003
Succeeded by
Duncan Hunter
California
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