Navajo County Board of Supervisors
District III
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J.R. DeSpain |
J.R. DeSpain was born on October 17, 1949 in Holbrook, Arizona to Mit and Maurine
DeSpain and is one of five children. Shortly after 1950, the family moved to House
Rock Valley near Fredonia, Arizona, on a ranch that overlooked the Arizona strip.
After a few hard years of drought, the DeSpain family moved back to Joseph City
where J.R. started school in Holbrook.
Mr. DeSpain is the third generation of ranching. Scouting, 4-H and helping his parents
with chores were J.R.’s full time jobs while growing up. After graduating from high
school, Mr. DeSpain attended two years at Eastern Arizona College and two years
at the University of Arizona in Tucson. His major was Range Management and a minor
in Business. Mr. DeSpain was the Navajo County Treasurer from January 1978 until
November of 2000.
His personal accomplishments include: Eagle Scout and Duty to God Award in 1967,
Navajo County Fair Board Chairman in 1981, 4-H Alumni Award in 1981, Arizona Association
of Counties’ Treasurer’s President from 1982-84, Navajo County Extension Board Treasurer
from 1996 to 1997, Navajo County Board of Supervisor Chairman in 2004, Little Colorado
RC&D President from 2001 to 2003, President of Navajo County Cattlemen in 2005,
and 2007 President of Arizona Association of Counties’ Board of Directors. Mr. DeSpain
is currently Chairman for EDC for NACOG, NACOG Regional Council, and Navajo County
Representative for SWAG
He currently lives at Obed Ranch, South of Joseph City with his wife, Linda. Mr.
DeSpain and his wife have five children and four grandchildren. The DeSpain family
owns a commercial cow/calf herd on about 15,000 acres of leased land.
Supervisor DeSpain represents areas in District III including, Holbrook, Joseph
City, Winslow, Snowflake and surrounding areas.
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