On February 14, 1912 Arizona became the 48th state and last of the contiguous states. President William Howard Taft signs a proclamation declaring Arizona to be the 48th State of the Union, culminating a two-year process that began with the convening of a Constitutional Convention in 1910; an unsuccessful bid for statehood in 1911 because President Taft objected to a clause in the Arizona Constitution that allowed recall of judges; a vote by Arizonans in December 1911 to delete the recall of judges; and the election of initial executive officers, including George W.P. Hunt as the first governor and Sidney P. Osborn as the first Secretary of State. The state adopts the motto Detat Deus or “God Enriches,” and shortly after the statehood proclamation, voters restore the recall of judges to the constitution, and women are granted the right to vote.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer at 10:15 Monday morning Februar 14, 2011 kicked off the year-long countdown to the state's 100th birthday at the Centennial Expo on the Senate lawn at the state Capitol. The kickoff to the 52 weeks of celebration leading up to the 100th anniversary of statehood will be from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday. The state's official mascot, the Copper Chopper, will make an appearance among the 60 booths and main stage for entertainment.
Matt and Paula of MI Printing would like to wish Arizona and its citizens a Very Happy 99th Birthday
