Arizona's first Native American lawmaker dies

Arizona's first Native American lawmaker has died.

Lloyd House, who served in the Senate from 1967-68, died Jan. 2 in Surprise. He was 83.

House, who was Navajo and Oneida, was a teacher and a veteran. He served in the U.S. Marines from 1950 until 1954 and then in the U.S. Air Force Reserves during the Vietnam war, according to legislative staff. He worked as director of the Phoenix Indian Center, Navajo Nation Office of Veteran's Affairs and Little Singer Day School, according to Legislative staff.

House made national news when he served in the Legislature at the age of 35.

"I wondered why God let me win the primary. It was something that never happened before," House joked in an undated interview with the Arizona State Archives Legislative Oral History Project. "I've had a great life."

A 1967 Associated Press story reported that on the first day of the session, he wore a tall, black hat, black cowboy boots, a cowboy shirt and handcrafted jewelry. He told reporters the hat was traditional for a "head man" among Navajos.

House chose not to run for a second term.

"I couldn't even get a bill in the floor. Why try?" House said in the interview with the oral history project. "Why break my back? I said goodbye."

He attempted a run for Congress, but did not have enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

House is credited with organizing the first Social Security offices for the Navajo and Hopi tribes.

House Speaker Andy Tobin, R-Paulden, issued a statement on House's death. "Lloyd House was a pioneer in every sense of the word," Tobin said. "One of Arizona's great public servants has left us."

House is survived by his wife of 62 years, Victoria, three daughters, one son, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Flagstaff American Legion, 204 W. Birch Ave.