Joseph Flores (Guamanian politician)

Joseph F. Flores ( born 1900 in Guam, † 1981) was an American politician. In the years 1960 and 1961 he was Governor of Guam.

Career

Joseph Flores grew up in Guam and worked as a teenager for the United States Navy stationed there. During the First World War he was active in the Navy, but without ever coming to a combat mission. After his military service, he moved to San Francisco, where he married his wife Angela. There, he joined in the newspaper business. Until the Great Depression, he was there the newspaper out of the South Market Street Tribune. He remained even after the end of this newspaper in the industry and moved more newspapers. In 1945, the number of its leaves had risen to five.

In 1947, Flores returned to Guam, where he founded an import company with his brothers; In 1950, he bought a newspaper on the local U.S. Navy and published them under the name Guam Daily News. He was the first native newspaper publisher in Guam. Later he were other newspapers out. Politically, he joined the Republican Party. In 1960 he was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as the new governor of the outer region. He was the first native Governor of Guam, since the area was under American administration. Flores took up his new post on July 9, 1960. He replaced the Acting Governor Marcellus boss. He campaigned for a more autonomous government and founded several health centers. He also called for a representation of the area in Congress. He also built the University of Guam.

After the assumption of office of Democratic President John F. Kennedy Republican Flores came on 20 May 1961 by his office. After the end of his time as governor Flores founded numerous companies in the banking, finance and insurance. The Guam Air Lines belonged to his business empire. In addition, he possessed both office and residential buildings. He was also a member of various boards of directors and supervisory boards.