Joseph Flores (Guamanian politician)
Encyclopedia
Joseph F. Flores was the sixth civilian appointed Governor of Guam, and was the first Chamorro to hold the office. He also founded the island's first locally owned newspaper, the Guam Daily News
(later becoming the Pacific Daily News), which was the only local newspaper until 1966. He enjoyed success running many publications before being appointed Governor by President
Dwight D. Eisenhower
in 1960. As Governor, Flores pushed for increased self-governance in Guam, resigning in 1961. After his Governorship, Flores founded other businesses and became involved in numerous community organizations. He was a Knight of St. Sylvester
.
in 1900, and received all of his education on the island. As a teenager, Flores worked for the United States Navy
government in Guam as a messenger, and an operator at the Naval cable station. During the first World War
, Flores enlisted in the Navy, though he never saw combat. After leaving the Navy, Flores moved to San Francisco and married his wife Angela.
and a printing worker's strike forced it out of business. However, by the end of World War II
, Flores ran and published five newspapers.
Flores returned to Guam in 1947 to partner with his brothers Joaquin and Jesus Flores in an import company called Flores Brothers in Hagåtña
. Upon his return, he purchased the Naval newspaper publication Guam News for $37,000 in 1950, renaming it the Guam Daily News and making Flores the first local newspaper publisher in Guam. Later, Flores began publishing the Territorial Sun, a Sunday newspaper, and continued publishing for twenty years, when he sold the Guam Daily News to Chin Ho for $1.2 million, who later sold it to Gannett Company
.
and the subsequent acting governor Marcellus Boss
. During his governorship, Flores pushed for Guamanian self-governance
and a Delegate from Guam to the United States, and opened public health centers in various locations. In addition, he aided in making the University of Guam
a land-grant university
. When John F. Kennedy
, a Democrat
, became president, Flores resigned as a courtesy, after only one year in office.
and the Territorial Planning Commission, and a member of the Guam Chamber of Commerce, Young Men's League of Guam, and the Elks Club
.
Pacific Daily News
The Pacific Daily News, formerly Guam Daily News, is a morning-edition newspaper based in Hagåtña, Guam. It is owned by Gannett Corporation and is published seven days a week...
(later becoming the Pacific Daily News), which was the only local newspaper until 1966. He enjoyed success running many publications before being appointed Governor by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
in 1960. As Governor, Flores pushed for increased self-governance in Guam, resigning in 1961. After his Governorship, Flores founded other businesses and became involved in numerous community organizations. He was a Knight of St. Sylvester
Order of St. Sylvester
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Sylvester Pope and Martyr , sometimes referred to as the Sylvestrine Order, or the Pontifical Order of Pope St Sylvester, is one of five Orders of Knighthood awarded directly by the Pope as Supreme Pontiff and head of the Catholic Church and as the Head of...
.
Early life
Flores was born in GuamGuam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
in 1900, and received all of his education on the island. As a teenager, Flores worked for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
government in Guam as a messenger, and an operator at the Naval cable station. During the first World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Flores enlisted in the Navy, though he never saw combat. After leaving the Navy, Flores moved to San Francisco and married his wife Angela.
Publishing career
While in San Francisco, Flores opened a small print shop and began printing a four-page weekly newspaper, the South of the Market Street Tribune. The South of the Market Tribune turned a good profit until the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and a printing worker's strike forced it out of business. However, by the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Flores ran and published five newspapers.
Flores returned to Guam in 1947 to partner with his brothers Joaquin and Jesus Flores in an import company called Flores Brothers in Hagåtña
Hagåtña, Guam
Hagåtña , formerly English Agana and in Spanish Agaña, is the capital of the United States island territory of Guam. It is the island's second smallest village in both area and population. From the 18th through mid 20th century, it was Guam's population center...
. Upon his return, he purchased the Naval newspaper publication Guam News for $37,000 in 1950, renaming it the Guam Daily News and making Flores the first local newspaper publisher in Guam. Later, Flores began publishing the Territorial Sun, a Sunday newspaper, and continued publishing for twenty years, when he sold the Guam Daily News to Chin Ho for $1.2 million, who later sold it to Gannett Company
Gannett Company
Gannett Company, Inc. is a publicly-traded media holding company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, United States, near McLean. It is the largest U.S. newspaper publisher as measured by total daily circulation. Its assets include the national newspaper USA Today and the weekly USA Weekend...
.
Governorship
President Eisenhower appointed Flores Governor of Guam in 1960, making Flores the first locally born Chamorro to hold the office. His nomination followed the resignations of Richard Barrett LoweRichard Barrett Lowe
Richard Barrett Lowe was the 42nd Governor of American Samoa and the eighth American Governor of Guam...
and the subsequent acting governor Marcellus Boss
Marcellus Boss
Marcellus Graeme Boss was acting Governor of Guam from November 14, 1959 until his resignation on August 22, 1960. Boss first entered Guamanian administration with a 1957 appointment by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to the post of Secretary of Guam...
. During his governorship, Flores pushed for Guamanian self-governance
Self-governance
Self-governance is an abstract concept that refers to several scales of organization.It may refer to personal conduct or family units but more commonly refers to larger scale activities, i.e., professions, industry bodies, religions and political units , up to and including autonomous regions and...
and a Delegate from Guam to the United States, and opened public health centers in various locations. In addition, he aided in making the University of Guam
University of Guam
University of Guam is a four-year land-grant institution, located in the village of Mangilao on the island of Guam in the Western Pacific Ocean...
a land-grant university
Land-grant university
Land-grant universities are institutions of higher education in the United States designated by each state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890....
. When John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, became president, Flores resigned as a courtesy, after only one year in office.
Post-governorship
After leaving office, Flores founded a number of companies, including the Guam Savings and Loan Association in 1954, now named BankPacific and run by his grandson Phillip Flores, Mariannas Finance Corporation, Pacific American Insurance Company, and Guam Air Lines, and owned a number of office buildings and an apartment buildings. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Flores served on a number of boards, including charing the University of Guam Board of RegentsBoard of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
and the Territorial Planning Commission, and a member of the Guam Chamber of Commerce, Young Men's League of Guam, and the Elks Club
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
.