PHOENIX — Bob Goldwater, known as the "Father of the Phoenix Open" and a member of one of Arizona's most influential Republican families, died Saturday at home, his son Don said. He was 96.
Goldwater was the brother of the late Barry Goldwater, the five-time U.S. senator from Arizona. Don Goldwater lost his bid for the GOP nomination for governor in September.
Bob Goldwater, an avid golfer, is credited with making the Phoenix area a major golf destination. He was a former "big chief" of the Phoenix Thunderbirds, the civic organization that runs the FBR Open, formerly the Phoenix Open. He also was past chairman of the board of the Phoenix Country Club.
He helped start Frontier Airlines and was president of Goldwater's department stores for years, Don said.
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