Rep. Frank Pratt, a longtime Pinal County legislator, rancher, and businessman, was remembered for his dedication to public and customer service after his death Sept. 21, following a long illness.
The Casa Grande Republican was 79. He served in both chambers of the Arizona Legislature, beginning with his first successful run in 2008 for the House of Representatives from District 23. The district was redrawn into District 8 in 2012, and Pratt remained popular with voters through his final race in 2020, after which he returned to the House after six years in the Senate.
Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers announced Pratt’s passing in a statement that praised his work as “irreplaceable.”
“The honor, integrity, and high ethic by which he conducted himself is incomparable. He loved what he did and wouldn’t let anyone stop him from doing it,” Bowers said.
Many other leaders spoke fondly of Pratt as a friend and leader, including his District 8 co-legislators Sen. T.J. Shope and Rep. David Cook, Gov. Doug Ducey, Pinal County Board of Supervisors Chairman Steve Miller, Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Lewis, and former governor Jan Brewer.
Pratt led or sat on many important committees during his legislative career including agriculture, environment, health care, education, energy and water, commerce, and judiciary. He was known as a hard-working public servant who earned the respect of his colleagues while remaining accessible to his constituents. The Arizona Chamber of Commerce named him Legislator of the Year in 2010.
Born in Florence in 1942, Pratt moved to Maricopa while in high school to help his brother on his ranch, graduating from Maricopa High School and working in Pinal and Yuma counties ranching and farming.
He moved to Casa Grande in 1986 to found Pratt Pools, which is still in business, with his son Bryan. He was later certified as a scuba instructor, adding the Casa Grande Dive Shop to his business and taught basic skills in his indoor pool. He was an active Rotarian.
His survivors include wife Janice, son Bryan, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
