Carl T. Hayden
Carl Trumbull Hayden (October 2,1877-January 25,1972) was the first United States Senator to serve seven terms, and holds the record for combined service in both houses of the United States Congress.
He was born in Maricopa County, Arizona almost 35 years before Arizona became a state. The town where he was born was then named for his family, as Hayden's Ferry, but not long afterward received its current name of Tempe. After serving as county treasurer and sheriff he became Arizona's first member of the United States House of Representatives when statehood was granted in 1912.
He served in the House uninterruptedly until joining the United States Senate in March 1927 after winning the election to the first of seven terms in 1926. A constitutional amendment changing the starting date of terms meant that his retirement took effect in January 1969. A Democrat, Hayden became Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and President pro tempore of the United States Senate in 1957, ascending to both offices by seniority, as his party then held the majority in the Senate and continued to do so for the rest of his time in office.
His record for length of service in the Senate has now been surpassed by Strom Thurmond, Robert C. Byrd, and Edward M. Kennedy, but his record for combined length of service in both houses has yet to be equalled.
He died in his native county and his ashes were interred in a family plot in Tempe.
