Donald Fifield Bolles (1928 - 1976)

Born 10 Jul 1928 in Teaneck, Bergen, New Jersey, United States

Ancestors

Died 13 Jun 1976 at age 47 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mark Burch [send private message]

Don Bolles is Notable.

Biography

Donald was born in 1928. He passed away in 1976. The 1930 and 1940 US Census give his birthplace as Wisconsin.

He was a reporter for the Arizona Republic newspaper who was murdered while investigating corruption in Arizona. On June 2, 1976, a bomb exploded underneath his car which mortally wounded him and he died 11 days later.

A team of 38 journalists from 28 newspapers and television stations decided to continue Bolles' work in Arizona. Led by Newsday journalist Robert W. Greene they produced a 23-part series in 1977 exposing corruption, land fraud, and the influence of organized crime in the state.

Punk rock drummer Jimmy Michael Giorsetti called himself Don Bolles in honor of the journalist. He played with the Germs and other L.A. bands (see Darby Crash).

Genealogy

Mayflower passenger Edward Doty was his 8th great grandfather. His 3rd GGF Ezra Doty fought in the Revolutionary War.

His 8th GGF was Puritan immigrant Thomas Leavitt.

His 9th GGF was Puritan immigrant Arthur Bostwick.

Don Bolles and Paul Bowles were 8th cousins, once removed.

He and horse breeder Ogden Phipps were 5C1R.

He and Watergate celebrity Elliot Richardson were 8th cousins.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Bolles

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66433346

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4G8-WHC : accessed 25 January 2019), Donald F Bolles in household of Donald C Bolles, Mount Vernon, Westchester, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 237, sheet 5B, line 77, family 144, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1662; FHL microfilm 2,341,396.

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K453-5VR : 15 March 2018), Donald Bolles in household of Donald C Bolles, Teaneck Township, Bergen, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 2-331, sheet 11A, line 9, family 217, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2314.

• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VMP6-GWP : 20 May 2014), Donald Bolles, Jun 1976; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

• "The anatomy of a reporter's murder," New York Times, 20 Feb 1977, page 198 [electronic edition]. Access date unknown -- print too small to add to Images [Jan 2020]