Code Talker And Longtime New Mexico Politician John Pinto Dies At 94

By Daniel Perle
Published: Friday, May 24, 2019 - 4:56pm
Updated: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 - 12:49pm

Another member of the legendary Navajo Code Talkers has died. New Mexico state Sen. John Pinto served more than four decades in the New Mexico state Senate. Members of the Arizona state Legislature remembered him on the Arizona House floor.

Arizona Rep. Richard Andrade (D-Glendale), a former constituent of Pinto's, said how proud he was of Pinto. 

“I’m deeply saddened by his passing, and he was a very great person," Andrade said. "To see how many years he served, proudly served, his constituents in the state of New Mexico and representing a lot of us in Gallup.”

Arizona Rep. Arlando Teller (D-Winslow) echoed Andrade's sentiments. 

“I learned a lot from him, a lot of us learned a lot from him. And I’m actually a bit emotional because he was such a strong, gentle force," Teller said. 

Pinto is the second member of the code talkers to pass away this month. Fleming Begaye Sr. died on May tenth at the age of 97.  

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