Donald E. Cline, 91, passed away on March 3, 2018. Don served in the United States Army in Germany during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. In 1950 he joined Mountain Bell in Colorado where he held management positions in sales, public relations, advertising, and operations. In 1973, Don moved to Arizona as Mountain Bell's Assistant Vice President for External Affairs, serving in that position until 1982 when he was named Arizona Vice President and Chief Executive Officer until his retirement in 1987. In 1990 he accepted a gubernatorial appointment from Rose Mofford as Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce. His most recent position was as a founder and Chairman of the Board of Republic BankAZ. Don served on the Governor's Commission on Reform of the Welfare System in Arizona, was a member of the Commission on Cost Efficiency in State Government (Mini-Grace), and led the Arizona Chamber of Commerce as chairman. He also was the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Standard Register/PING LPGA tournament, president of the Boys Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, and served as the general chairman of the 1988 Citizens Bond Committee. Other memberships included ASU Council of 100, Phoenix 40, life membership in the Fiesta Bowl Committee, and President of the Board of Governors of Moon Valley Country Club. He was designated 1986 Man of the Year by the Phoenix Advertising Club for outstanding service to the community. Don is survived by a sister, a daughter, a son, eight grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances. Visitation is open to all at 5-8pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at Hansen Mortuary, 8314 N. 7th Street, Phoenix. Interment with Military Honors will take place on Wednesday, March 14 at 10am at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix. A Memorial Service will be held at 1pm on March 14 at All Saints Lutheran Church, 15649 N. 7th Street, Phoenix. A reception for family and friends will follow the Service at Moon Valley Country Club, 151 W. Moon Valley Dr., Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to a memorial fund in memory of Donald E. Cline, which annually benefits several Phoenix Valley charitable organizations. Please make checks payable to InFaith Community Foundation and send to 625 4th Ave. S., Ste. 1500, Minneapolis MN 55415, with "The Donald E. Cline Fund" written in the note portion of the check. (Source: Arizona Republic)