next several months in the hospital dealing with a variety of problems, including pericarditis, emphysema, and pleurisy. It was not until early 1919 that McFarland had recovered enough for a navy medical board to recommend he receive an honorable discharge, which became effective on January 31, 1919. Early career After leaving the Navy, McFarland returned to Oklahoma for a short time before he decoded to move to Arizona. He arrived in Phoenix on May 10, 1919, and after several days found employment at a local bank. Seeing little opportunity for advancement at the bank, he applied to the Stanford University Law School. Before leaving to begin classes, he filed for a homestead near Casa Grande. McFarland would later refer to the land as his "jackrabbit farm." McFarland attended law school for four quarters before he took a break. His parents and younger brother had moved to Arizona. At the time, Stanford recommended all law students to spend a quarter interning at a legal office. Feeling homesick after a year in California, McFarland worked at the Phoenix office of Phillips, Cox, and Phillips. He was legal clerk for future Arizona Governor John Calhoun Phillips. McFarland was also introduced to a variety of figures within the Arizona political establishment. At the completion of his internship, he returned to Stanford. McFarland completed work on his Juris Doctor in the summer quarter in 1922. In addition, he had completed the class work for a Masters of Arts degree in political science. McFarland was admitted to the Arizona Bar later that year. Upon graduation from law school, McFarland moved to Casa Grande to "prove up" his homestead claim and open his first legal practice. The Arizona economy was doing poorly, and he found little legal work. He dealt with the lack of work by becoming involved in politics. McFarland worked for George W. P. Hunt's campaign during the 1922 governor's race. After Hunt won the election, McFarland received an appointment as assistant attorney general. In mid-1924, he returned to Stanford to complete work on his master's degree. Later that year he was elected county attorney for Pinal County. As state law required the county attorney to reside in the county seat, McFarland moved to Florence. He served three 2-year terms in that position. McFarland married Clair Collins on January 1, 1926. The couple had initially met at a Christmas party at Stanford in 1919. They