Ben Avery 1993 Historymaker, Parks Advocate

 Ben Avery, an avid promoter of outdoor recreation, devoted six decades of his life to writing about Arizona and Southwestern subjects. Honored as 1993 AZ Historymaker, he was especially interested in Arizona State Parks and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve and would be so happy to know that Maricopa County Parks and Recreation are developing a master plan for the future.

To learn more about the project, park users can visit the master plan website, https://engageberrydunn.mysocialpinpoint.com/maricopa-county-parks-and-recreation-parks-master-plan?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0ks-4Uj7dO26ass2ywlI1dBH9dtCOs6kFy_dTsXIuq-F4jdcPgVzdwyZ0_aem_o7JoHJ_nABiT5

Happy 100th Birthday South Mt Park

 Happy 100th Birthday, South Mountain Park & Preserve! Originally called Phoenix Mountain Park, it was formed in 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge sold its initial 13,000 acres to the city of Phoenix for $17,000. Arizona Historymaker Ben Avery is smiling down on this 100 year celebration. More about Ben Avery at www.HistoricalLeague.org/historymakers/Ben-Avery

Phoenix Mountain Preserve Event/ Historymaker Ben Avery

 Outdoor + family fun with engaging information about our preserves, the biodiversity of the desert, and a short hike. www.phoenixmountains.org

Without Ben Avery (1909 - 1996) we might not have the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. He was honored as AZ Historymaker in 1995 for all he did as a Journalist and Outdoor Recreation Advocate.

In the early 1950s, the women of the Phoenix Garden Club succeeded in involving Mr. Avery in a crusade to prevent the building of a restaurant and nightclub atop Camelback Mountain. The City of Phoenix initiated a campaign to acquire the top of Camelback and finally achieved this objective in 1968. That controversy motivated Avery’s interest and involvement in parks, which led to the acquisition of the county regional park system and the establishment of the Arizona State Parks and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.

more info at www.HistoricalLeague.org/Historymakers/Ben-Avery

Sandra Day O'Connor Award

This Lorna Lockwood Traveling trophy was given to Sandra Day O'Connor. Several female judges received it prior to Justice O'Connor but it was decided that the award would retire with her. She generously donated it to the AHS Museum where it is on display in Historymakers Hall.

Zona Lorig worked on creating accurate signage for all the artifacts in the exhibit including Ben Avery's hiking boots and a 1937 Arizona State Teacher's College signed football from Bill Kajikawa.