2025 Historymakers Announcement Feb 19, 2025

 The last Arizona Historymakers exhibit opened in 2023, featuring the latest class of notable community leaders.

Posted Thursday, February 6, 2025 11:08 am

1300 N College Ave
Tempe, AZ 85281

Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park

1300 N College Ave
Tempe, AZ 85281

The Historical League will announce its latest group of Historymakers on Feb. 19 at the Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park in Tempe.

As part of Arizona’s Statehood Day celebration, the Historical League will reveal the names of seven individuals and one couple who will join a prestigious list of Historymakers, a press release explained.  

It detailed that those recognized are Arizonans who have made lasting contributions to society and the growth of Arizona in a number of areas like community outreach, medicine, agriculture and scientific research. 

Diana Smith, the Historymakers Recognition Chairman, said in the release that it’s a tremendous honor to name this year’s Historymakers and recognize them for their accomplishments, contributions, service and leadership.

“Our 2025 recipients share a common thread,” Smith stated. “They’re all dedicated to making substantial, positive impacts on the state and their surrounding communities.”

Since 1992, The Historical League, Inc., has recognized over 90 of Arizona’s most noteworthy and impactful individuals through its Arizona Historymakers Recognition Program, according to the release. The recognition program is held every other year.  

Past recipients have included Sandra Day O’Connor, Navajo Code Talkers, Barbara Barrett, Dr. Robert Spetzler, Barry Goldwater and Dr. Warren Stewart.

Additional information announcing the new 2025 Historymakers will be available after Feb. 19 on the Historical League’s website at www.historicalleague.org.

Peter McDonald speaks to Historical League tour group

Thanks to Nancy Evans for arranging a surprise visit with Navajo Code Talker Peter McDonald during our bus tour at Navajo National Monument. Peter was very entertaining, telling many stories of his experiences during WWII. As did many of his fellow Code Talkers, he enrolled at a young age. He was 15.

Susie Brinegar with Peter McDonald

He referred to "boot camp was a breeze" since he had lived his youth in the outdoors, sleeping under the stars, walking everywhere.  Of the 420 who served as Code Talkers, there are only 17 remaining.

Navajo Code Talker Museum in Tuba City

The Navajo Code Talker Museum in Tuba City tells the story in pictures, displays, artifacts and video of the Code Talkers. It was fascinating to learn the Code after remaining secret from the public until the 1960's.

Ruth Ann Hogan poses with the explanation of Hogans

Julius Watson Sr. built this hogan 30 years ago.
With Kay Holcombe

Carolyn Mendoza (center) chaired 2005 Historymakers Gala when the Code Talkers were honored.

Unbroken Code

Historymakers Navajo Code Talkers honored

Navajo Code Talkers are again commemorated, this time as the State of Arizona designates August 14 as the day to honor them. Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill passed by the Legislature to make it official.
Code Talker Roy Hawthorne, attending the ceremony, commented, "By my life and my actions and teachings, I see my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren knowing what this country stands for."

The Historical League honored the Navajo Code Talkers in 2005 when they were selected as Arizona Historymakers. More information on www.HistoricalLeague.org/historymakers

Centennial book popular with history teachers

History teacher Vaunee Ann Lewis needs research on WWII for her class. After showing her the biographies and photos of  John Rhodes, Morrison Warren, Eugene Grigsby Jr, Bil Keane, Navajo Code Talkers,  and Bill Kajikawa, she was ready to encourage her students to use this Centennial book.

4th graders at Franklin at Brimhall in the Mesa Public School district are learning more about individual stories and the human side of history through Arizona Historymakers.

Ballad of Arizona:History through Story and Song at AHS Museum

June 27
Tempe event – “The Ballad of Arizona: History through Story and Song”
7:00 p.m.
AHS Museum at Papago Park, 1300 N. College Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281 Phone: 480-929-9499.

This multimedia program features videos, songs, and stories that capture the special character of the Grand Canyon State. Award-winning musician Jay Cravath, who designed the event, says, “Audiences can think of the program as a Prairie Home Companion for Arizona.” Intermixed with live music and documentary footage, “The Ballad of Arizona” includes some of the more popular and unknown chapters of state history. Presentations are live or pre-recorded. Peter Iverson, an ASU Regents Professor, will explain why the rodeo is so important to Native communities. Author Dan Shilling will recount the tale of forester Aldo Leopold, who came to Arizona in 1909 and eventually wrote hundreds of essays that shaped modern environmentalism. Navajo poet Laura Tohe will tell the story of the Codetalkers, the American Indians whose coded language helped win the battle of the South Pacific during World War II. Miami High School’s improbable 1951 state basketball championship will be discussed by ASU Professor Christine Marin.

This event is free to the public and appropriate for all ages. Free parking at the museum.
Event is sponsored by AHS and made possible by a grant from the Arizona Humanities Council.

Arizona Republic article       http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/events/articles/20130620ballad-arizona-historical-society-museum-tempe.html?nclick_check=1.

Historymaker Navajo Code Talker Keith Little (1925-2012) Memorial Fund

League Member Renee Donnelly has been communicating with Keith Little's widow, Nellie, who said "Keith's life-long dream was to provide a legacy for the amazing story of the Navajo Code Talkers and to pass their story on to future generations through the Navajo Code Talkers Museum and Veteran Center."

Donations made in his honor should be send to www.navajocodetalkers.org or NCTF Museum PO Box 1266, Window Rock, AZ 86515.

Historymaker/Navajo Code Talker Keith Little 1925-2012

The Navajo Code Talkers and Keith Little were given a wonderful tribute at the Historymakers Centennial Gala February 11, 2011. Keith attended along with fellow Code Talkers Joe Kellwood and Sidney Bedoni. The Code Talkers were honored in 2005 and the Centennial Gala 2011 brought all honorees together for a special recognition.

We realize that the passing of these courageous men must not end the acknowledgements they deserve and we continue to honor them with our Historymakers Recognition program and exhibits at AHS Museum.

When asked why he chose to go to war, he answers simply: "[because] the Japanese made a sneak attack on the US," adding that he wanted "to protect our people, land and country."

Their stories are told in the Historical League's Centennial book, Arizona Recollections and Reflections which is a Centennial Legacy Project. The chapter in Tastes & Treasures from Cameron Trading Post also talks about the Navajo people.

Historymakers at the Centennial Gala

The Kick-Off to the Centennial for Arizona was a wonderful event at the Historymakers Gala. Photographed that evening are Arizona Historymakers (back row) Bill Thompson, Eddie Basha, Ed Mell, John Driggs, Elisabeth Ruffner, Karl Eller, Barbara Barrett, Bill Shover, Calvin Goode, Alberto Rios and chairman Marilyn Parke. Seated J. Eugene Grigsby, Sandra Day O'Connor, Dinky Snell, Bil Keane, Stevie Eller, and Navajo Code Talkers Joe Kellwood, Keith Little and Samuel Tso.

We were pleased to introduce the new Centennial book, ARIZONA RECOLLECTIONS AND REFLECTIONS featuring rare photographs, memories and biographies of our Historymakers with a timeline of our heritage from pre-history to the present. Presented in a rich, leather-bound book it is a wonderful remembrance of the Centennial.

For more information and photos www.HistoricalLeague.org