John M. Graham honored as 2025 Arizona Historymaker

Greeting many friends and family at the 2025 Arizona Historymakers Announcement was honoree JOHN W. GRAHAM -- Real Estate Development, Deep and Enduring Community Involvement. The event at Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park was inspiring.

2025 Arizona Historymaker John Graham and wife Kathleen

John and Kathleen greeting 2014 Historymaker Jim Bruner

Fellow Brophy College Preparatory colleagues

2025 Historymakers John Graham, Dr. Oliver and Sharon Harper, with 2014 Historymaker Jim Bruner 

John and Kathleen Graham, Katie Tovar, Sandy Loeffler

The Historical League announced seven new individuals and one couple who have made significant contributions to a broad range of communities and the heritage of Arizona. The other Historymakers are:

BOB BOZE BELL -- Writer, Humorist, Artist, Old West Historian

DIANA “DeDe” YAZZIE DEVINE -- Created Innovative Housing, Health Programs for Native Americans

SHARON HARPER and OLIVER HARPER, M.D. -- Business/Civic Leaders

SISTER ADELE O’SULLIVAN, CSJ, M.D. -- Sister of St. Joseph, Established Innovative Continuum of Care for Arizonans Experiencing Homelessness

F. RONALD “RON” RAYNER -- His Innovative Crop Management Practices Nationally Recognized, Community Leader

ERIC M. REIMAN, M.D. – World leader in the Fight Against Alzheimer’s 

DUANE M. WOOTEN, M.D. -- Well-Known Pediatrician, South Phoenix Community Leader

2025 Historymakers John Graham, Sharon and Dr. Oliver Harper from Brophy College Prep

 Thanks to Carolyn Hartman for getting the word out about 2025 Historymakers. From Brophy College Facebook post:

Brophy College Preparatory is proud to celebrate three distinguished members of our community who were honored as 2025 Arizona Historymakers by the Historical League.

John W. Graham ’75 and Sharon and Dr. Oliver Harper were recognized for their decades of leadership and service to our community. Their contributions have made a broad and lasting impact on Arizona across nearly every sector of society: public and private education, social services, healthcare, the arts, veteran affairs and business. Brophy has also benefited from their extraordinary talents and generosity. The Grahams and Harpers have been actively involved in Brophy for decades, and both Graham and Sharon Harper are former chairs of the Brophy Board of Trustees.

All of us at Brophy offer our gratitude and congratulations to John Graham and Sharon and Oliver Harper!

Frontdoors Media features 2025 AZ Historymakers

Frontdoors Magazine reports: The Historical League recently revealed the 2025 Arizona Historymakers™ in the fields of agriculture, medicine, and community outreach at a reception at the Arizona Heritage Center in Tempe.

One couple and seven Arizona leaders making lasting contributions to society and the growth of Arizona are part of this year’s class of honorees. They are:

Bob Boze Bell — writer, humorist, artist and Old West historian

Diana “Dede” Yazzie Devine — created innovative housing and health programs for Native Americans

John W. Graham — real estate developer with deep and enduring community involvement

Sharon Harper and Dr. Oliver Harper — business and civic leaders

Sister Adele O’Sullivan, CSJ, M.D. — Sister of St. Joseph who established an innovative continuum of care for Arizonans experiencing homelessness

Ronald “Ron” Rayner — nationally recognized for his innovative crop management practices and his community leadership

Eric M. Reiman, M.D. — world leader in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease

Duane Wooten, M.D. — well-known pediatrician and south Phoenix community leader

Also recognized during the evening were past Arizona Historymakers Elizabeth White, the Honorable Jim Bruner, Stevie Eller, Merrill Mahaffey, Denise and Harry and Rose Papp. The night also celebrated Arizona’s Statehood and a tribute to Mrs. White’s 102nd birthday.

The Arizona Historymakers’ program, created in 1992 by the Historical League Inc., awards Arizona individuals who have distinguished themselves with noted achievements and have maintained their ties to Arizona. To date over 90 Historymakers have been honored over the years at celebration events and with inclusion in the Historymakers Hall exhibit at the Arizona Heritage Center. Their videos, oral histories and transcripts are uploaded to the League’s website, YouTube, and preserved in the Library and Archives of Arizona Historical Society’s Heritage Center at Papago Park.

The Historymaker Committee is presenting “Turquoise & Treasures,” a Celebration Evening on October 25 to honor and share how the 2025 Arizona Historymakers have contributed to Arizona and the nation.

www.historicalleague.org/historymakers

Frontdoors Media article March 12, 2025. Frontdoors Media celebrates the people and groups who give generously and work to build the future of our community. It’s the premier source of information – and inspiration – for those who strive to make the Valley of the Sun a better place to live.