2025 Arizona Historymakers Announced

Welcoming the latest group of 2025 Historymakers, Historical League members, family and friends greeted them at Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park on February 19.

Recognizing seven new individuals and one couple who have made significant contributions to a broad range of communities and the heritage of Arizona are:

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

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

JOHN W. GRAHAM -- Real Estate Development, Deep and Enduring Community Involvement

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

Article in Independent Newspaper by Caroline Yu.  https://www.yourvalley.net/detail.html?sub_id=514ee26b56

History Museum

Arizona Historical Society Museum

yourvalley.net

Historical League announces 2025 Historymakers in Tempe - Daily Independent

The Historical League announced its latest class of Historymakers, recognizing seven new individuals and one couple who have made significant contributions to society and the growth of Arizona.

Send message

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust

peonrodSst04l04if90ia178389t85tf64h23m82174m79t8t21gg5g64u6t  · 

We are thrilled to congratulate the 2025 Historymakers, an esteemed group of Arizonans recognized by HistoricalLeague.org for their lasting contributions to our state. A special salute to our esteemed Trustee, Sharon Harper, and her husband, Dr. Oliver Harper, for their unwavering dedication to enhancing our community. Their leadership and commitment continue to inspire us all.

NHDAZ East Regional Contest

Cathy Shumard

 Judging NHD takes a lot of organizing. We are grateful to Cathy Shumard making it fun, interesting and exciting for so many Historical League members to be trained and participate.

Leonard Moody, NHDAZ Coordinator, directed Feb. 22 activities held at U of A Medical School Chandler campus and nearby Chandler library with scheduling of students, judges, and families, room locations, snacks, Wi-Fi connections, technology, and problem solving.

Judging teams awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners; promoting appropriate projects on to the State competition on April 12th. Feedback is given to teachers and students so there is an opportunity to strengthen their projects: papers documentaries, exhibits, websites, and performances before State.

Leonard Moody

Many teachers make these projects a class requirement and grades are given. Participation in the NHD competitions is voluntary.

Volunteering is a BIG part of the Historical League and we are proud to support National History Day Arizona, making students and parents feel comfortable and have proper instructions for the day.

Behind the scenes, taking pictures, is our highly-motivated AHS Chief Education Officer Dr. Kristen Rex

Norma Jean Coulter

Sharron McKinney in middle

AHS Todd Bailey on right

Cheryl Stegall

Sharon Akridge

Dave and Diana Smith with other volunteer judges

Welcoming NHDAZ students are Robin Ferguson and Jolynn Clarke

Mary Perona handing out information to students

Leonard Moody giving instructions to Mary Perona, Robin Ferguson, Jolynn Clarke

Welcoming NHDAZ student contestants to the East judging competition are Historical League members Robin Ferguson, Jolynn Clarke and Mary Perona.

National First Ladies Museum and Library comes to AZHC

National First Ladies Museum and Library event Wednesday, Feb. 19 was filled with fascinating stories told by its President and CEO Patty Dowd Schmitz. Thanks to Jolynn Clarke for bringing National First Ladies to AHS and reporting on it. Also thanks to new member Melissa Johnson for the connection.

An engaging and interesting speaker Patty shared some interesting facts:

Jackie Kennedy photographed/wrote articles and her column was known as the “Inquiring Camera Girl.” (Convention and the magazine made her quit when she married JFK).

Lucretia Garfield – 1881 was caregiver for her husband, James Garfield, after he was shot. He had a series of Doctors and one was female. Congress wanted to pay the female doctor ½ of what they were paying the male doctors and Lucretia argued, "No. The female doctor should be paid the same as the male doctors." Congress eventually agreed.

Eleanor Roosevelt came to Arizona to view the Japanese interment camps and check on how people were being treated. She disagreed with having the camps.

Florence Harding was the first potential first lady to vote after women won the right to vote.  She voted for her husband – William G. Harding.

 

Helen Taft was the responsible for getting the Japanese cherry trees planted on the mall in Washington DC.  She was also first lady when Arizona became a state.

Jolynn added, "The audience LOVED listening to her and I swear we were all ready to pack our bags for a road trip to Canton, Ohio by the time she was finished."

Melissa Johnson, Clede Gorrell, Pam den Draak

David Lee Director of Development for National First Ladies Museum and Library, guest Judy Addie, HL members Jolynn Clarke & Robin Fergeson, Patty Dowd Schmitz Pres/CEO for National First Ladies Museum and Library

Patty Dowd Schmitz Pres. and CEO National First Ladies Museum and Library, HL member and National First Ladies Museum member Melissa Johnson, David Lee Director of Development for National First Ladies Museum and Library

Mrs. White and her Golden Rule Cafe history in AZ Republic

  Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe began in 1964 and is still going strong in 2025. Honored as 2023 Arizona Historymaker, Mrs. White's legacy inspires us all. Thanks to AZ Republic article for writing her story. Videos and oral history at https://www.historicalleague.org/historymakers/elizabeth-j-white

Historymakers Wall at Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park

Ajo Museum visit with Norma Jean Coulter and Pat Grogg

 Food and history come together at the Ajo Historical Society museum. Thanks to Norma Jean Coulter and Pat Grogg for delivering Arizona Recollections and Reflections and the last box of Tastes & Treasures volume II: A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona committed to affiliated museums. Norma Jean writes, "We spent the night and also toured Organ Pipe National Monument down on the border." Pictures show the border wall, amazing giant sahuaros, and New Cornelia Open Pit Mine.

Norma Jean Coulter presents books to Ajo Museum

Museum housed in old mission church

Border Wall

Organ Pipe Monument

New Cornelia open mining pit

Tom Chauncey and 70 years of Arabian Horses

 Arabian Horse Show in Scottsdale celebrates 70 years. Tom Chauncey, 1995 Arizona Historymaker and one of the original Arabian Horse Association of Arizona members, would be proud to see this milestone. Show runs February 13-23, 2025.

www.historicalleague.org/historymakers/tom-chauncey: "Tom Chauncey established an international reputation for Arabian horse breeding, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, who raised horses for the White House."

http://www.scottsdaleshow.com/.../scottsdale-arabian...: "Since 1955 the Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and Shopping Expo has set the pace in the Arabian horse world. The first show was held at the grounds of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel which was a beautiful setting for a horse show. The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show was a first class show from the very first day.

After the show's beginnings at the Arizona Biltmore, Ann McCormick bought 150 acres in Scottsdale and made it into the horse facility known as Paradise Park which served the needs of the show for many years.

Since that time, the show has been held at WestWorld in Scottsdale. It has grown from 50 horses to nearly 2000 horses bringing top owners, trainers and breeders from around the world competing for a chance at winning. A win at Scottsdale can mean big money in the breeding barns. In addition to exciting competitions, educational seminars, family-focused events, and an international cuisine court, the event features more than 250 vendor booths, offering everything from lavish jewelry, clothing and works of art."