My father died this Friday, October 4 after a long battle of COPD and dementia. One cannot help but think about the past and reflect when a parent passes. My father was a very quiet man, in fact, at times, too quiet, however, he did talk about how he was the man that helped build Tucson and it got me thinking…
I am a native of Tucson. Born and bred right here. I have lived here for 55 years and watched this town go from small town, to a town too big for its own good. I think what is great about Tucson is there is so much of my father here.
He has built or rebuilt many of the buildings on Fourth Ave. He recalls the Ave being so much different than it is today. In fact I recall the Ave being so much different than it is today. Now, it has huge apartment buildings and the view is simply gone. Just not such a special street I grew up with, but my father tells me once upon a time ago, it was something else.
My father built many of the sets out at Old Tucson. I recall meeting people like Lee Marvin, who had a home in Tucson and dad did some work on it. I had the opportunity to meet many of the cast from The High Chaparral as my father helped build that entire set. I was able to meet Mark Slade who played Billy Blue, or Leif Erickson who played Big John Cannon.
As I had stated, my father was not a talkative man in his younger years, but when he did talk, he often bragged about being part of building the McKale Center at the U of A. It opened in 1973 and up until his dying days, he would remind you that he helped build that center. I was honored to watch my spouse graduate in the very building my father built.
Anywhere we would drive in Tucson, my father would point and say, “I helped build that neighborhood.” He worked for Sundt and helped build a great deal of the office and medical buildings in Tucson as well as neighborhood after neighborhood. He talked about helping with construction Resorts and other classic buildings in greater Tucson.
When I look at Tucson, and look back over the years, this town has grown so much. I get that it is not the little town I fell in love with. Most of the mom and pop shops are gone, two lanes are now four lane roads. Our friendly gas stations are now QT’s and rather than the fun stores on the street corners we are stuck with Walgreens, CVS and Mattress Firm.
Tucson is like any other big city however, when I spent time this weekend reflecting on growing up here and hearing my father talking to others about how he built this town, memories come up for me that remind me how wonderful Tucson is. Thanks James T. Hill, AKA dad for being the man that helped build Tucson.