Volume 6 Issue 1
Upward then Onward: The Phoenix Years of Billionaire David H. Murdock $4.99 Spring 2017
Serving Contracting Firms and the Arizona Community. . .
● “Cornering” Tourists in Winslow ● WSM: Connecting Buyers and Sellers ● Arizona’s Forgotten “Progressive Architect" ● Pursuing Materiality: P.E. ‘Gene’ Buchli
● Sunstate Equipment Co. Celebrates 40 Years ● LeTourneau’s Trackless Train ● James Bond Spies Construction Projects ● Marble Signs Fence in Beauty
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Publisher William Horner Billy@arizcc.com Editor Douglas Towne Douglas@arizcc.com Contributing Writers Jim Bolek Derek Horn Jay Mark Miles Metke Ethan Millman Luke M. Snell Douglas Sydnor Production Manager Laura Harley Laura@arizcc.com Magazine Consultant Chuck Runbeck Chuck@arizcc.com Publisher’s Representatives Shane Addington Shane@arizcc.com Tom Hogarty Tom@arizcc.com Rick Lafond Rick@arizcc.com Barry Warner Barry@arizcc.com Advertising 602-931-0069 Arizcc.com/advertise.html
Serving Contracting Firms and the Arizona Community… Then & Now Arizona Contractor & Community (ACC) magazine is published quarterly (spring, summer, fall, & winter). ACC is a professional publication designed for the contracting industry, engineers, architects, equipment rentals, suppliers, and others interested in Arizona and its history. Content including text, photographs or illustrations may not be reproduced without the written permission from the publisher. The publisher does not assume responsibility for unsolicited submissions. ACC reserves the right to reject any editorial and advertising material and reserves the right to edit all submitted content material. Arizona Contractor & Community Copyright © 2017 All rights reserved.
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Meet the Staff Jim Bolek
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Jay Mark
Jim Bolek - Writer Article on page 38
Jay Mark - Writer Article on page 54
Jim Bolek is a native of Phoenix, born just when the city started its slow turn from cow-town to major metropolis. His birth and that event are purely coincidental. Other than vacations, he has spent his whole life in Arizona. He leads a creatively cluttered life, and his work desk is a testament to his many interests. A graphic designer specializing in sign design, Jim has a fascination with old signs, especially painted “ghost” signs. He also loves American history, Hawaiian shirts, old airplanes; his wife, kids and new grandson. Another passion is playing music, especially the banjo, which he has done professionally, on and off, for nearly 40 years. To that end, he released a music CD and is currently working on a second disc. During his musical career, he has jammed with Dan Fogelberg and played for such luminaries as Neil Young, Sean Connery, Natalie Wood, and newscaster Edwin Newman. Of that list, only Young is still alive. Feel free to draw your own conclusions. Jim dropped out of two of the three major Arizona universities and conducted design seminars at the third one. He has also given lectures at the National Academy of Science on developing standardized symbols for use in health care facilities. His design work is found in and along the Valley Metro rail system, the Arizona Science Center, and several national and regional parks, as well as many businesses and shopping malls in the Valley.
Historian Jay Mark’s long and varied career includes commercial photography, professional theater, radio, and television. And even a stint as track announcer for Greyhound Parks of Arizona. For 35 years Jay and his wife ran Those Were The Days!, an antique and book store in downtown Tempe. A recipient of numerous awards honoring his service to the community, Jay remains actively engaged in issues relating to historic preservation, history museums, public transportation, urban planning, and public policy. Beginning in 1984, he taught a continuing education course on antiques and collecting in the Maricopa Community College District. He regularly presents to the New Frontiers for Lifelong Learning program at Mesa Community College. Additionally, Jay lectures, consults, and provides in-service training for museums. He has produced eight antiques-related books for Dover Publications and is now working on a history of the Buckhorn Baths in Mesa. Jay has also written historyrelated articles for various periodicals. He regularly contributes features to the Antique Register and has authored more than 700 weekly columns for The Arizona Republic: Ferry Tales File, which chronicle Tempe history and Mesa Memories that recount that city’s past. Jay says he is delighted to contribute his first article for Arizona Contractor & Community magazine.
Spring 2017
Feedback I
just mailed a check for two 2-year subscriptions for two of our clients. You publish a beautiful, informative and fascinating magazine, which I enjoy reading! Thank you. Katie Gonzales Admin Assistant, Empire Machinery We appreciate the sentiment – and the subscriptions!
I
t's the best magazine I have ever seen. I can't wait for the next one to come out. Your publication is chock full of fascinating history of construction companies and Arizona. Jeff Johnson President, Trafficade
Thanks, Jeff! We love telling success stories, and Trafficade’s insert (ACC Summer 2015) was one of the best.
T
he magazine [Winter 2016 issue] featuring my father, Buster Bonoff, on the cover, made me smile and tear up. Thank you also for the well-written story about my family promoting events at the Celebrity Theatre. I also learned a lot about Mr. Farmer, who constructed the theater. Everything about the magazine is classy! Larry Bonoff President, Bonoff Foundation We hope to run another story about your fabulous family memories about the early days of the Celebrity Theatre in a future issue.
Y
ou guys produce an awesome magazine, especially in highlighting people, projects, and equipment that shouldn’t be forgotten. People don't understand what’s going on and where we’re headed in construction (or in anything) until they’ve studied the past. My father, William Anderson, Sr., was a career operator and handed it down to my brothers and I. Your publication brings back memories for him and verifies many of his accounts of the construction industry. Some people work construction for a living, and some people do it because they love it. I’m confident my family is in the latter group. Thank you, William “Billy” Anderson Owner/Operator Blade, Down to Grade It sounds like we should pencil in your family for a future story.
H
i Billy, Just a note to let you know what a neat magazine you have going. I worked with some guys you might know in the 1980's: Billy Weir, Tim Denton, and Buddy Bolt. They were superb blade operators just like your dad. I started out with a grade tractor in 1983 and subcontracted out to Sanner Contracting and Aarid Construction, fine grading all the areas they couldn’t get to with a blade. Sanner was huge back in the day, and I knew Bailey Sanner since I was a little kid. My dad worked for Sanner when they were developing Sun City and Sun City West. My father and Bailey met during team roping. The Harper story was great as we know them and haul aggregates out of their plant. Let me know if you ever would like to cover another grading contractor. For the past 33 years, we have supplied the “ABC” and grade before concrete pours for most of the major companies in the Valley. I have seen a lot of changes in this industry. Thanks for creating a great magazine that takes me back in time! Brian Curtis Owner, Curtis Grade Systems Inc. Thanks, Brian! Look for our upcoming article on Sanner Contracting in the Spring 2018 issue.
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Volume 6 Issue 1 Spring 2017
CONTENTS
BRANDON GALLIMORE Land Surveying Services Construction Staking
7777 N 70TH AVE
10.
Editor’s Column: “Cornering” Tourists in Winslow Douglas Towne
13.
Construction Around Arizona: Projects • People • Practices
38.
Losing One’s Marbles: An Imaginative Phoenix Fence Extension - Jim Bolek
39. 45. 46.
Connecting Buyers and Sellers: WSM 46 Years
52.
Building on the Past: 1957: Moon Valley Country Club
54.
L.G. Knipe: Arizona’s Forgotten “Progressive Phoenix Architect" - Jay Mark
58.
Poultry Pioneer: Famous Chicken Meal Served in Phoenix - Douglas Towne
62.
Supersized Cargo Carrier: LeTourneau’s Trackless Train - Douglas Towne
67. 83.
Sunstate Equipment Co.: Celebrating 40 Years
86.
Digging Through the Archives: James Bond Spies Construction Projects - William Horner
91. 92.
Bid Results - Bidjudge
GLENDALE, AZ 85303
O. 623.466.6640 I F. 623.879.0611 C. 623.707.7067 I E. BRANDON@METROAZ.NET
Back When: Futuristic Phoenix - Douglas Towne Upward then Onward: The Phoenix Years of Billionaire David H. Murdock - Derek Horn
Architect’s Perspective: P. E. ‘Gene’ Buchli, AIA: Pursuing Materiality - Doug Sydnor, FAIA
ACC Advertisers’ Index
CONSOLIDATED ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTORS, INC. 4200 EAST UNIVERSITY DRIVE
Phone: 602-437-4200 Fax: 602-437-0773 E-Mail: conorq@cedphx.xom Website: www.cedphx.com
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85034
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Front Cover Groundbreaking ceremony on the Phoenix Financial Square with the Guaranty Bank building in the background. David H. Murdock is on the left in the back row. See story on page 46
Spring 2017
Editor’s Column
inslow is hoping to soar once again thanks to some Eagles. The city’s mere mention in the song “Take It Easy,” released by the band in 1972, is creating a fresh identity for the struggling Route 66 town. Winslow capitalized on its lyrical renown by transforming a vacant lot into a backdrop for song-themed snapshots in 1999. The Standin’ on a Corner Park has a sculpture of a guitar player called “Easy,” another statue of Glenn Frey of the Eagles, and a mural backdrop of a blonde gal driving a “FlatBed Ford.” During my few minutes at the park, a steady procession of visitors stopped by, serenaded by dueling streams of Eagles' music from nearby souvenir shops. For many, the attraction runs deep. “I remember when I heard the opening notes to “Take It Easy,” for the
W
ten
and 1980s and shutter many of its businesses. Written off as a dying community of 10,000 residents, Winslow is making a modest renaissance fueled by Route 66 fans, nearby Native American tribes, the historic La Posada Hotel, and its Eagles connection. Winslow was originally founded as a railroad stop in 1882 because the nearby Little Colorado River provided water for the steam locomotives. The Santa Fe Railroad took over the line in 1897 and made Winslow the company’s division headquarters. As late as World War II, 12 passenger trains stopped daily. Debarking travelers stayed at the La Posada Hotel, the last and most stylish of the Fred Harvey Company’s hotels. Designed by architect Mary Colter, it opened in 1930. America’s “Main Street,” Route 66 also went through the heart of Winslow
“Cornering” Tourists in Winslow Douglas Towne first time while driving in a Datsun pickup,” says Barry Warner, part of the Valley musical duo Staron & Warner. “The song changed my life.” Long before Winslow promoted its musical footnote of fame, the city was the cultural and economic capital of northern Arizona. As the region’s largest community through the 1950s, it seemed destined to continue to prosper as the “Gateway to the Painted Desert.” Despite the advantages of being a transportation hub, however, the city suffered a series of economic blows that saw it lose population during the 1970s
Spring 2017
and became the first divided highway in Arizona in 1951. The town’s business district featured the 400-seat Rialto Theater, Sears, Penny’s and Montgomery Ward department stores according to the book, Images of America: Winslow. Aviator Charles Lindbergh selected Winslow for an airport location as the fueling stop for flights between Albuquerque and Los Angeles for the forerunner of Trans World Airways in 1929. Travelers on the airline journeyed from New York to Los Angeles in 48 hours by flying during the day and riding the train at night. After World War II, Trans World and Frontier airlines served Winslow. In 1955, an Air Force radar facility opened nearby on Tucker Mesa, staffed by almost 300 personnel. But then the town’s luck changed for the worse. La Posada closed in 1957 due to declining passenger rail traffic. The military base was shut down in 1963. Interstate 40 bypassed Route 66 in 1979.
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Commercial airlines discontinued regular flights to Winslow in the 1980s. Winslow had been losing population and economic vitality for almost three decades, before it found its spark, thanks to making the most of its somewhat tenuous Eagles’ connection. “There is something about the song “Take it Easy,” that compels people to pull off the interstate and make a pilgrimage to this site,” says Old Trails Museum Director Ann-Mary J. Lutzick. “For a small-town history museum, we get an amazing diversity of international visitors." Winslow’s rebirth has also been fueled by the reopening of the La Posada Hotel. After being used for decades as offices for the Santa Fe Railroad, Allan Affeldt rescued the historic structure and started the long restoration process. “It was a wreck,” said Affeldt in A Souvenir Guide to La Posada. The hotel, which reopened in 1997, features eight acres of art galleries, libraries, and gardens on its property.
There are still numerous empty parcels and boarded-up storefronts, but there remains much in its past for Winslow to tap, including the city’s unusual Motown and big game connections. But that’s grist for a future column. Locals remain optimistic and proud. “For visitors who take the time to explore Winslow a bit, we frequently hear what a surprising and fascinating history the town has,” says Lutzick. Opposite page, top: Winslow billboard. Top, left to right: La Posada Hotel sign, Standin' On the Corner Park, statue of "Easy," Historic Harvey House billboard, and Arizona Route 66 concrete stamp. Doug recently took his wife, Maureen, to Winslow to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary--and can't wait to return to the area.
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Construction Around Arizona
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Construction Around Arizona
Projects ∙ People ∙ Practices
Good Fit at Financial Center Wins Award www.Arizcc.com
L
ike milk and cookies or peanut butter and jelly, it’s tough to imagine a better combination than the offices of an architectural firm and the vacant South Rotunda of the Phoenix Financial Center located at
the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Osborn Road. Shepley Bulfinch, a national architecture firm that restored and adaptively reused one of Phoenix’s most iconic midArizona contractor & Community
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century buildings for its offices, was honored by Docomomo US with a Citation of Merit in its 2016 Modernism in America Awards. Docomomo is an organization tasked with helping protect and conserve Modern Architecture. “A lesser-known and exuberant desert gem, the original interior details have been carefully restored and brought back to robust life by a tenant,” the awards jury wrote. “This is yet another example of how less is more… how restoration with a light hand values even the patina on original material if that material can be saved and restored, rather than replaced.” Shepley Bulfinch’s restoration was one of 10 projects recognized by Docomomo’s Modernism in America Awards,
Construction Around Arizona
which highlight significant modern buildings. The Phoenix Financial Center was created in the early 1960s after entrepreneur David Murdock imagined a site that would “provide the city with a piece of landmark architecture.” Murdock sought out W.A. Sarmiento, a Peruvian-born architect, who designed the complex with its iconic tower and two rotundas, creating a unique and exceptional representation of Modern Neo-Expressionism design. The recent restoration and adaptive reuse of the South Rotunda, which had sat vacant for a few years, celebrates an important architectural landmark and advances Phoenix’s vision for the revival of the Midtown Central Avenue corridor. What was a once-thriving bank is now Shepley Bulfinch’s new Phoenix office. The firm created a modern space to fit their needs while still respecting the existing structure and Sarmiento's original design. The open environment of the ground floor is maintained as the firm's architectural studio, while the former bank vault is now gallery space. The mezzanine’s private offices have been transformed into collaboration rooms while two private offices were combined to create a larger break room. Existing light fixtures throughout the rotunda were retained and refitted with high-efficiency lighting. Iconic elements of Sarmiento’s original design, many of which had been lost or badly altered, have become core features of the successful renovation.
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