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HENRY F. SHELTON: THE SEABEE WHO SHAPED ARIZONA MIDCENTURY GOLF PHOENIX’S BEHIND-THE-SCENES GOLF CHAMPION: FORREST RICHARDSON PAPAGO GOLF COURSE: BUILT ON A SITE OF MONUMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR MURRAY WENTWORTH’S GOLF LEGACY HOW THE ARIZONA COUNTRY CLUB EMERGED FROM THE INGLESIDE INN

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Subscriptions: Online at arizcc.com Serving Contracting Firms and the Arizona Community… Then & Now Arizona Contractor & Community (ACC) magazine is published bi-monthly (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec). ACC is a professional publication designed for the contracting industry, engineers, architects, equipment rentals, suppliers, and others interested in Arizona and its history.

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CONTENTS Contributors - Eric Benson & Brian Kassalen From The Editor: My Father’s Golf Shot That Almost Changed History - Douglas Towne Construction Around Arizona: Projects • People • Practices Back When: Don’t Tee Off the Golf Sponsors Douglas Towne Tucson National: A Golf Course with Chi-Town Construction Roots - Billy Horner Papago Golf Club: A Course Built on the Site of Monumental Significance - Douglas Towne Phoenix’s Behind-The-Scenes Golf Champion: Forrest Richardson - Douglas Towne Henry F. Shelton: The Seabee Who Shaped Arizona’s Midcentury Golf Courses - Billy Horner Scottsdale’s Century Golf Course: Where a Contractor Hit the First Hole-in-One - Billy Horner Saluting Arizona’s Builders: Forrest M. Cox Billy Horner Old School Equipment: The Caterpillar 619 Scraper: A Mid-Century Earthmoving Pioneer - Billy Horner Building on the Past: 1985 - Pulice Constructs Tournament Players Club Scottsdale - Billy Horner Architect’s Perspective: Ingleside Club Legacy Doug Sydnor, FAIA Digging Through the Archives: Murray Wentworth: A Life Built with Integrity and Iron - Billy Horner Bid Results Advertising Index

Front Cover A photo collage from Tucson National Golf Course.

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CONTRIBUTORS S OA K IN T H E R E L AXAT I O N ERIC BENSON

BRIAN KASSALEN

PAGE 39

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ric Benson is the Chief Executive Officer of Benson Systems, Inc., a leading provider of integrated security and fire protection solutions based in Gilbert, Arizona. A hands-on leader with a deep-rooted understanding of the industry, Eric’s journey with the company began at just 16 years old, working in the warehouse and gaining firsthand experience with the systems that now define the company’s success.

Over the past two decades, Eric has worked his way through nearly every department at Benson Systems, holding roles that include Field Technician, Purchasing Manager, Service Manager, Director of Sales, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Business Officer.

His progression reflects a rare blend of operational expertise, financial acumen, and strategic vision.

As CEO, Eric leads a team of approximately 100 professionals and has overseen significant company growth and innovation, positioning Benson Systems as a trusted name in commercial and industrial security across the Southwest. He is known for fostering a culture of accountability, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

A lifelong learner, Eric completed the Senior Executive Program through the Arizona Builders Alliance in 2022, further refining his leadership capabilities. His story is one of resilience and a relentless drive to elevate the standards of safety, service, and technology in the security industry.

B

rian Kassalen is a partner with Baker Tilly International, a consulting and public accounting firm, and serves as the construction industry leader. He has been in public accounting since 1998 and leads a team of professionals who provide audit, tax, and advisory services to clients in the real estate and construction industries.

Brian provides leadership and strategic direction in areas of growth and team member development to the firm’s construction-focused partners and team members. He frequently presents continuing education in construction, auditing, and accounting.

As a CPA, Brian is active in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). The PICPA previously recognized him as one of the “40 Under 40 to Watch” in accounting.

Brian’s interest in construction extends to his personal life as well. He and his wife have renovated multiple houses.

They often roll up their sleeves and do some construction work during those projects.

When he is not working or completing a home improvement project, Brian spends time with his wife and kids. If he has any additional free time after that, he can be found on the golf course.

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EDITOR’S COLUMN: MY FATHER’S GOLF SHOT THAT ALMOST CHANGED HISTORY DOUGLAS TOWNE

O

ver the years, we’ve noticed that many individuals featured in our employee spotlight enjoy relaxing away from the job by hitting the links. So, in that spirit, we’re putting out a special golf-themed issue.

Though I don’t play the sport much these days, I can relate to the satisfaction of nailing the perfect drive that cuts the dogleg or rolling in a long par-saving putt. Of course, memories of sculling a chip shot over the green and wanting to toss my club in a nearby pond also come to mind.

My favorite outings include the magical round where I shot par and could do no wrong at the Cochiti Golf Club in 1992.

The ball just seemed to find the hole while playing at the New Mexico course with my old University of Arizona friend, Joe Davis.

I don’t know what golf vein I tapped, but it was an incredible experience that has yet to happen again.

That event was topped only by hosting the one and only Babcock Inn – Raoul TWELVE

Duke Invitational at Tucson’s Arthur Pack Golf Course in 1986. Davis finished at the top of the leaderboard in that hybrid tournament. However, Mark “Lono” Lundgren made a gallant run for the title on the final hole with his unorthodox club selection, which all who witnessed will never forget. But, as fun as these events were, they couldn’t touch my father’s legendary shot, which almost changed history.

In the late 1950s, Robert “Bob” Towne occasionally played at Wellshire Golf Course, a public links course near our house in southeast Denver. My father would stop by alone and be paired with shorthanded foursomes, which one day included Murray Armstrong, the famed University of Denver hockey coach who won five national titles, and Alexander Bryans, a pastor from the University Park United Methodist Church.

While having a Coke following the round, the reverend asked my father if he wanted to accompany him to play at Cherry Hills

Images Courtesy of Author

Country Club. This nearby private course has hosted 14 national championships. “The pastor said his flock had provided an annual membership for him,” Bob wrote decades later about the event.

This was during Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency, when “Ike” had summer White Houses in Denver, where he played golf and bridge, and in the mountain town of Frasier, where he fished. This connection stemmed from First Lady Mamie Doud Eisenhower, who was raised in Denver and had a park named in her honor, a block from my house.

Here, many years later, my family scattered our parents’ ashes among its cottonwood trees that grew along the Highline Canal.

On an early Saturday morning, my father and the pastor teed off at Cherry Hills. Upon reaching the #9 hole, the action began. “It was a strange hole,” Bob wrote. “It went straight up and veered to the right, and the green was not visible.”

My father chunked his drive to the right, and the ball ended up in brush and debris at Top left: Robert Towne with his soon-to-be wife, Erma Engel Towne, 1947.

Top right: General Dwight Eisenhower and Lt. General Lucius Clay at Berlin’s Gatow Airport, 1946.

Above: Mamie Doud Eisenhower Park in Denver, 2006.

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

the bottom of the hill. “Of course, I couldn’t see the green and was grousing to myself over the poor drive,” Bob wrote.

Then, way up the hill to the left, Dad spied a fellow looking at him, waving him on. “I thought it was strange as it wasn’t the pastor doing the waving, but a wave is a wave,” he wrote. “I was angry but determined to try and avenge that poor drive and save a respectable score for the front nine.”

My father managed to accomplish his goal and more. “I did everything right, and the ball sailed out and over the hill,” he wrote. “I scrambled up that incline, but the hole was situated so you couldn’t see the green until it was next to you, like land appearing on the ocean aboard a ship.”

Upon reaching the putting green, my father encountered President Eisenhower, Lucius D. Clay, commander of American Forces in Europe, who orchestrated the Berlin Airlift, and several others. A Secret Service agent ran over to Dad and said, “You know who you almost hit with your shot?”

“Don’t tell me it was President Eisenhower?!” my father gasped.

“That’s right,” the agent responded. My father then said that someone near the green had motioned him to hit the ball.

“That was me!” the agent replied. “But I didn’t think you could reach the hole after a

Images Courtesy of Author

poor drive like that.” It turned out that President Eisenhower and his entourage were on the 9th green warming up because the practice green was being fertilized.

Later, after that dramatic scene, my father and the pastor were having lunch at the clubhouse. They were seated by a window, but also had a view of a large private dining room with its doors open. “There was a long table filled with Eisenhower’s guests

and their wives,” Bob wrote. “It was inspiring to me as President Eisenhower went to each of his guests around the table, one by one, to see about their well-being before eating.”

My father concluded the memory by writing, “I’ve had two heroes in my life: Dwight Eisenhower and Bernard Baruch.”

And he almost conked one of them with a golf ball.

Top right: Lisa Kyger, Mark Lundgren, and Susan Olsen at the Babcock Inn - Raoul Duke Invitational, 1986.

Right: Babcock Inn - Raoul Duke Invitational reunion: Mark Lundgren, Douglas Towne, and Joe Davis (l-r) at Mountain Brook Golf Course, 2023.

Below: A pin flag at Cherry Hills Country Club.

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Projects . PEOPLE . PRACTICES

FLIGHTS ARE CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF THANKS TO PULICE’S RUNWAY RECONSTRUCTION AT MESA GATEWAY AIRPORT

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ncovering unexpected items on a construction site usually isn’t a good sign, as it often indicates extra work rather than discovering a buried treasure. This was the case with Pulice on the recent $45.6 million ARIZCC.COM

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Image Courtesy of Pulice

Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contract to deliver the $18.5 million Phase One of the Runway 12R-30L Reconstruction at Mesa Gateway Airport.

“We found decades-old pipes on the project that were not in the drawings,” says Pulice Project Manager Jeff Gergal for Pulice. “But we still didn’t let it bog down the construction schedule.”

In fact, Pulice not only finished the project early but also completed it under

budget. “We finished six weeks early and still were able to get some extra work done for the client,” Gergal says.

The project marks Pulice’s seventh airside improvements contract for Mesa Gateway Airport Authority since 2018, including work on Taxiway C, Taxiway K, and the Ellsworth Channel.

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CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects Images Courtesy of Pulice

• ​45000 square yards of reconstructed Portland Cement Concrete Pavement runway pavement.

• ​26000 square yards of reconstructed asphalt concrete (AC) shoulder pavement.

• ​New runway markings.

• New runway lighting.

• Complete infield grading and drainage improvements.

Mesa Gateway Airport is booming, with new projects emerging, and the Pulice project team needed to be flexible and maintain strong communication with the client to keep everything moving forward when occasional changes arose, including ensuring project needs were met. “Pulice was successful by using its deep connections to locate alternatives where needed,” Gergal says.

The project was the first horizontal CMAR at Mesa Gateway Airport. “The CMAR

delivery method works wonders for keeping client, engineer, general contractor, and other key stakeholders working together for a common goal,” according to Gergal. He added that due to the way CMARs operate, all parties collaborated to find a solution for live communications and fiber optic lines that could not be shut down during construction.

An existing strong bond between the airport and the general contractor helps the projects run more smoothly. “We have a great working relationship with Mesa Gateway Airport Authority, as the same team has been in place for years,” said Marketing Manager Jason Evans. “The airport is an active partner, highly organized in a way that makes them great to work alongside.”

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

focused on the task at hand while constantly anticipating upcoming milestones.

Managing expectations across teams and stakeholders requires sharp attention to detail and proactive communication. It pushes me to think ahead, adapt quickly, and lead with clarity.

Sujay Sudhir More, Field/Project Engineer Experience: 1 year with Pulice Favorite job task: Witnessing the transformation of the runway—seeing it demolished in just four days and then rebuilt meticulously, day by day, to spec, on time, and under budget. The sheer volume of concrete we pour in such a short window is impressive, but what excites me most is managing the schedule and watching our look-ahead planning come to life. It’s incredibly rewarding to see everything align—from logistics to execution—and to build lasting relationships with the stakeholders along the way. Being part of their lives, celebrating their wins, and supporting them through challenges makes the work deeply meaningful.

Most challenging job task: For any project to succeed, hitting the schedule is critical. What’s most challenging is staying

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Most memorable day at work: When we began breaking beams to test for strength and confirm we were meeting—or even exceeding—project requirements. That moment symbolized how every element, from planning to execution, must align perfectly for success to occur. It was a proud reflection of teamwork, precision, and shared commitment to excellence.

Favorite off-job task: I love taking long drives with good music and great company. I’m naturally curious and spend time researching global trends in trade, economics, and policy—especially how they impact our industry and communities.

Staying informed helps me connect the dots between the world we build and the world we live in.

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T

hese days, a crane on a construction site seems as essential as a shovel. But McCarthy Building Companies proved otherwise on the recently finished Advanced Manufacturing and Welding Building and Electric Vehicle (EV) Building located on Western Maricopa Education Center’s (West-MEC) Northeast Campus.

“Because the project site sits adjacent to one of only two active runways at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, which is the busiest municipal airport in the country, our team had to coordinate daily with both the airport control tower and the FAA,” says Matt Lyons, Executive Vice President of Operations and Business Group Leader for McCarthy’s Education team. “To mitigate any operational disruptions, we made the strategic decision to build the entire structure without the use of a crane.”

Lyons adds that this constraint required intense planning, clear communication, and real-time responsiveness. “It was a unique challenge that allowed us to collaborate and grow our partnership with the aviation community while emphasizing the importance of safety and showing respect for others in the community.”

McCarthy spent 10 months constructing the $14 million project at 1617 W. Williams Dr. in Phoenix. Designed by Grace Design Studios (formerly GHC-Orcutt Winslow), it consists of a new 16,500-square-foot facility that hosts West-MEC’s Advanced Manufacturing program, welding center, and a 2,000-square-foot electric vehicle (EV) bay.

“West-MEC has always been at the cutting edge of workforce development, and ARIZCC.COM

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects

MCCARTHY DOES HEAVY LIFTING WITHOUT A CRANE TO COMPLETE WEST-MEC EDUCATION CENTER BUILDING

the EV industry grows and evolves, students are prepared to provide support and care,” Lyons says.

Another interesting aspect of the project was that McCarthy, being embedded in an active educational environment, allowed them to interact directly with West-MEC students. “Throughout the project, students toured the project site, asked our team questions, and were able to learn about the construction process firsthand,” Lyons says. “Their curiosity and enthusiasm were contagious, and it was incredibly rewarding to see them connect what we were building to their own educational and career aspirations.”

McCarthy is deeply committed to growing Arizona’s workforce and supporting with this new building, they are address- career pathways in construction and the ing our community’s workforce needs trades, according to Lyons. “So, collabowhile helping more students to obtain the rating again with West-MEC, an institution training they need to begin and develop suc- whose mission is to ‘prepare students today cessful careers in these growing industries,” for tomorrow’s careers,’ was especially Lyons says. meaningful,” he says. West-MEC serves The Advanced Manufacturing & Welding more than 37,000 students from 49 high building is comprised of an advanced man- schools in the northwest Valley. ufacturing lab with an ISO-X cleanroom and Lyons says that one of the most industry-standard equipment from compa- challenging—and ultimately most rewardnies like Festo, Universal ing—aspects of the project Robots, and KUKA, accord“WEST-MEC HAS ALWAYS was the installation of the ing to Lyons. “Students North Elevation building in West-MEC’s two-year BEEN AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF signage, which features Advanced Manufacturing, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT” the West-MEC arrow logo Automation and Robotics integrated directly into the program can explore new technologies like building’s metal panel enclosure system.

AI, machine learning, and robotic process “Working closely with our design partautomation, and their impact on manufac- ner, Orcutt Winslow, we collaborated to turing,” he says. “A unique feature of the develop a custom architectural solution program is the inclusion of cleanroom sim- that aligned with the aesthetic expectaulation training that prepares students for tions while maintaining the constructability work in the semiconductor fields.” and performance of the building envelope,” The EV bay addition has been outfitted he says. “This design detail was particularly to create a cutting-edge teaching facility complex due to its scale and integration into for electric vehicle technology, featuring the north-facing metal panel system.” a car lift as the facility’s focal point. “The McCarthy was, with the support of EV bay supports student learning within their trade partner, Airpark Signage, able various instructional areas and allows for to prefabricate the 10+-foot-tall signage in first-hand demonstrations, ensuring that as two large sections. This allowed for more Images Courtesy of McCarthy

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT Alex Lee, Project Manager Experience: 8 years with McCarthy Favorite job task: The opportunity to mentor and develop younger team members. Helping them grow in confidence, technical knowledge, and leadership ability is incredibly rewarding. At the same time, I’m deeply passionate about the technical aspects of our work—especially the self-perform side. There’s something fulfilling about rolling up our sleeves and having a direct influence on the quality of our buildings, the approach to safety, and the efficiency of building needed facilities for our communities. Being able to combine my team’s construction experience and expertise with the opportunity to guide others makes this role very meaningful to me.

Most challenging job task: One challenge I’ve embraced is developing people while still executing a fast-paced project. Mentorship is important to me, but it takes ARIZCC.COM

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects

precise quality control and streamlined the installation process. “Although installing the signage before metal panels was out of the typical construction sequence, the team collectively determined it to be the best course of action to ensure both the quality and visibility of the feature,” Lyons says.

“Once installed, everyone took great care to protect the sign during the remainder of the building’s construction.”

He adds, “While initially considered an unconstructable detail, the successful planning of this feature is a testament to the power of early collaboration, creative problem-solving, and the shared commitment of the entire project team to delivering a standout architectural element for the campus.”

Lyons says that the most unusual aspect of the project was the integration of a custom Lincoln Welding Prism Fume Exhaust System, supporting 25 individual indoor welding booths within a dedicated lab space.

“This highly specialized system required extensive coordination with the team at

Images Courtesy of McCarthy

Lincoln Electric to ensure proper functionality, safety, and long-term maintainability.

In addition to the indoor lab, the project also included a fully equipped exterior welding yard, featuring individual sandblasting and plasma cutting stations—a unique addition for a high school campus. “Together, these spaces provide students with access to industry-grade training environments, allowing them to develop hands-on skills that align directly with workforce needs,” Lyons says. time and patience—especially when deadlines are tight. I’ve learned to create space for coaching within the daily workflow, so it becomes part of the process as opposed to an afterthought.

Most memorable day at work: It’s difficult to pinpoint a single day because there have been so many meaningful moments throughout my career. Rather than choose a single event, I’d say ribbon-cutting ceremonies are the type of events that always stand out. They represent the culmination of years of hard work by so many individuals—people wearing different hats, playing vastly different roles, all working toward the same goal. It’s a moment that brings everyone together to celebrate what we’ve built, and it reminds me why I love what I do.

Favorite activities away from work: I value spending quality time with family and close friends. A lot of my free time is spent boating on the lake. I’m also a big college football fan and love cheering on my alma mater, the USC Trojans.

Lyons says the project brought together the expertise of more than 30 local Arizona subcontractors, reflecting a strong commitment to supporting the regional construction industry. In addition to McCarthy’s concrete, structural steel, and civil sitework teams, these partners were instrumental in delivering a high-quality facility safely, efficiently, and on schedule. The project’s most notable trade partners—based on scope, value, and impact—were: Pueblo Mechanical (HVAC), Hawkeye Electric, Foothills Fire, Stone Cold Masonry, Irontree Plumbing, Pete King Construction (Drywall and Framing), and Progressive Roofing.

“Each subcontractor brought a high level of craftsmanship and collaboration to the job, especially given the complexity of working on an active educational campus,” Lyons says.

West-MEC continues to set the standard as one of Arizona’s leading career and technical education providers, according to Lyons. “Projects like this aren’t just about construction; they’re about creating opportunities for young adults to gain real-world skills in some of the most in-demand industries shaping our future,” he says.

Lyons adds that this kind of impact wouldn’t be possible without strong community support. “As West-MEC prepares to pursue a $415 million bond in 2025, we encourage everyone to take time to learn more about Propositions 403 and 406 and the critical role they play in expanding access to high-quality, workforce-driven education.”

ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

TWENTY FOUR

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects

SUNLAND ASPHALT REJUVENATES STREETS IN TOLLESON

Y

our daily commute was likely smooth compared to what Sunland Asphalt & Construction went through on their recent project upgrading streets in the West Valley community of Tolleson.

“We constantly needed to revise the traffic control plan with the city inspector to accommodate the schools and residents in the area,” says Ethan Houser, project engineer. “This forced us to revise our slurry plan daily in order to complete the project on time.” Sunland Asphalt also had a change order added to the project to include a new

street with Type II slurry treatment. traffic with school commutes and buses conThe work was part of a $720,665 pave- stantly navigating the local streets, which is ment maintenance project for the City of why they opted for a more permanent yet Tolleson, which occurred in March 2025. cost-effective fix.”

Sunland Asphalt collaborated with the city The most challenging aspect of the to rejuvenate residential streets through project was keeping the public informed crack seal and slurry road treatments. of progress throughout the project. “This “We applied a Type III Polybecame a problem as we conflex crack seal material to the “A CHALLENGE WAS tinued to battle rain delays and streets as a way of providing work locations due to MOVING CARS OFF THE changing extra protection and strength school schedules,” Houser says. to the roads,” Houser says. ROADS WE PLANNED “Another challenge we faced “Once the crack seal was was moving cars off the roads TO WORK ON.” applied, we scheduled the we planned to work and directType II slurry work to begin on the same ing people where they could safely park residential roads. There was constant heavy their vehicles and still be out of the way.”

Images Courtesy of Sunland Asphalt & Construction

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Favorite job task: Working outside with the crew.

Most challenging job task: Dealing with different personalities and maintaining a team environment. Many unforeseen daily challenges come with the job.

Most memorable day at work: Driving by one of my projects with my daughter and showing her what I do for work.

Favorite off-job task: Riding dirt bikes and motorcycles.

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TWENTY SIX

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects

WORK ADVANCES ON I-17 WILDLIFE OVERPASS SOUTH OF FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

D

rivers on Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff have seen a new bridge over the highway start to take shape in recent months.

The structure has received its share of attention, but not because it will be carrying vehicles.

Instead, this future overpass will allow wildlife to cross above Interstate 17 in an area about 5 miles north of Munds Park at milepost 327.

“The 26 pre-stressed concrete girders are placed and deck work is underway,” says ADOT Resident Engineer Kent Link.

“Diaphragm installation is complete, while placement of falsework and forms needed for the silica fume deck pours is underway.

The bridge work has passed the halfway mark as we look ahead to the winter season. Completion is scheduled in 2026.”

Link also notes that construction includes putting in 16 miles of 8-foot-tall wildlife fence.

The $15.8 million wildlife crossing project is a partnership between ADOT and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Most funding for the structure and other project features, including fencing, comes from a grant through the Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program.

SEMA Construction, Inc., of Centennial, CO., is the prime contractor on the job, which started in spring 2025.

“You might wonder how and if wildlife crossings like this work,” says ADOT ARIZCC.COM

Images Courtesy of ADOT

Public Information Officer Doug Nintzel.

“We’ve had traffic shifted to one side of “The answer is yes; they’ve been shown to I-17 at times to allow bridge construction, reduce collisions with wildlife in locations including girder installation, to take place across the country.” without vehicles traveling under the work ADOT and Game and Fish have expe- area,” says Nintzel. “That’s how we’ve kept rience with a number of bridges and I-17 open. Our recommendation is to still underpasses that provide animals with safe allow some extra time south of Flagstaff just crossings. That includes structures for big- in case peak traffic flow results in delays.” horn sheep along U.S. Highway 93 near So why was this location, north of the Hoover Dam, and deer and elk along State Willard Springs Road interchange, selected Route 260 east of Payson. for this first I-17 wildlife crossing? It comes The State Game and Fish has been heav- down to research and crash figures. The ily involved in preparing for the project and area accounted for 58 percent of crashes is looking ahead to a transition period for involving wildlife along a 32-mile stretch of wildlife to get accustomed to the 100-foot- I-17 from Stoneman Lake Road to Flagstaff wide overpass as a means of crossing between 2018 and 2022. over I-17.

A primary focus is on deer and elk. ADOT “Biologists and other staff are get- and Arizona Game and Fish are working to ting ready. The structure’s deck and areas reduce the risk of crashes with these larger around it will blend in with the surround- animals. In fact, along the studied section ing high-country area,” says Nintzel. “Native of I-17, about 75 percent of all reported plants will be used, some of crashes with wildlife involve “A PRIMARY FOCUS IS elk, which can weigh up to them to attract elk and deer.”

Among the subcontracON DEER AND ELK, THE 1,100 pounds. tors working on the project’s “ There will certainly construction is Tpac, man- LATTER WHICH CAN WEIGH be a transition period, and ufacturer of the girders in UP TO 1,100 POUNDS.” one wildlife crossing can’t Phoenix. Another Phoeprevent all crashes,” says nix-based company, Bragg Crane Services, Nintzel. “Drivers will still need to stay alert has been conducting crane operations. for deer and elk throughout the area, espeContech Engineered Solutions, based in El cially at night. But this can reduce the Mirage, is a retaining wall subcontractor, number of incidents where these large aniwith fencing provided through Liberty Fence mals run out onto I-17. ADOT’s top priority and Supply, located in Phoenix and Lakeside. is the safety of drivers and passengers. But Drivers using I-17 between Flagstaff and both of our agencies are looking out for Munds Park should be prepared for lane clo- wildlife as well.” sures and traffic shifts during the project, according to ADOT. ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

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TWENTY EIGHT

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

LGE DESIGN BUILD

P

hoenix’s construction market is seeing targeted growth across industrial, retail, healthcare, and office improvements, as developers adapt to shifting demand and new tariff pressures, according to LGE Design Build’s newly released third-quarter (Q3) 2025 Construction Delivery Outlook.

“Phoenix’s construction market remains active, but developers are moving forward with a sharper focus,” says Blake Wells, vice president of preconstruction at LGE Design Build. “With new tariffs and duties on the horizon, the pressure on budgets and schedules is real. Teams that plan strategically and coordinate early across projects will be best positioned for success through the rest of 2025.”

Key insights from the quarterly report include: Phoenix Market Demand Phoenix’s construction market in Q3 2025 shows targeted activity across industrial, retail, healthcare, and office sectors, with developers responding to long-term growth patterns rather than short-term speculation.

• Industrial construction remains active with 2.2 million square feet delivered and a robust 11.6 million square feet still under construction, though developers are shifting away from oversupplied fringe submarkets toward infill and logistics-adjacent sites.

• In the office sector, ground-up development is essentially paused. Still, construction remains steady in the form ARIZCC.COM

Images Courtesy of LGE Design Build

of tenant improvements and repositioning projects, especially in high-demand areas like Tempe and Scottsdale, where sublease availability dropped to the lowest level since 2022.

• Healthcare construction is increasing modestly, with activity focused on off-campus outpatient facilities and smallerscale medical office buildings embedded in retail corridors.

• Retail and mixed-use construction is gaining steam in the East and West Valleys, supported by population growth and tenant demand—over 1.24 million square feet is currently underway, much of it in highgrowth communities like Gilbert, Queen Creek, and Buckeye, where service-based and convenience retail are driving new development.

Construction Labor After leading job growth in the first half of the year, Arizona’s construction sector has shown signs of cooling.

• In May 2025, statewide construction employment declined by 1,700 jobs, marking a 0.8 percent dip as the market adjusts to elevated interest rates and tempered demand.

• Despite the recent slowdown, longterm projections remain favorable, with statewide construction employment still on track for 3.3 percent growth compared to two years ago.

• Industrial development, particularly in warehousing and logistics, continues to anchor activity in Phoenix, though labor demand has become more selective as project financing tightens.

Supply Chain U.S. supply chains are navigating a complex third quarter shaped by evolving tariff

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects

PHOENIX CONSTRUCTION MARKET EXPERIENCES TARGETED GROWTH AMID TARIFF PRESSURES

structures, seasonal logistics pressures, and geopolitical instability abroad.

• While shipping networks have largely adapted to recent global disruptions, rising port fees, elevated container rates, and ongoing conflict in the Middle East are testing freight resilience.

• Domestically, new Section 232 reviews—spanning copper, electronics, and critical minerals—are introducing added uncertainty, particularly for constructionrelated materials.

• Although many tariffs remain under negotiation, U.S. manufacturers and importers are responding with strategic reshoring, inventory shifts, and increased use of bonded warehouses to preserve timelines and mitigate cost risk.

Material Costs Material costs are increasingly shaped by tariff-driven instability as Q3 progresses.

• The recent 50 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum and pending Section 232 reviews on copper, electronics, and critical minerals are driving price hikes across key construction inputs.

• Copper imports surged in advance of potential duties, while drywall and gypsum pricing continue to rise due to both freight costs and constrained supply.

• Electrical components, particularly those reliant on Chinese inputs, remain elevated amid 30 percent IEEPA duties.

• Though some materials like flat glass and lumber remain stable for now, the broader risk environment is prompting many contractors to accelerate purchasing and lock in pricing before further changes take hold.

To view the full Construction Delivery Outlook report, visit LGEDesignBuild.com.

ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

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CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Projects

S&S PAVING IS THE PRINCE OF A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT NEAR PRINCESS DRIVE

​“W

hile working on this project, we had to be aware of and courteous to local business traffic and their customers,” says Sam Russler, project manager for S&S Paving & Construction, a contractor based in Phoenix since 1984. “We used signage and fencing to make sure everybody was safe.”

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​The company was subcontracted for grading, paving, and concrete work on four warehouse buildings near Princess Drive and Loop 101 in Scottsdale. The $40 million project is expected to take 2.5 years and be completed in February 2027. ​The project is still in the early phases, but S&S Paving has already had to find a workaround because of a unique site feature. “There is a box culvert going through the middle of the site that causes challenges with access on-site and

constructing the buildings,” Russler says. ​But the most challenging aspect of the project is the clients’ requirements regarding the import source, according to Russler. “We typically don’t have Phase 1 environmental, and it made it challenging to get the testing back in a timely manner.”

Below: Ken Rupp.

Left: Xavier Gamboa.

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THIRTY TWO

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA People

FAMOUSLY WARM AND MAGNETIC: MY CONNECTION TO ARNOLD PALMER JAMES LOGAN ABELL, FAIA

G

rowing up as a young tennis player in Pueblo, Colorado, I didn’t follow professional golf, but I often went with my grandfather on many golf outings and learned the etiquette and basic rules of the game.

Of course, American kids of my era knew the name Arnold Palmer. His career made national headlines in 1967 when his earnings over 13 professional seasons surpassed $1 million, making him the first golfer in history to reach that milestone. “Crazy to earn that kind of money to hit a little white ball into a hole,” my grandfather said.

The 1955 Phoenix Open was Arnold Palmer’s first official Professional Golfers’ Association Tour tournament after turning Images Courtesy of Author

Image Courtesy of Starfire Golf Club

professional, where he tied for 10th place. from my mentor about hybrid Bermuda Years later, while attending Arizona State grasses: the Tifgreen, the Tifway, the University, I learned about this tournament PD-102, and Midiron blends. I even disfrom friends, which had been played since covered Zoysia, that fabulously bumpy and 1932 at The Phoenix Counlumpy, drought-tolerant try Club. Bob Goldwater, ARNIE’S DRIVE HIT A TREE, Korean no-mow grass!

Sr., upgraded the event in Licensed as an architect 1939, convincing the Thun- AND HE CALLED OUT TO ME, in 1978, I immediately set derbirds Charity to take over “WHO PUT THIS TREE IN out to acquire my second the tournament organizastate license as a regisTHAT SPOT?” tion. “Arnie’s Army” arrived tered landscape architect. in droves, but the course is relatively flat Early in private practice, I was asked to and not conducive to spectator viewing. design a retirement village in Wickenburg My friends showed me the special card- that included the developer’s request for a board periscope they bought to look over 9-hole executive golf course. I was given a the heads of other spectators. golf course planning guide by the civil engiMidway through college, I was a drafts- neer on the project, and was so pleased man for Tempe landscape architect James when my client was impressed with my Kellogg Wheat, who helped design the par-3 layouts and proposed Sonoran Desgrounds for the Fiesta Inn Hotel, which ert tree selections. wanted a grass putting green. I learned I had a special client in architect George W. Christensen, FAIA, who hired me for many landscape designs as a “moonlighter,” even before starting my own practice.

He was a fun man, had corny jokes, and always had bits of folksy wisdom to share.

I had designed landscapes for his church campuses and custom homes, but the largescale renovation of the historic Casa Blanca Inn in Scottsdale was a new adventure.

Alan Mishkin, a native New Yorker and a Chicago real estate developer, came to Phoenix in 1976 and soon purchased the dilapidated old resort. Christensen and Associates were hired to renovate the Top left: Scottsdale Country Club entrance.

Above: Arnold Palmer at Scottsdale Country Club., an artist conception by Dave Ashton.

Far left: Arnold Palmer.

Left: George W. Christensen, FAIA.

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THIRTY FOUR

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

Top right: Scottsdale Country Club eucalyptus entryway.

Below: Scottsdale Country Club golf course with Mondell pines.

Images Courtesy of Author

ARIZCC.COM

older buildings and adding some needed new maintenance structures. Still, the huge news was that the Arnold Palmer Golf Design Group, based in Florida, was going to completely renew the 18-hole course.

As the landscape architect, my studio was excited to coordinate tree plantings, landscaping around tee boxes, landscaped entryways, and facilitation of topography, turf grass, and watering systems with the Palmer Group, which had been responsible for more than 300 course designs in 37 states, 25 countries, and on five continents! We were much appreciated for our local botanical knowledge, getting plans approved promptly, and making water-wise tree selections without having the course feel like a “desert.”

I was able to meet Arnold Palmer toward the end of renovations on site with Christensen and Jim Roberts, AIA. “Arnie” was an instant charmer, telling me he enjoyed the 80 towering red gum eucalyptus we had designed for the main entry road, and marveled at the incredible views of the McDowell Mountains. He also chainsmoked cigarettes while flashing smiles and sharing humor with enormous positive energy. Arnie made you feel that he was

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA People

63-acre Kellogg Mansion-turned-resort campus into luxury townhomes.

Converting the historic 1927 Kellogg Mansion, dozens of guest cottages, an onion-domed ballroom-restaurant, and some 2-story hotel room blocks added by Ramada Inn into condo townhomes was a challenge. I was responsible for all site improvements, including low patio walls, hundreds of trees, custom garden gates, sidewalks with almost a mile of red brick paving, a historic fountain renovation, and restoring a landmark octagon courtyard with Tifgreen sod. Mishkin loved our design improvements, the new rose garden, and that lush, hybrid Bermuda lawn, all celebrating the historic octagon where late 1930s Hollywood elite once vacationed.

Specializing in redevelopment, Mishkin asked the same team to design renovations to the aging Scottsdale Country Club.

The architecture firm was now called Christensen, Roberts, and Jones, and they once again worked their magic in renovating

genuinely happy to meet a project member and acknowledged our contribution.

The grand opening invitation of the new Scottsdale Country Club announced that, in addition to ribbon-cutting, Arnie would play and comment on the first three holes, noting the changes and improvements for each hole. My guest was Galen “Solly” Sollenberger, a local golf promoter who was a big promoter of the ASU Karsten Course. The highlight was when Arnie’s drive on the second hole hit a tree, and he subsequently called out to me in a friendly jab, “Who put this tree in that spot?”

Soon, we were retained for a new 9-hole course to the east, across Hayden Road, and again, the same team worked well together.

Arnie’s group pressed for more protective mounding topography along Cactus Drive.

“Fast-growing green trees” were requested, and as is so often the case, wonderfully dark green Mondell pines were used that are arid-adapted, from the Afghanistan deserts.

I understand that when the club’s name was changed to Starfire Golf Club in the late 1980s, the original 18 holes were named “The Squire” and “The Hawk,” with the new 9-hole course called “The King,” which was Palmer’s nickname. Once again, we received great appreciation from the Palmer group during our collaboration.

Much later, Arnie was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004, the first golfer ever to receive it, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2009, the second golfing recipient ever, after Byron Nelson.

“No one did more to popularize the sport than Palmer,” wrote Adam Schupak in Golf Week. His dashing presence singlehandedly took golf out of the country clubs and into the mainstream. Quite simply, he made golf cool.”

For me, he was simply genuine, warm, and famously magnetic!

ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

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THIRTY SIX

EXPECT MORE ... WE DELIVER!

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LUKE M. SNELL

M

y “ah-ha” moment in measuring the percentage of air in concrete occurred while assisting a fellow graduate student with the fresh concrete test for a lightweight concrete research project. Since it was lightweight concrete, I had to use the volumetric air meter, nicknamed the Roll-A-Meter, to determine the concrete’s air percentage.

The test took me 20 minutes, including verifying it was done correctly. A representative from the research sponsor who witnessed the project pulled out a Chase Air Indicator (CAI), took about a tablespoon of mortar without coarse aggregates, and within 3 minutes determined the air content of the concrete. I was surprised that the test results were similar.

The volumetric air test is regarded as the most accurate method for determining the percentage of air in concrete and must be utilized with lightweight concrete. However, most technicians dislike conducting this test because it is time-consuming and complex.

This experience was my introduction to the CAI, and I was impressed by how easy and fast it was to determine the air content of fresh concrete. However, as I began my engineering consulting career, I discovered that most engineers found it illogical to ascertain the air content of a 10-cubic-yard truckload of concrete using only a tablespoon of mortar from the mixture.

Since the projects I worked on required ASTM testing standards, and none existed for the CAI, we couldn’t utilize it on them.

Although my only experience with CAI was positive, I was uncertain whether it could be replicated on other projects.

Right: Chase Air Indicator.

Below: Volumetric Meter.

Images Courtesy of Author

ARIZCC.COM

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Practices

THE CHASE AIR INDICATOR: ANOTHER OPTION TO DETERMINE THE PERCENT OF AIR IN CONCRETE

I later learned that there was an concrete and added air-entraining admixapproved CAI AASTHO test procedure: T199 tures, resulting in the concrete having 6 - Standard Method of Test for Air Content percent air content. of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Chase Not surprisingly, while the contracIndicator for use on transportation construc- tor was finishing the concrete, the surface tion projects. began to delaminate. The contractor called Several research projects were con- me seeking solutions to fix the top surface ducted to determine whether the CAI of the concrete, all of which were costly. was accurate enough to Consequently, the conreplace the expensive and “TO AVOID PROBLEMS, THE tractor opted to remove time-consuming volumetand replace the concrete CONTRACTOR SHOULD HAVE floor. They could have ric or pressure air meters.

The CAI cost about one- CONDUCTED A SIMPLE AIR TEST avoided this expense had tenth of this equipment conducted a simple WITH THE CAI ON THE FIRST they and was quicker and easier air test with the CAI on LOAD OF CONCRETE.” to use. Unfortunately, the the first load of concrete, research indicated that the which would have identiCAI had too much variability, which meant fied the concrete as air-entrained. it couldn’t be used for transportation projAnother event occurred while I was the ects. Consequently, AASTHO discontinued chair of International Activities for the ACI this standard in 2011, citing the reason for and a certified inspector of batch plants for discontinuation as a “lack of use.” the National Ready Mixed Concrete AssoOne outcome of the studies was that the ciation. I worked in Mongolia, where they CAI could be used to determine whether developed their ready-mixed concrete fresh concrete had a low or high percent- industry. Over five years, Mongolia tranage of air content. Although it could not sitioned from batching concrete on-site accurately measure the air content, it without chemical admixtures to establishcould identify whether the concrete had ing several new central batch plants utilizing been air-entrained. I conducted some admixtures. experiments with the CAI, which confirmed The rapid expansion of the readythis result. mix concrete industry, coupled with Later in my career, two events renewed inexperienced personnel, can lead to batchmy interest in the CAI. The first involved a ing errors, especially regarding adding contractor who had just placed a concrete air-entrainment admixtures. Using the CAI floor. They had ordered non-air-entrained on the initial loads of concrete provided a concrete because the floor was to be quick and independent check to ensure that hard-troweled. If the concrete contained batches without air were prepared correctly. entrained air, the hard troweling would seal We have mixed results regarding the use the surface, trapping water in the entrained of the CAI. The meter isn’t accurate enough air bubbles just beneath the top surface of to replace our projects’ volumetric and the concrete, which would result in the pressure meters, and no approved ASTM delamination of that surface. or AASHTO test standards are available.

They were using a new ready-mix com- However, the CAI can be utilized by followpany and felt confident it could handle ing the manufacturer’s instructions to help their relatively simple mixture. Since it was determine whether the concrete intended a small job, no agency was on-site to test to be without air entrainment was successthe concrete. The company mis-batched the fully batched.

If you plan to use a CAI for your project, remember that it will provide limited information and cannot replace our standard testing methods for determining the percent of air in the concrete.

ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

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HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SECURITY SYSTEM FOR YOUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ERIC BENSON, CEO OF BENSON SYSTEMS

I

n Phoenix alone, the cost of property crime is expected to exceed $640 million by 2025. That includes more than $98 million in burglary and nearly $14 million in arson, according to CrimeGrade.org. These numbers aren’t just statistics but a wake-up call for commercial property owners. When crime hits a property, it not only leads to direct losses but also lowers property values, slows appreciation, and damages reputations. Commercial properties in highcrime areas have experienced a loss of up to $2.1 billion in value.

As the CEO of Benson Systems, I’ve worked with clients across industrial parks, office complexes, and mixed-use developments. No two properties are the same, and neither are their security needs. However, in every case, choosing the right system begins with a simple principle: build a strategy, not just a setup.

1. Assess Your Property’s Unique Vulnerabilities Security should be proactive, not reactive. Start with a full risk assessment of your site. For industrial properties, that might mean evaluating perimeter fencing, warehouse entry points, loading docks, or hazardous material storage areas. For offices, you may focus more on lobby access, internal zones, and data security. For mixed-use developments, both residential and retail concerns come into play, especially in terms of foot traffic management.

Don’t rely on a one-size-fits-all solution.

Each property type and location presents its mix of vulnerabilities, and those risks should shape your technology and coverage plan.

2. Know What Features Are Non-Negotiable These are some baseline security features that every commercial property should consider: • Surveillance Cameras: Today’s highresolution IP cameras provide clarity, remote access, and smart analytics, critical for real-time monitoring and evidence capture.

• Access Control Systems: From keycards to biometric systems, controlling who comes in (and when) can significantly reduce liability and prevent unauthorized access.

• Intrusion Detection: Motion sensors, glass break detectors, and door contacts ARIZCC.COM

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alert you to suspicious activity before a • Failing to train staff on using security break-in happens. tools effectively, • Environmental Sensors: Integrating • Neglecting regular maintenance and smoke, gas, and temperature sensors software updates, and can detect hazards that threaten not just • Not monitoring blind spots in coverage assets but lives. (parking lots, stairwells, loading docks) For multi-tenant or shared-use spaces, Security is an investment, not a box to consider customizable access levels and check. Take the time to work with an expeintegrations that accommodate different rienced provider who understands the users without compromising the over- nuances of your property and your industry. all system.

5. Prioritize Compliance and Liability 3. Tap Into the Power of AI and Security systems don’t just protect Remote Access against crime; they also protect against AI has transformed commercial security, lawsuits. Having a well-documented sysas modern systems now include facial recog- tem with data logs and video recordings nition, behavior analytics, and license plate can be crucial in cases involving workplace recognition. These tools learn over time to accidents, tenant disputes, or false claims. distinguish between routine activity and real Ensure your system meets both local regthreats, alerting you to potential intrusions. ulations and insurance requirements. For Remote access also industrial properties han“SECURITY SHOULD BE dling sensitive or hazardous offers a significant leap in control and convenience. PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE.” materials, compliance is You can monitor cameras, often tied to industry-speadjust access permissions, or lock down cific standards such as OSHA, NFPA, or FDA zones all from your smartphone or tab- regulations. let. For property managers or tenants with Final Thought multiple sites, this centralized oversight is In a time of rising property crime and game-changing. heightened liability, security should never be 4. Avoid Common Pitfalls That Leave You an afterthought. Whether you’re managing Vulnerable an industrial warehouse, a medical office, Too often, we see commercial properties or a multi-use complex, the right security with patchwork systems: mixing outdated system starts with asking the right queshardware with new tech, or relying on tions and partnering with the right people. different vendors for access control and At Benson Systems, we believe in designing surveillance. This creates blind spots and intelligent, scalable security solutions that integration issues. evolve with your business. Because true proOther common mistakes include: tection isn’t just about reacting to threats, • Overlooking cyber vulnerabilities in it’s about staying a step ahead of them. smart systems, ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

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FORTY

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

CLARK LOWE PRESIDENT & CEO O’CONNOR COMPANY

W

ith the start of the new year, in addition to looking ahead in the construction sector, we also take this moment to reflect.

We take stock of our performance over the past months to gear up for the challenges ahead in this quickly changing sector. Taking time now to review and strategize sets the stage for a more successful and efficient year.

Reviewing your project performance A deep examination of your performance reveals strengths and areas for improvement.

This information enables you to grow and set goals for the upcoming year.

During year-end planning, we take a deep dive into a few projects that went well and those that didn’t and find ways to improve.

We look at how they are measured in terms of timelines, budgets, and resources. Look at the overall outcome to assess where things deviated from your plan. When we understand the reasons behind these deviations, we uncover patterns that we need to address.

During your review, gather feedback from everyone involved—project managers, clients, subcontractors, and on-site crews. Their perspectives will highlight what worked and where improvements are needed. Honest communication is key here. You need a clear picture of your performance to grow.

Additionally, take a close look at your key performance indicators. Metrics like the Cost Performance Index, Schedule Performance Index, quality and safety compliance, client satisfaction, and employee productivity are vital. Regularly tracking these will help identify strengths and areas for improvement.

Once you have all the information, pinpoint areas where delays or cost overruns frequently occur. Regularly tracking these indicators helps in understanding trends and bottlenecks requiring improvement.

Use the insights gained from your evaluations to make informed decisions and adjustments. Document lessons learned and share them with your team to prevent repetitive mistakes.

Each year, we evaluate trends and impacts on construction continuity. We use this information to bolster all facets of upcoming projects, make construction continuity front and center, and drive consistent results.

Designing an adaptable budget Our industry is particularly vulnerable to ARIZCC.COM

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economic fluctuations. With this in mind, plan a flexible budget that can handle rising costs and uncertainties.

A big piece of this strategic planning involves understanding the moving tides of the economy, political scene, and general demand within the industry. Creating adaptable budgets is often about hedging certain bets in data-reinforced ways to drive an outcome for the business. The obvious path is rarely the most profitable one.

Leveraging construction management software will streamline your budget management. The software offers real-time data and automates financial tracking, making it much more possible to adjust promptly.

Include contingency allowances to manage unexpected expenses like supply chain hiccups or project scope changes. Review and adjust your budgets periodically to ensure they remain relevant.

Managing supply chain and resources Disruptions in the supply chain and resource shortages are common in construction. However, your effective planning can mitigate these issues.

In this sector, you need to stop thinking just in time (JIT). Too many factors go into JIT delivery methods, and any minor disruption can cause economic pain.

I also plan to budget more for storage in the next year. We have seen budgeting for more storage (conditioned and unconditioned) spaces increase. We choose to have materials on hand ready to install, even if that means paying for extra storage.

Build and maintain strong relationships with your suppliers. Reliable suppliers who keep you in the loop about availability and lead times are priceless. Regular communication means fewer surprises.

That being said, establish relationships with multiple suppliers. This flexibility gives you a backup plan if your primary supplier

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Practices

TOP STRATEGIES FOR END-OF-YEAR PLANNING IN CONSTRUCTION

hits a snag. We always speak with stakeholders about alternative materials and approaches. Being proactive in finding alternatives before a supply chain issue keeps the range of available products, color schemes, and finishes as broad as possible. If you need something at the last minute, the choices are very limited, and owners can feel like they are making concessions.

Use construction management and forecasting software to predict your future resource needs accurately. These tools can help you identify potential shortages and refine your procurement plans, optimizing resource allocation and project scheduling.

The benefits of end-of-year planning Risk makes our business profitable. Use your end-of-year planning to understand the nuances of your operation, find places to make well-educated hedges, and drive some risk into your budgets.

Budgets should never feel easy to achieve, and a well-defined budget will create some friction within your teams. If your teams aren’t complaining about some portion of the budget — top line, expense control, or investments — you’re missing an opportunity to grow both the company and your teams!

The end of the year tends to be hectic, but don’t let the hustle and bustle rob you of the benefits of year-end-of-year planning.

The process can be so much more than a formality. It can give you a strategic opportunity to reflect, adapt, and prepare.

Like most things of value, what you get from end-of-year planning reflects what you put into it. Embrace thorough reflection and proactive planning to ensure your upcoming year is marked by efficiency and growth.

By focusing on project evaluation, flexible budgeting, and resource planning, your construction company can navigate uncertainties and aim for a successful year ahead.

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FORTY TWO

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Practices

HOW AI IS TRANSFORMING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY BRIAN KASSALEN

C

onstruction owners, developers, and contractors are using artificial intelligence (AI) for more than back-office tasks like accounting. We’re seeing rapid AI integration as the industry looks to increase efficiency and save money.

AI in Building Design Before a project even starts, savvy architectural engineers are leveraging “Gen AI” to explore different building designs while simulating different approaches to structural layouts. AI allows these building designers to manipulate CAD designs in seconds, changing variables like HVAC systems, power sources, and other materials before final design approval.

AI can also be used to see how different scenarios and budgets impact building design, in just seconds. The technology helps detect design errors and uses predictive analytics to enhance efficiency in engineering workflows.

AI in Contracts: Bidding and Negotiation Perhaps one of the most useful ways to leverage AI lies in the bidding and negotiation process. Margin compression continues to be a challenge in construction, and AI can help make the project more efficient.

When it comes to contracts, AI allows project managers to quickly review the competitive landscape for the best options before selecting winning bids. When programmed and prompted correctly, AI can quickly gather data from multiple sources ARIZCC.COM

and databases, saving thousands of hours in the bid process.

AI is useful in developing accurate estimates. As the industry knows, once a contractor’s bid is accepted, they are essentially locked into that price, unless there are change orders that get approved. If a contractor “misses” on their estimate, it could lead to lower profit on the job, or even potentially having a “loss job.”

When contractors bid on a project, they often get quotes from subcontractors, raw material suppliers, and other vendors. They also need to determine the amount of labor they will incur throughout the project. For projects that might be longer-term, this is

even more critical, as estimated costs over a longer period can fluctuate more. This is where AI comes in.

AI can help analyze data, including historical project costs, labor hours, and rates, and market trends to help predict where changes might occur over the project period, enabling contractors to have a more focused estimate. AI can also be used in supply chain and procurement processes by analyzing thousands of financial data points, assessing performance history, and recognizing potential risks. Overall, AI can help with project estimating and optimizing the critical path schedule, which are key areas to making sure a project gets done “on-time” and “on-budget.”

AI on the Construction Site AI is even more powerful when it is combined with other advanced technologies in the building process itself. Drones and cameras can help analyze construction progression from the ground up. For example, when AI is combined with drones, sophisticated cameras can be used to take real-time images of a construction project, and AI compares those to a digital twin to analyze project status. What previously took hours or days can now be done in minutes.

AI can also be used to identify potential discrepancies in the design compared to actual construction. The timely analysis uses AI to determine if there are any errors or deviations from the designs that could cause rework, which is often costly to the contractor.

As contractors know, cost overruns, schedule delays, and safety issues can

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FORTY FOUR

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

ONE SOLID GUY: A TRIBUTE TO TAD PETERS BILLY HORNER

A

lthough he only moved to Arizona in 2009 with his wife, Stephanie, Tad Peters became well-known in Arizona’s construction industry, especially in the Phoenix area. He started with Ace Asphalt as a project manager, which is where many of us saw his true character. Tad’s duties often kept him in the office, but his heart was out in the field. There, he managed multiple jobs, acted as a diplomat among the various parties involved, and paid close attention to the crews working on his projects.

While some project managers could be a headache to deal with, Tad took a different approach. Rather than worrying about every cent, he provided his crews with the necessary machines and resources to effectively complete the job, and he constantly made a profit. Tad never micromanaged people; instead, he put people on his projects whom he had confidence in.

Above: Billy Horner holding Mia, John Moldonado, Buddy Escapule, and Tad Peters (l-r), Christmas 2020.

Lower right: Tad Peters and Barry Warner regrading a Fry’s parking lot in Sunnyslope, 2017.

Below: Jose Barrio and Tad Peters inspect a Pyramid Inn sign during reconstruction of the motel at 3307 East Van Buren Street, 2013.

CONSTRUCTION AROUND ARIZONA Practices

all lead to the failure of a project. Using machine learning and predictive analytics, AI can be leveraged to predict potential problems in the construction industry, such as delays in the schedule, which can be costly to a contractor. By using AI in conjunction with traditional construction management tools, project leaders are better able to analyze the project in more detail and more “real-time.”

The industry is also seeing powerful combinations of AI and robotics. For example, IronBOT and TyBOT construction robots can be used to automate rebar installation on job sites. Working autonomously, TyBOT identifies, positions, and ties rebar. IronBOT lifts, carries, and places rebar. When combined with AI, these robots significantly reduce time and labor on construction sites.

AI and Job Site Safety Approximately 20 percent of all workplace fatalities in the U.S. are construction-related. In 2023, construction had 1,075 deaths, and more than 173,000 injuries and illness cases according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. When combined with traditional safety management practices, AI may help decrease job site accidents and fatalities.

The technology can be used to predict potential hazards and alert construction safety personnel to these concerns, leading to more proactive prevention in jobsite safety.

Using input gathered from the site, drones, scanners, and sensors feed data into AI systems that provide analysis using image and pattern recognition. As the data is combined with algorithms, it empowers site leaders to monitor safety from afar, resulting in accident prevention and safer work sites.

The Future of AI in Construction AI is no longer a far-off concept in the construction industry. Contractors are talking about, and many are integrating AI into their processes. But even with AI, the human element is still critical throughout the construction project life cycle. By combining AI tools with human experience and expertise, construction leaders can make more informed decisions while identifying potential risks, managing the critical path and scheduling of resources, and ultimately make the project more efficient and profitable.

Over the years, Tad and I became friends and discussed a lot of topics. As a motorcycle enthusiast myself, we would often talk about his old Harley-Davidson shovelhead.

When he arrived in Arizona, he developed a passion for a different kind of ride: bicycling.

Tad was an avid rider, and he and his fellow cyclists often rode up to 75 miles a day.

During the hot summers, Tad had several school construction projects. On the hottest days, you would find him at the job, walking up to every single worker, passing out ice cream sandwiches, and asking them how they were doing.

After I left Ace Asphalt in 2019, Tad approached me with a proposal. He needed help with an addition to a Topgolf facility in Scottsdale and asked me to oversee the project. I was busy running the magazine, but agreed on the condition that I could operate Buddy Escapule’s blade when it was time to build the parking lot. Tad made some calls, secured Buddy’s blade rental as a vendor, and the deal was finalized. This short story shows Tad’s character and his ability to see the bigger picture.

I’m confident in saying that many of Tad’s coworkers considered him a solid guy and he will be missed by many. May God bless him.

Brian Kassalen, principal and construction industry leader with Baker Tilly.

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Back When

DON’T TEE OFF THE GOLF SPONSORS DOUGLAS TOWNE

​D

uring the 1960s and 1970s, many Professional Golf Association tournaments partnered with entertainers who enjoyed swinging a mashie niblick.

From 1972-75, the Old Pueblo promoted its PGA event as the Dean Martin Tucson Open (more on “Dino Martini” later).

The celebrities who hosted golf tournaments, often to support local charities, also included Glen Campbell, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr., Joe Garagiola, Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, Ed McMahon, Frank Sinatra, Danny Thomas, and Andy Williams. These golf events took place across the country, including Hartford, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, the Quad Cities, Palm Springs, and San Diego.

The Phoenix Open never relied on a big-name entertainer to help market the

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tournament. This likely stemmed from the dedication of the Phoenix Thunderbirds, a nonprofit group comprising 55 A-list men who have long hosted the event to support various nonprofit organizations.

By the 1980s, however, celebrity-hosted golf events were struggling to offer significant prize money. As a result, the tournaments began shifting toward more lucrative corporate sponsorships to remain relevant. Eventually, the Phoenix Open followed this trend, rebranding as the FBR Open in 2003 and then as the WM Phoenix Open in 2010.

Still, back in the day, the Phoenix Open benefited from some high-profile stars whacking the ball around. The 1972 tournament featured Dean Martin in its pro-am, alongside George Blanda, Bob Hope, and

Image Courtesy of Author

Lawrence Welk. An admission ticket to see golf pros mingling with these celebrities on the course was $6. These days, that sum wouldn’t even buy a cold beer at the tournament, which is now known as “The Greatest Show on Grass” or, perhaps more accurately, “The Biggest Party in Golf.” Odds are, Dino would be at the forefront of the festivities.

Above: Dean Martin Tucson Open badge, 1972.

Below: Dean Martin poses with spectators at the Phoenix Open Pro-Am Golf Tournament sponsored by The Phoenix Thunderbirds, 1972.

Image Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

TUCSON NATIONAL: A GOLF COURSE WITH CHI-TOWN CONSTRUCTION ROOTS BILLY HORNER

I

n 1961, Tucson developer Silvio “Sam” Nanini unveiled a bold vision for an upscale residential and resort development northwest of Tucson. The project, spanning three square miles, was anchored by an 18-hole golf course and a master-planned community known as Casas Adobes Country Club Estates. It was the fifth development launched by Nanini since he began shaping the Casas Adobes area in the 1940s.

Within this ambitious plan was the future Tucson National Golf Course, a landmark that would come to define luxury and leisure in southern Arizona.

Nanini, a tenacious Italian immigrant and former Chicago businessman, already had a background in construction and land development. “Back in Chicago, Nanini owned Rock Road Construction,” recalled Karl Ronstadt of New Pueblo Constructors. “They controlled all the materials in that area, so if you needed aggregate supplies, you had to go through him.”

In Arizona, he brought that same determination. “Nanini was a go-getter who also owned Casas Adobes, the oldest shopping

Images Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Above: Sam Nanini, developer of Tucson National Golf Course, 1956.

Right: A New Pueblo Constructors’ Caterpillar D7 pushing scrapers during Tucson National Golf Course construction, 1962.

FORTY EIGHT

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

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ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

Left: Architectural rendering of Tucson National Golf Course, 1961.

Below: Map of Tucson National Golf Course and Casas Adobes Estates, 1961.

Bottom: A New Pueblo Constructors’ Caterpillar D7 pushing their new Caterpillar 619 scraper during Tucson National Golf Course construction, 1962.

Images Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

mall in Tucson, along with all the surrounding land. He and his son Bill Nanini planned on growing that entire area northwest of Ina Road and Oracle Road,” said Ronstadt.

Aside from his real estate ventures, Nanini partnered with Joe Skorpick, the owner of Pioneer Constructors, to run

FIFTY

Construction Materials Company (CMC), a local supplier of construction aggregates.

This material was critical in developing projects in southern Arizona.

In 1962, Nanini awarded the golf course construction to New Pueblo Constructors, a rapidly growing heavy civil contracting firm

founded in 1959 by business partners Karl Ronstadt and Howard King.

The company had already completed the 49er Golf Course for developer and former baseball player Hank Leiber the year prior

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

Images Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Above: Arnold Palmer and Barry Goldwater (l-r) at the Tucson Open, 1967.

Right: Dave Marr, Lawrence Welk, and Bill Nanini (l-r) at the Tucson Open, 1967.

Below: Tucson Open, 1967.

in northeast Tucson, and they were eager to take on the new challenge.

But building Tucson National wasn’t without its early obstacles. “At the time, we had smaller scrapers and scrambled to purchase more equipment to handle the increasing workload,” Ronstadt explained.

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Fortunately, Caterpillar had just released the powerful 619 push scraper, and New Pueblo acquired two new units just in time for the job. But delivery of the scrapers from Phoenix was delayed because it got dark, and the Empire transport driver didn’t want to continue. His decision placed the

machines 15 miles away at an electrical substation near Oracle Junction.

According to Ronstadt, Nanini said, “If we didn’t start that Monday morning, he would cancel the contract. Between Christmas and New Year’s, Howard and I drove those damn things down the powerline

ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

Arivaca rancher Fred Boice, and Dan Sheehan, a business associate of Palmer’s. “Most of the people were there to see Arnold Palmer,” reported the Arizona Daily Star.

“They flocked around him on the practice tee and on the course where he put together a two-under-par score of 70.”

Palmer praised the course but cautioned players about its subtleties. “This course is not difficult, but it’s not easy either,” he said.

“It’s the kind of course you can get yourself in trouble on, particularly on the greens. You can’t hit past the hole because you’ll leave yourself a tricky putt coming back on these undulating greens.”

Notable golfers in attendance included Ernie Ball, Don January, Gene Littler, and Bill Ogden. The celebrity list was equally impressive: Lawrence Welk, Green Bay Packer Paul Hornung, and The Rifleman himself, Chuck Connors, who received a custom rifle on the first tee from Tucson gunsmith Harry Lawson.

Since then, Tucson National has remained a jewel in Arizona’s golf scene, hosting many PGA Tour and NCAA golf events, with the Santa Catalina Mountains providing a scenic backdrop. Sam Nanini passed away in Tucson in 1978, and his son, Bob Nanini, took over the golf resort. The property was acquired by the Omni Tucson National Resort in 1996 and continued to host the PGA’s Tucson Open until 2006. Not a bad outcome for what was once a cotton farm on the outskirts of the city. road just as it started raining. The scrapers didn’t have cabs and were baldheaded, but we were determined to get to the jobsite despite almost freezing to death and navigating through mud. The thing with Nanini was, if you argued with him, you didn’t have a job, and we weren’t about to argue with him.”

The developer’s community design emphasized desert ambiance, as all the homes were built with adobe or mud bricks.

“Desert growth must remain undisturbed; all homesites will be at least one acre in size; streets are to be paved; power lines on private property will be placed underground,” Nanini told the Tucson Daily Citizen.

The course was designed by golfer Jack Nicklaus, fresh out of Ohio State University, who had yet to win any of his 18 major championships. Nicklaus collaborated with the developer and New Pueblo Constructors, and Ronstadt recalls meeting with Nicklaus as his crew built the course FIFTY TWO

to the golfer’s specifications. Ronstadt noted that Nicklaus made several visits to the site during construction, working with him to adjust and improve the layout until completion.

Years later, Ronstadt would also meet Arnold Palmer at the same course, a connection that foreshadowed Tucson National’s rise to national prominence. The course gained instant prestige when it hosted the Tucson Open in February 1967. The tournament attracted celebrities and professional golfers alike, with a prize pool of $60,000, of which $12,000 went to the winner.

The event drew more than 4,000 fans, many of whom followed Palmer’s Pro-Am foursome, which included Barry Goldwater,

Images Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Above: Joe Campbell and Chuck Connors (l-r), holding a rifle given to him from Tucson gunsmith Harry Lawson, 1967.

Right: Palmer, Fred Boice, Goldwater, and Dan Sheehan (l-r) at the Tucson Open Pro-Am, 1967.

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

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ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

Image Courtesy of Natl Archives

PAPAGO GOLF CLUB:

A COURSE BUILT ON THE SITE OF MONUMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE DOUGLAS TOWNE

Image Courtesy of AZ Republic

​I

t’s spring 1987 in Phoenix. The night air is lush with the aroma of blooming citrus as a snaking line of vehicles, parked at the entrance, waits expectantly with the approaching dawn. Some in the queue try to nap, but most are too excited to sleep as they await their fix. Tonight, however, their peculiar evening ritual will be intruded upon

by Phoenix New Times reporters searching for a scandalous scoop. Alas, the newspaper will find nothing more than passionate golfers obsessed with getting a tee time to play their cherished Papago Golf Course.

“The New Times caught wind that there might be tee time improprieties at Papago, so they did one of their exposé articles to reveal the sordid details and culprits,” says Frank Corkhill, a Papago assistant golf professional at the time. “They showed up

before dawn with flash bulbs popping, taking photographs of geezers sleeping in their campers at the gate in anticipation of getting a ticket from me. The reporter observed the typical process of issuing tee times to people in ticket order, alternating with those calling in, which lasted only a few minutes.

The resulting article was decidedly boring.”

Today, the Valley has a multitude of dazzling private golf courses, but for many years, the undeniable rock star of the links was this demanding yet affordable public

course. Set in a Papago Buttes landscape so scenic it was once designated a national monument, Papago Golf Course became a magnet for the city’s top golfers, an incubator of junior talent, and hosted national championship tournaments. ​Historically, the only holes at Papago Buttes were those of the geologic variety.

The saguaro-studded, red rock outcrops featuring the famous “Hole in the Rock” were spectacular enough to be designated Papago Saguaro National Monument by Image Courtesy of Forrest Richardson

Image Courtesy of Author

Top left: Papago Saguaro National Monument cleanup crew, 1922.

Top right: Papago Saguaro National Monument map, 1914.

Above: Hole in the Rock postcard.

Right: Papago Golf Course scorecard, 1962.

FIFTY FOUR

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

Image Courtesy of Library of Congress

Congress in 1914. However, in 1930, local development interests prevailed, and the federal monument status was abolished.

The Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Zoo, and athletic fields were eventually built in what became known as Papago Park.

In 1959, Phoenix acquired additional land that became the idyllic location for the city’s third municipal course, following Encanto and Maryvale. ​The city hired William F. “Billy” Bell to design the new course. His father, William

Park Bell, had been a famous Southwest golf course architect. When the elder Bell passed away in 1953, Billy completed his father’s unfinished plan for the legendary Torrey Pines course in San Diego.

Living in Southern California, Bell only occasionally visited Phoenix and hired a local golf course architect, Arthur Jack Snyder, to be director of construction. “Bell told the city, ‘Anything you don’t like, I’ll blame on Snyder,’” Phoenix golf course architect Forrest Richardson recalls. “Snyder responded that anything that came out great, he’d take credit for.” ​After three years of heavy earthmoving by the Henry F. Shelton Construction Co., Thomson Plumbing and Heating imported topsoil and installed the landscaping and irrigation. The Papago Municipal Golf Course

Images Courtesy of Forrest Richardson

Top left: Papago Golf Course, 2018.

Top right: Papago Golf Course architect William F. “Billy” Bell.

Left: Forrest Richardson with a diorama he created of Papago Golf Course, early 1970s.

Above: Forrest “Woody” Richardson junior golf ticket, 1972.

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opened to immediate acclaim on September 7, 1963. Architect David Sholder designed a circular pro shop, laid out like spokes to the sun, that was adjacent to a halfmoon structure housing the restaurant and locker rooms.

Everyone had an opinion about what made the course special. “Papago is challenging and beautiful,” local golfer Brian Waggle says. “Challenging in that each hole can be a bruiser, especially 16 through 18.

It’s beautiful in that the course is a blend of traditional and desert golf and has enough elevation change to offer scenic views.” ​“Papago is such a magnificent site that Bell, with Snyder’s assistance, was able to create a great golf course,” Richardson says.

“They wisely showed restraint in not altering the landscape.” ​“ The best time to play is in the mid-late afternoon,” local golfer Drew Hassler says.

“The heat has chased others away, and you are alone with the course. You may be playing with some buddies, but in the quiet, long shadows of the eucalyptus trees, it is you and Papago. The smell of the late afternoon sprinklers and finishing the last three holes at twilight is truly golf heaven.” ​One memorable feature of the course was a prominent saguaro growing in the 1st-hole fairway. “It was hit with hundreds of errant shots in the first few years of operation,” Corkhill recalls. “It looked like Swiss cheese, until it was sadly killed and removed from play.”

O ​ ne aspect of Bell’s grand plan, however, ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

Image Courtesy of Frank Corkhill

Above: Frank Corkhill teeing off on the #1 hole at Papago Golf Course, early 1980s.

Right: Used Cars movie poster, 1980.

Below: Papago Golf Course, 2025.

went unrealized. “In the original design, there was to be an 18-hole, par-3 course located east of the existing course,” says Richardson. “I don’t think the city was able to afford the additional work.” ​Arch Watkins was the golf course’s first head professional in charge of managing the pro shop and golf instruction until 1981.

Watkins provided a fertile training ground for youngsters, grooming Billy Mayfair, Heather Farr, and Missy Farr, all of whom went on to play professionally. Even touring pros would visit Watkins for help when they were in town for the Phoenix Open, according to William Godfrey’s book, Papago Park: The Golf Course and Its History. ​The most legendary round ever played at Papago occurred within a year of its opening. Johnny Bulla, a former touring professional, shot the course record that still stands. His round of 61, which included 11 birdies, was accomplished playing righthanded. Bulla was highly unusual in that he was equally adept at playing from either side of the ball. “I heard that later that year, Bulla shot a 61 or 62 at Papago playing lefthanded,” Corkhill says.

T​ he course even went Hollywood. “In the 1980 movie Used Cars starring Kurt Russell, the scene in which a car jumps into a lake was filmed in front of the 11th green,” says Corkhill. “And a Top Flite golf ball commercial in the 1980s that starred an astronaut featured the very ‘extra-terrestrial’ appearing Papago Buttes.”

FIFTY SIX

Image Courtesy of Author

​A decade later, Papago almost leaped to the big time. The Phoenix Thunderbirds were seeking a permanent home for the Phoenix Open, which at the time alternated annually between the Phoenix Country Club and the Arizona Country Club.

“The Thunderbirds loved Papago but knew it needed a better clubhouse, as the PGA professionals wouldn’t be too keen on having to change their shoes in the parking lot,” said attorney Jerry Lewkowitz during a 2013 interview. “So, the Thunderbirds proposed to the Phoenix City Council that Papago become the tournament course, but the council went ballistic when we wanted to increase the green fees from $8 to $12

a day to help pay for the clubhouse, so we passed on the idea.” ​After Watkins left in 1981, Joe Huber became Papago’s head professional for the next 25 years. He upgraded the pro shop, and golfers responded by averaging 110,000 rounds per year in the late 1980s. ​ But all great love affairs go through the occasional rough patch. By the 1990s, Papago was suffering from deteriorating conditions and increased competition from newer courses. “Papago was special, yet the city made the mistake of allotting it the same maintenance budget as the other municipal courses,” Richardson laments. ​In a controversial decision, the city turned over operation of the course to the Arizona Golf Association in 2008, which spent $5.8 million renovating the course.

It hosted the 2009 Phoenix LPGA International tournament before going bankrupt.

Papago was left with poor course conditions and minimal facilities because of the sudden demolition of the beautiful circular clubhouse. ​But Papago rebounded, and in 2018, became the new home for Sun Devil Men’s and Women’s Golf, which includes The Thunderbirds Golf Complex, a practice facility designed by Sun Devil alumnus Phil Mickelson. Options for 19th hole festivities include Lou’s Bar & Grill inside the Lou Grubb Clubhouse.

“Papago was always a solid course,” Richardson says. “It needed to be brought back to its point of pride — it didn’t need much in the way of change. Anytime we see public golf improved, the game wins.”

Image Courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics

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PHOENIX’S BEHIND-THE-SCENES GOLF CHAMPION: FORREST RICHARDSON DOUGLAS TOWNE

​I

t’s surprising how many career choices can be traced back to childhood fascinations. For Forrest Richardson, a renowned golf course designer based in Phoenix, it’s pretty much a direct link. “I was addicted to miniature golf as a kid,” he says. “According to my family, it was difficult to get me to stop playing, and every time we drove past a miniature golf course, I begged to stop.” ​Richardson says that there were many family-run mini golf facilities near Burbank, California, where he lived until age six. In 1964, his father relocated the family and his company, Richardson Camera, to Phoenix, along with all 60 employees.

“The Phoenix mini golf courses I remember back there were Hono Lea, Green Gables, and Alpine Village,” recalls the 65-year-old Richardson. “Then, my brother introduced me to ‘real golf’ and I became hooked. My first course was Rolling Hills [now called Grass Clippings Rolling Hills], and we used to play at night on the original nine.”

Top right: Forrest Richardson.

Below: Forrest Richardson designing Promontory Club in Park City, Utah.

​From that point on, there was no stopping Richardson. His passion for the game led him to found what is now known as Forrest Richardson Golf Course Architects in 1988. The firm has designed, remodeled, and restored more than 20 golf courses and has been involved in the planning of more than 100 golf projects worldwide. Richardson studied golf course architecture at the University of Dundee in Scotland, is the author of five books on golf architecture, and served as President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) from 2020 to 2021.

B ​ ut how exactly does one make the leap from playing golf to designing courses? It helps to be an inquisitive and fearless 12-year-old. ​“I wrote to the ASGCA and got back a pamphlet listing all of their members with addresses,” Richardson says. “Jack Snyder [a golf course architect] was in my same zip code, so I called, then rode my bike to meet him.” He says that Jack showed him his drawings, which led to a long friendship and eventually to working together. ​After college, Richardson’s life took a

temporary detour when he became the Art Director of KPHO Television on Channel 5 and then worked with his wife, Valerie, to start Richardson Design. “KPHO was a great place to work, especially in the art department,” he says. “I grew up watching Wallace & Ladmo, now I was getting to design their new set and hang out in the same studio.

We did everything for the station — billboards, ads, on-air commercials, and news graphics.”

Images Courtesy of Forrest Richardson

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NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

Richardson continued to play golf and created architectural scale models with Valerie, always on the lookout for golf-related projects. Developer Bob Gosnell eventually contacted him to make a model of his Pointe Tapatio Resort, and to show how a TPC (Tournament Players Club) course could be laid out around the Phoenix Mountains.

“I was in heaven,” Richardson says.

The couple did other models for Gosnell, including one for South Mountain Resort, when he introduced Snyder to Gosnell. A few days later, Snyder called Richardson to tell him that they had the job. “The ‘we’ part really hit me,” he says. “Jack told Gosnell he’d do the new course, but only with me on the team. Wow—what a lucky break!”

And Richardson never looked back.

Most golf course contractors are members of the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA). “It’s a very specialized business, despite a lot of site contractors thinking they can build a golf green, bunker, or even a course,” Richardson says. “I’ve seen that attempted, and it’s not usually a pretty sight.”

Richardson emphasizes how unique golf construction is. “While some steps are ‘easy’ and seem familiar, it’s the dovetail nature of staking, earthwork, shaping, finishing, and the infrastructure that gets complicated,” he says. “And then you have to grow turfgrass that meets a high standard. This is not building a lawn or landscape — it’s shaping a

Right: A collage of scorecards from long-gone miniature golf courses Richardson once played in Phoenix.

Bottom: Arizona Grand’s infamous 13th hole, “The Jailhouse Steps,” an early design by Forrest Richardson.

Bueker Images Courtesy of John

game, and it has to follow my direction.

We’re there every step of the way, which makes golf building a truly unique form of contracting. Hence, its own association.”

Then there is Richardson’s final product, which can bring both jubilation and despair to players, often multiple times over the

Image Courtesy of Lana Tucker

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ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

Image Courtesy of Legend Trail Golf Club

Left: Phoenix’s most dramatic urban course, the Pointe Resort’s Lookout Mountain features the 10th hole, which sports one of the most elevated tees in the Valley.

Above: Legend Trail Golf Club’s 10th hole, with its iconic view of the surrounding Scottsdale Mountains.

Below: The Wigwam Golf Resort’s 15th hole, where Richardson created an island green in 2007 as part of the facility’s restoration and remodel, to accommodate a destination golf academy and putting course.

Image Courtesy of Dave Sansom

course of a round. “I’ve never met any golfer who is happy with their game!” he says. “For me, I want players to want to come back, have scoring success, and feel like there is more to ‘solve’ in terms of the puzzle I’ve laid out.”

It’s tough for Richardson to select a favorite course he’s designed, but the stars lined up when he and Snyder did The Hideout Golf Course in Monticello, a town in southeast Utah. Snyder had done the original nine holes in 1961, and the community contacted him about relocating the course across the highway on the site of a former uranium mill. They were receiving Department of Energy funds and felt they could expand the course to 18 holes.

“We got the work, and it was a labor of love,” Richardson says. “Jack was in his element, and we managed to create a great and fun layout. Ultimately, we did not move it across the street. Instead, we arranged a land swap with a rancher and incorporated the original course into 18 entirely new holes. The old mill site was restored and is a nature preserve. The town got a 1+1=3 outcome...new golf, new open space, and an economic booster in the form of the topranked course in Utah.”

As for the local golf course Richardson would most like to remodel, he names a surprising candidate. “A lot of people think Papago is the crown jewel of Phoenix,” he says. “It may be, but Encanto has it all in terms of an urban environment, nearby cafes, and the Phoenix skyline. I’d focus on restoration, creating the impression you were stepping back into the 1940s.”

Where does Richardson like to spend his SIXTY TWO

time with his clubs? Cypress Point Golf Club, along the Pacific Ocean in Pebble Beach, is his favorite course. The 13th at Arizona Grand is a favorite hole, with honorable mentions: the 12th hole at Mountain Shadows, the 17th hole at Baylands in Palo Alto, the 11th hole at Promontory Club in Park City, and an unusual par-2 he’s currently designing for The Six Shooter loop at Starfire (Scottsdale CC).

Richardson has many memorable experiences playing the game, including finishing courses in torrential rains, though he rarely does that any longer. “I also encountered a mountain lion in Colorado and wild dogs in Rocky Point,” he says. “The dogs were probably more dangerous!”

But the craziest 18 holes Richardson played were at Askernish Golf Club in far north Scotland before it reopened in 2008.

The course dated back to 1891, but was

abandoned sometime around World War II, and the land was subsequently used for grazing. “We literally were out there with the cows playing across the moors and dunes to ‘holes’ that we could only sort of figure out from old maps before the World War II airfields destroyed the ‘Old’ Tom Morris design,” he says.

For all Richardson has accomplished in the golfing world, incredibly, he might not be the most famous person in his family.

His daughter, 29-year-old Haley Lu Richardson, grew up in Phoenix but moved to Los Angeles when she was 16 to pursue an acting career. She became a household name after playing Portia, the assistant-in-distress on The White Lotus.

Richardson enjoys his daughter’s success, commenting, “I get more questions about The White Lotus than golf sometimes!”

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SIXTY FOUR

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

HENRY F. SHELTON:

THE SEABEE WHO SHAPED ARIZONA’S MIDCENTURY GOLF COURSES

I

BILLY HORNER

n 1954, Del Webb visited Wickenburg Country Club and was impressed by the course’s layout and design. The site and initial grading had been finished five years before by Wickenburg contractor Henry F. Shelton. Webb was planning to develop what would become his Sun City retirement community along Grand Avenue northwest of Phoenix. Shelton would handle the initial earthmoving and golf course development for Webb’s project in 1959, and go on to do the same for many others over the next 15 years.

Shelton was born in 1917 in Wikieup, Arizona, a hamlet along U.S. Highway 93 near the Big Sandy River. While working at a mine in Congress, located south of Wikieup, he met K.J. Billingsley, whose family homesteaded the nearby O-Bar-7 Ranch in 1909. Through K.J., Shelton met Genevieve Billingsley, whom he married in 1940. The couple had a daughter named Rita in 1944.

Image Courtesy of Bill Phillips

Above: Henry F. Shelton in the U.S. Navy during World War II, 1943.

Left: Shelton (far left) with his crew and Caterpillar No. 12 blade, during initial earth moving at Century Golf Course, 1957.

Image Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

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ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

In 1942, Shelton enlisted in the U.S. Navy’s Construction Battalions, known as the Seabees, during World War II, serving in the Pacific. His son-in-law, Bill Phillips, recalled one of Shelton’s favorite quotes from that period, “We learned to run a dozer with one hand and carry a rifle with the other.”

After the war, Shelton returned to Arizona and assisted K.J. Billingsley on the O-Bar-7 Ranch, operating an old Caterpillar D8 bulldozer. Between 1946 and 1947, they constructed a small dam and reservoir, known as Billingsley Reservoir Number Two, located north of Congress and west of Date Creek Road.

Shelton met Murray Wentworth (see Digging on page 86) through his wife, Genevieve, who knew him from school. They shared an interest in contracting and started a land-leveling business. An ambitious Shelton purchased military surplus wheel scrapers and crawlers, and the pair worked on nearby agricultural fields, expanding west to McMullen Valley, which included the towns of Salome and Wenden. Building stock tanks for ranchers was also part of their repertoire.

By 1950, the Shelton family had moved to Wickenburg, and four years later, they formed a business partnership with road contractor Arthur Betts. After a few years, the company dissolved, and both men continued their independent careers in the construction industry.

Image Courtesy of Doug Allen

Image Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Above: Henry F. Shelton Construction operator Jay Allen finishing slopes in Sun City, on a John Deere dozer, 1972.

Right: The recently completed initial course in Sun City (now called North Golf Course), looking southwest from Grand and 111th Avenues, 1960.

Below: Golf course designer Jack Snyder, Henry F. Shelton, Genevieve Shelton, and Ruth Snyder (l-r).

Image Courtesy of Bill Phillips

SIXTY SIX

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

Images Courtesy of Bill Phillips

Above: Henry F. Shelton on an ocean fishing trip, 1970s.

Right: Henry F. Shelton Construction building the first of five golf courses at Sun City, 1959.

Below: Henry F. Shelton with a transit level while building a golf course in Albuquerque, 1965.

In 1958, the couple moved to Phoenix and founded Henry F. Shelton Construction Co., specializing in heavy earthmoving, lake excavation, and fine grading for golf courses.

The company contracted with Del Webb to build the first five golf courses in Sun City.

The initial project was located south of Grand Avenue and 107th Avenue. Reflecting on the golf course, Shelton once said, “I

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don’t know what they are thinking, nobody is going to live out here in the cotton fields.”

Phillips, who worked for Shelton intermittently, remembered, “There were two lakes in Sun City that needed to be completed fast. Bailey Sanner was excavating Viewpoint Lake, and across 103rd Avenue, Henry was cutting out Dawn Lake and building house pads. Both lakes were deep, and

Henry rented every piece of equipment available to get it excavated.”

Along with lakes and golf courses, Shelton’s crews roughed in subdivision streets and housing pads during mass excavation.

Webb brought in other contractors to handle curbs, gutters, grading, and paving.

Even though he was the business owner, Shelton enjoyed being in the field. “One time, a scraper operator kept spitting chewing tobacco, which ran down the side of the machine,” Phillips says. “Shelton warned him about it, but the operator continued and was then fired on the spot.”

In 1969, the Sheltons moved to a house in Sun City, located near North Driftwood Point at Dawn Lake, which his company had helped create.

Shelton retired in 1974 to play golf, tennis, and travel. Their daughter, Rita Phillips, who had married Bill Phillips, helped shut down the company, which included auctioning the equipment, with most of the scrapers sent to Brazil.

Phillips recalled that a few of the scrapers were turned into water wagons, one of which was sold to his friend Herb Tiffany II. “Shortly after the sale, the engine blew up while in use on a Tiffany Construction Co. project. Shelton felt bad about the incident and paid to have the engine fixed.”

H ​ enry F. Shelton passed away in Sun City in 1996.

ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

Image Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

SHELTON’S ARIZONA GOLF LEGACY

H

enry F. Shelton had a talent for mass excavation, lake construction, and working collaboratively with golf course architects. In 1965, renowned designer golf course Jack Snyder asked him to assist with a golf course project in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Phillips noted, “He subbed out the mass excavation, only taking up some equipment for the fine grade phase.”

Image Courtesy of Bill Phillips

SIXTY EIGHT

One of Shelton’s most challenging projects came that same year as Snyder’s design for Papago Golf Course in Phoenix (see article on page 54). Located at the base of the Papago Mountains, the site required extensive rock undercutting and replacement with workable soil. By the late 1960s, Shelton’s firm had earned a reputation as the go-to contractor for golf course construction.

Golf course architect Forrest L. Richardson (see article on page 60) reflected on Shelton in his book Routing the Golf Course: “He was a witty gentleman, and I learned a lot about construction from him. He had quite a crew. How often do you see shaping being done with a motor grader? Henry taught me that ideas can come from anyone, and it always pays to keep an open mind. Many times, I shared designs with Henry before they were finished. Having built golf courses, he was a source of great insight and advice.”

Richardson wrote that his mentor, Jack Snyder, was also tight with Henry. “Jack worked with Henry several times, and we have a collection of files with Henry’s bids and memos.”

NOTABLE GOLF COURSES BUILT

BY SHELTON • 1957 - Century Golf Course, now Orange Tree Resort (Scottsdale) • 1959 - Pinetop Country Club Golf Course • 1959-1970 - Sun City, Arizona’s five golf courses • 1961 - Papago Golf Course (Phoenix) • 1963 - Green Valley Golf Course (Shelton did the finish work; New Pueblo Constructors did the mass excavating and irrigation) • 1965 - Country Meadows Golf Course (Peoria) • 1966 - Munds Park Golf Course • 1970 - The Lakes in Tempe • 1972 - Arizona City • 1972 - Leisure World (Mesa) • 1973 - Continental Homes (Phoenix) • 1973 - Dobson Ranch (Mesa) • 1974 - Wigwam Golf Resort (Litchfield Park) Above: Henry F. Shelton and Arthur Betts (third and second from left) with a 1954 Caterpillar DW21 scraper working for Betts Construction Co., building Scottsdale’s Century Golf Course, 1957.

Left: Henry F. Shelton with his wife, Genevieve.

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SCOTTSDALE’S CENTURY GOLF COURSE: WHERE A CONTRACTOR HIT THE FIRST HOLE-IN-ONE BILLY HORNER

T

he late 1950s and early 1960s marked a golden age for golf course and country club developments across Arizona.

Included in this era is the Century Golf Course, which has been known for nearly a half-century as the Orange Tree Golf Club.

The club’s creation featured an A-list of local celebrities, architects, and contractors.

In February 1957, plans were announced for a $350,000 contract to develop a 174acre, 18-hole golf course in Scottsdale.

Located at the northwest corner of 56th Street and Shea Boulevard, Century Country Club would also feature a signature

SEVENTY

19th-hole grill for golfers. Well drilling commenced the day the contract was signed.

Surveying began in early March, and within days, course pads, lakes, and greens were staked. Shelton and Betts Construction Co. of Wickenburg began moving earth with heavy equipment. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held later that month, attracting local media, including KOY radio announcer Lew King. The celebration was commemorated with a photo in front of the contractor’s Caterpillar D8 bulldozer.

To execute the ambitious project, Shelton and Betts assembled a fleet of older,

used Caterpillar machinery purchased from Empire Machinery. Their equipment lineup included one No. 12 blade, three D8 and D6 cable bulldozers, and DW21 and DW10 cable scrapers. The contractor also subcontracted additional machinery, including a D8 bulldozer and more 6-wheeled scrapers from Phoenix-based E.W. “Bill” Deuel to manage the workload.

The course was designed by Lawrence Hughes of San Diego, a veteran golf course architect with an impressive portfolio.

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

Images Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Above left: Groundbreaking with a Shelton and Betts Construction Co. Caterpillar D8: standing on bulldozer blade, Col. Louis Himelstein and Sam Shapiro (l-r); foreground standing Lew King, Frank Bostock, John Mills, Ed Juliber, George Wolf, and Leonard Sawyer (l-r), with Arizona Governor Ernest McFarland holding a shovel, 1957.

Above: Frank Bostock, chairman of the Century Golf Club’s greens committee; George Wolf, club president; and Lawrence Hughes, a San Diego golf course architect (l-r), 1957.

Left: Bill Deuel, a subcontractor for Henry F. Shelton, operates a rented Caterpillar DW-10 scraper Caterpillar D8 pushed by a twin-stack bulldozer, 1957.

Hughes had previously designed acclaimed layouts, including the Club de Golf in Mexico City (1949), Thunderbird Country Club in Palm Springs (1951), the Desert Inn course in Las Vegas (1953), and Paradise Valley Country Club in Phoenix (1953). His design for Century would blend seamlessly with the desert setting while offering a challenging golfing experience.

Hughes was aided by local golfer Johnny Bulla, who won the 1941 Los Angeles Open and twice was the runner-up at the British Open (1939 and 1946) and at the Masters in 1949.

Phoenix-based architects Weaver & Drover designed a $500,000 clubhouse, ARIZCC.COM

which was to begin construction once the course was complete.

In the meantime, a tan pumice-block pro shop and locker room facility was designed

by Weaver & Drover, and construction began in November 1957. Homes & Sons Construction Co. in Phoenix served as the general contractor, completing the project by the end of the year.

ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

Above: Murray Wentworth operating heavy equipment during course construction for Shelton & Betts Construction, 1957.

Right: Ladies Day featured Mrs. Morris Margolis, Mrs. Joe Fliegel, Mrs. Morton Kleinberg, Mrs. Irvin Pearlstein, and Mrs. Bernard Young (l-r), 1957.

Below: Ed Juliber tees off at the Century Golf Club with Arnold Smith, George Wolf, and John Mills (l-r), 1957.

Images Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

SEVENTY TWO

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

E.J. Jones Construction Co. of Phoenix was contracted to construct a temporary clubhouse north of the pro shop for $128,000. That building was completed in February 1958 and later repurposed as a teen center for members’ children.

The club’s leadership consisted of George Wolf as president, Arnold Becker as vice president, and Arthur Toll as secretary-treasurer, with Frank Bostock serving as chair of the greens committee.

After nearly two years of preparation, the permanent clubhouse opened with a festive “sailing theme” party, with guests dressed in nautical attire for the launch of the “S.S. Century” on October 19, 1959. The event marked not just the opening of a new facility but also the club’s growing role as a social and community center.

In 1961, work began on additional clubhouse improvements. Phoenix-based Chanen Construction was awarded a $100,000 contract to complete Phoenix architect Thomas Stanley’s plans by March 1962. The work expanded dining capacity from 40 to 80, added a new kitchen and grill wing, and upgraded men’s and women’s locker rooms. A new card room for men, a lounge for women, and a stylish dining patio between the pool and lounge were also included.

The elegant clubhouse hosted themed events, ranging from Spanish fiestas and Western nights to exclusive fashion shows.

Herman Chanen, founder of Chanen Construction, was among those who enjoyed the rewards of their efforts; he scored the first hole-in-one on the golf course in 1962.

As the neighborhood changed, so did the club’s future. In 1976, amid financial restructuring, manager Dave Olin assured the public in a column in The Arizona Republic: “There will always be a Century Country Club. To increase membership, the course was briefly open to the public with a $15 green fee.

In 1977, the property was acquired by Joseph Rose, a Paradise Valley resident, and rebranded as the Orange Tree Golf Club, although the original name continued to be used informally. Phoenix architect Bennie Gonzales was enlisted for renovations, bringing his distinctive Southwestern style to the evolving club.

The Orange Tree Golf Club was acquired by the Scottsdale Golf Group in 1983. The ambitious project, built with machinery, money, and vision in 1957, remains one of the most popular golf courses in the Valley.

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SALUTING ARIZONA’S BUILDERS: FORREST M. COX BILLY HORNER

I

n 1943, a battered but unbroken Forrest M. Cox arrived at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona to recover from injuries sustained as a fighter pilot during World War II. At age 26, Cox had already led a life that read like an epic novel, exploring for minerals in Africa and Southeast Asia, flying Hurricanes and Spitfires with Britain’s Royal Air Force, and battling the German Luftwaffe across Europe before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps in India.

“I think he just had an adventurist’s soul,” said his daughter, Hilda Cox, in an interview with Arizona Contractor & Community magazine in 2015. “He said he liked the life of a pilot.”

Cox wasn’t just a pilot; he was an ace, with 17 confirmed enemy kills and more than 3,000 flight hours to his name. His exploits earned him a chest full of medals and the rank of squadron leader. But war took its toll. After being shot down in China, he carried deep scars, both

physical and emotional, for the rest of his life. “He probably had seven feet of scars,” Hilda recalled.

Despite his wounds, Cox’s determination never wavered. After a brief return to his native Illinois, he and his wife, Phebe, a quiet, bookish beauty he’d known since childhood, resettled in Phoenix, where Cox began his second life as a homebuilder.

That new chapter began almost by accident. In the mid-1940s, Cox started building a modest house for his family near Camelback Road and Central Avenue. Before he could finish it, someone made him an offer to buy it. Cox sold the house, built two more, and found his

Images Courtesy of Arizona Contractor

& Community

Above: Forrest Cox at Luke Field, 1943.

Top left: Forrest Cox and actress Betty Grable, during Cox’s training in Glendale, California, 1941.

Below: Forrest and Phebe Cox at Bell Helicopter School, 1960.

new calling. “He made money at that and said, ‘This could work,’” said his son, Gene Cox, in 2015.

And work it did. Forrest Cox Homes quickly grew into one of Arizona’s most prolific postwar homebuilding companies. Over the next two decades, his company built some 5,000 homes across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Eloy, and beyond. His developments were known for their quality and charm, and his customers were often fellow veterans seeking a fresh start.

“He was meticulous about every single home,” Hilda said. She and Gene recall walking through half-finished developments with their father, watching him inspect construction and chatting with workers. “Everybody knew someone who lived in one of his homes,” Gene added.

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

Right: Forrest Cox and Santa Claus delivering Christmas gifts at Naval Air Station Litchfield Park, 1960.

Bottom right: Forrest Cox and a Phoenix Jaycee rodeo queen at his company office, 1961.

Below: The Cox family in their helicopter, 1960.

Images Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Cox’s flair for aviation never left him. At the time, he was one of only two people in Arizona licensed to own a helicopter, which he used to promote his company, at least officially. Cox stored his Bell chopper in the backyard of his Phoenix home at 5620 N. Fourth St. “He said he wanted it to advertise his homebuilding business,” Hilda said.

“But I think he just wanted it.”

Tragically, the helicopter that symbolized his success led to his untimely death. In 1961, while returning from a trip searching for Native American artifacts, Cox’s chopper struck an unmarked power line near the Verde River. The crash killed Cox and two other passengers, who were in the construction industry. This accident impacted the aviation industry, resulting in lines marked by orange balls.

“When he died, he was at a very high point in his career,” Gene said.

Despite the loss, Forrest Cox Homes continued to operate under new management until it was sold to Cyprus Mining.

Gene would eventually follow in his father’s footsteps, founding Cox Homes and developing thousands more residences across the Southwest. Hilda became a special education teacher.

Forrest Cox was a war hero, a loving father, and a visionary who helped shape mid-century construction in Arizona with subdivisions like Cox Heights, Cox Meadows, and Cypress East. “He had the touch,” said Hilda. “He was the right person at the right time in the right place.”

Gene added, “And he was willing to take risks.”

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OLD SCHOOL EQUIPMENT THE CATERPILLAR 619 SCRAPER: A MID-CENTURY EARTHMOVING PIONEER BILLY HORNER

I

n the rapidly advancing world of midcentury earthmoving equipment, Caterpillar unveiled several innovative scraper models. Among the most notable was the 619, introduced in 1959. This model marked a significant transition from Caterpillar’s older DW series to the new 600 series, introducing key technological upgrades, notably hydraulic steering, instead of the earlier mechanical systems.

The 619 was the first scraper in the 600 series, starting what would become a long line of high-performance machines. Caterpillar retained the rear spool cable control unit in this model, a design element carried over from earlier scrapers. Later, larger Images Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

Top right: Empire Machinery Co. advertisement featuring the New Pueblo Constructors’ endorsement of their Caterpillar 619C scrapers’ performance during the construction of the Tucson National Golf Course, 1962.

Below: Howard King, co-owner of New Pueblo Constructors, operating one of their new Caterpillar 619C scrapers on the Tucson National Golf Course, 1962.

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600 series models would incorporate quickdrop hydraulic bowl cylinders for faster cycle times.

The 619 was a two-axle, open-bowl scraper equipped with a front tractor that could produce up to 225 horsepower. The bowl had a struck capacity of 14 cubic yards, expandable to 18 cubic yards heaped. Unlike the Caterpillar 613, which featured paddlewheel elevators (elevating flights) for material pickup, the 619 utilized a traditional open-bowl design, allowing for faster loading and unloading.

Among the early adopters of the 619 was New Pueblo Constructors of Tucson, which purchased two 619C scrapers from Empire Machinery Co. New Pueblo first used them in the construction of the Tucson National Golf Course.

The 619B and 619C models gained a reputation for their exceptional durability and ruggedness, particularly in challenging terrain. While all factory units came “baldheaded” (without cabs), contractors

often installed canopies and various rollbar structures (some with an approved rollover protection structure or ROPS) in place of umbrellas to provide shade and safety for operators.

By the 1970s, advancements in articulation, hydraulics, and operator ergonomics had begun to surpass the capabilities of the 619, and the machine was gradually phased out. Still, the Caterpillar 619 holds a vital place in the world of earthmoving equipment, as it represents a bridge between mid-century mechanical simplicity and newer hydraulic sophistication.

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

r

Keife Image Courtesy of Werner

Above: French Tergal clothing advertisement with models posed on a Caterpillar 619, 1960s.

Right: New Pueblo Constructors using a Caterpillar 631 and 619C during site grading for Tucson Estates Unit 5, 1969.

Today, the 619 is a sought-after collector’s piece among heavy equipment enthusiasts. Online videos of restored units in operation demonstrate the machine’s robust engineering. The question now is whether Arizona contractor and equipment collector Buddy Escapule will acquire a 619 to add to his growing collection of vintage machinery.

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Images Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

BUILDING ON THE PAST

1985 – PULICE CONSTRUCTS TOURNAMENT PLAYERS CLUB SCOTTSDALE BILLY HORNER

T

he Tournament Players Club (TPC) Scottsdale is home to the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open, also known as “The People’s Open.” The course, located at Scottsdale and Bell Roads just outside Phoenix, stretches approximately 7,261 yards.

It’s famous for its top-tier facilities, lively tournament atmosphere, and the most iconic hole on the PGA Tour: the 16th hole.

This par 3 is called “The Coliseum” because grandstands with a 20,000-spectator capacity enclose it, which perhaps never roared louder than when Tiger Woods achieved a hole-in-one in 1997.

The club features two championship courses: the Stadium Course, designed by

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Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, and the updated Champions Course, redesigned by Randy Heckenkemper in 2007, which winds through natural ravines.

Construction on the golf course project began in August 1985 and was completed in time for the Phoenix Open in January 1987.

Pulice Construction Inc. of Phoenix served as the general contractor and employed 45 individuals for tasks including earthwork, fine grading, paving, and concrete work. Charlie Saylor, the Pulice superintendent, stated that during the excavation efforts, the company utilized seven 633 scrapers, five 631 scrapers, several bulldozers, water pulls, and blades to move

approximately 1.7 million cubic yards of earth. Pulice also contributed to the McCormick Ranch courses and added a 9-hole expansion at Scottsdale Country Club.

Recognized by Golfweek magazine as one of America’s best courses and listed

by Condé Nast Traveler as a “Top 50 Golf Resort Destinations in the World,” TPC Scottsdale remains a premier destination for golfers.

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

Top left: Charlie Saylor, Pulice superintendent during construction, 1986.

Left: Pulice water truck during fine grade phase, 1986.

Right: Scottsdale Marriott under construction near TPC Scottsdale, 1986.

Bottom right: Billboard during construction along North Greenway Hayden Loop, 1986.

Below: TPC Scottsdale, one month before the Phoenix Open, 1986.

Images Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

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B

ringing the precious resource of water to the Sonoran Desert enabled farming and development to take hold and flourish in the early 20th century. In 1883, William J. Murphy secured a $500,000 contract to construct the 50-mile Arizona Canal as part of the Salt River Reclamation Project, which ran west across the Valley. With primarily Native American labor, the canal was completed by 1885. Murphy’s wife, Laura, supervised the canal construction and cooked for the men at the campsites while caring for her six children.

During this period, Murphy purchased a plot of land known as the Ingleside tract, situated 10 miles northeast of Phoenix, just south of Camelback Mountain, near Indian School Road and 60th Street.

The 1909 Ingleside Club, later renamed the Ingleside Inn in the 1920s, hosted potential investors in the land that Murphy was developing alongside the Arizona Canal. The name “Ingleside,” with its Gaelic origins, translates to “fireside.” This resort became the first luxury hotel in the Valley and the second private golf clubhouse and course in the Arizona Territory.

Architect’s Perspective:

Ingleside Club Legacy

Doug Sydnor, FAIA Doug_sydnor@outlook.com

The original Board of Directors included Dr. H. H. Stone, Territorial Governor Richard E. Sloan, William J. Murphy, and E. J. Bennett, who promoted the resort’s winter use. The intention was to limit the club membership to 50 members plus 25 non-resident guests, which was the capacity of the cottages. The members were allowed to purchase and build a residence on 30 adjacent ½-acre lots under a separate company. The starting capital was $50,000, with an additional $25,000 allocated for the clubhouse.

“The general plan is for a little city of uniform architecture, beautiful in every detail with everything which can aid to human comfort and enjoyment, and situated in one of the most beautiful spots in

the southwest,” noted The Arizona Republican in 1909.

Dwight H. Perkins, an architect from Chicago, planned the grounds, which included a lake fed by the canal, streets lined with olive and pepper trees, and hundreds of rose bushes. North of the Arizona Canal was a 9-hole golf course designed by Dr. H.H. Stone. Harry Collis of London, England, was recruited as the golf instructor and had previously worked at the Homeward Country Club and the Flossmoor Club of Chicago.

The property was surrounded by orange groves on 70 acres, olive trees on 20 acres, date palms on 5 acres, and 600 acres of alfalfa fields. In addition, pomegranates, figs, almonds, and other fruit trees were planted.

The central building was used for social gatherings and as a dining hall for up to 50 guests, noted for its olive-fed turkeys. The architecture for the clubhouse and eight cottages was described as “Old English” with steeped gables. The primary building was 150 feet long, and its exterior consisted of exposed brick and plastered walls, with wood shingles on the roofs. Once completed, Ralph Murphy, William J. Murphy’s son, served as the General Superintendent, Mrs. W. H. Robinson as the House Manager, and Peter Bartarelli as the Chef.

There was golf, horseback riding, tennis, shooting, desert picnics, and croquet for recreation. Paralleling the Arizona Canal

Images Courtesy of Scottsdale Public Library

Above: Ingleside Club main building.

Right: Ingleside Club entrance.

Below: Repairing the Arizona Canal near the Ingleside Club, 1906.

EIGHT FOUR

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

Images Courtesy of Scottsdale Public Library

along its south bank was Indian School Road for motorized access to Phoenix. The original golf course had oiled sand greens.

In the early 1960s, my family attended a large picnic in Skull Valley, about 15 miles west of Prescott. That afternoon, we played golf on a nearby private course that had oiled sand greens. I can attest that when putting on such greens, the golf ball moves slower and in a less predictable path than on a turf green. In the late 1920s, Ralph Murphy developed a new 18-hole golf course in the southwestern section of the Ingleside tract, featuring common Bermuda grass fairways and bent grass greens. The golf course was operational up until the 1940s.

Ralph Murphy later took over the Ingleside Inn but lost the land due to financial challenges during the Great Depression in 1932.

In 1945, Justine Browne and Mary Moore purchased 8 ½ acres, including Ingleside’s former clubhouse and cottages, where they relocated their Brownmoor School for Girls from Santa Fe, New Mexico, which opened in 1931. The existing structures were remodeled to accommodate the school, which included a maximum of 100 pupils, with 85 from the East Coast.

Browne died around 1950, and a few years later, the Graybeal family purchased the school, keeping it operational until its 27th year in 1958. Later that year, the school was bought by Gold Star Ranch Co. to construct 159 guest units, and the Ingleside Inn and cottages were razed in 1959.

During the school’s operation, the 120 acres with the golf course were purchased by the Arizona Country Club in 1946. Two golf pros, Ernie Suggs and Willie Wansa, converted the course. Later, in the 1960s, local golf pro and course designer Johnny ARIZCC.COM

Bulla completely redesigned the golf course.

The Phoenix Open was hosted at this course every other year from 1955 to 1973, with Arnold Palmer winning in 1961 and 1963.

In 1949, a new 10,000-square-foot clubhouse at the Arizona Country Club, located at 5668 East Orange Blossom Lane, was designed by Edward L. Varney Associates of Phoenix. The architecture was described as “Southwestern Ranch Style,” featuring brick walls, Coconino sandstone trim, and a tile roof. The clubhouse featured a grill, lounge, foyer, manager’s office, women’s and men’s locker rooms, pro shop, and storage facilities. The club had a limited membership of 500.

The club has supported various charitable organizations and has become a popular venue for social and recreational events. In 1964, they completed an addition by architect Kemper Goodwin of Tempe.

In 2007, a significant renovation and new two-story addition of 65,000 square feet was completed with Douglas Fredrikson Architects. The space now totals 88,700 square feet and features a main dining room and grill, a commercial-grade kitchen, a pro shop, locker rooms, a full-service spa, a fitness facility with cardio and weight training equipment, a yoga and Pilates

Image Courtesy of Arizona Country

Top left: Golfer at the Ingleside Club, 1910s.

Above: Ingleside Club cottages.

Bottom: Cover of the Arizona Country Club News, 1963.

Bottom right: Arizona Country Club patio, 2025.

studio, event spaces, administrative offices, and a large patio overlooking the golf course and Camelback Mountain. The golf course had undergone several redesigns and modernizations, including the creation of an 18-hole championship golf course designed by renowned architect William P. Bell.

The original 30 residential lots had been fully improved over the years and, in many cases, redeveloped with new, larger homes.

It is gratifying that the original general plan, which was used for a private country club, golf course, and custom residences, has endured for over 118 years, leaving a lasting legacy. The Arizona Country Club will be celebrating its 80th Anniversary in 2026.

Douglas B. Sydnor, FAIA, is the Principal at Douglas Sydnor Architect + Associates, Inc. and the author of four books on Arizona architecture.

Image Courtesy of Author

Club

ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

DIGGING THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: MURRAY WENTWORTH: A LIFE BUILT WITH INTEGRITY AND IRON

Image Courtesy of Arizona Contractor & Community

had died in 1951 after they had a son, Richard “Dick” Abbuhl.

Dick attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, graduating in 1961, to work as a doctor. In 1967, he graduated from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Image Courtesy of Wentworth Family

BILLY HORNER

M

urray Wentworth was born on April 6, 1917, on North Jefferson Street in Wickenburg, Arizona, a street that would become the lifelong backbone of his journey. Raised in the desert town known for its dude ranches, Murray showed a knack for invention and adventure. “In high school, he built a glider that could be launched by a car,” remembered his nephew Bob Wentworth, capturing the spirit of a young man unafraid to dream big in a small town.

After graduating from Wickenburg High School in 1934, Murray attended Arizona State Teachers College (now Arizona State University). In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Corps and served as a combat engineer during World War II. His tour took him from the sands of North Africa to the rugged terrain of Sicily and Italy, where he helped build vital roads and military bases under EIGHTY SIX

combat conditions. His unit later landed in Normandy, advanced through France, and ended the war on the banks of the Rhine River in Germany.

After the war, Murray returned to Wickenburg, and a friend from school, Genevieve Billingsley, introduced him to Henry F. Shelton. The two shared similar interests in contracting and started a land-leveling business.

Murray bought a vacant lot on South Jefferson Street and built his own home. In 1956, he married Maraloyd Abbuhl, and the couple lived in Wickenburg until her passing in 2003. Her former husband, Bill Abbuhl, Above: Wentworth operating a 1954 Caterpillar DW21 scraper during golf course construction for Shelton & Betts, 1957.

Right: Wentworth with a diver during World War II, 1944.

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

Images Courtesy of Wentworth Family

Above: Murray Wentworth, 2002.

Right: Wentworth (on the running board), with his friend, 1930s.

Bottom right: Murray and Maraloyd Wentworth, 1950s.

Below: Wentworth operating a Caterpillar cable D9 hauling a ripper on a road project for Shelton & Betts near Lake Pleasant, 1956.

Law and became an attorney specializing in medical litigation. On the side, he won multiple doubles championships in badminton at the National Senior Games.

Professionally, Murray thrived as a heavy equipment operator. His work took him across Arizona, where he worked on road projects in places like Kayenta and Tuba City on the Navajo Tribal Lands.

But his legacy was etched into the greens and fairways of Arizona’s golf courses. Over a 30-year career with the Henry F. Shelton Company, Murray helped build more than 40 golf courses across the Southwest,

ARIZCC.COM

including the Wickenburg Country Club, Papago Golf Course in Phoenix, Arizona City Golf Club, and numerous Del Webb Sun City courses.

“He was famous for helping his family, friends, and neighbors,” says Bob. “When

they needed anything, he was always there.”

After Shelton’s retirement in 1974, Murray continued shaping the Arizona landscape, working with John Lee & Associates and later collaborating with Soil Science owner Bill Phillips, Shelton’s son-in-law.

Image Courtesy of Bob Wentworth

ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

Right: Wentworth operating a Caterpillar D9 during construction of Arizona State College Stadium, near Tempe Butte, 1958.

Below: Wentworth, holding blueprints, with operator Jay Allen in Sun City, 1972.

Below right: Wentworth fishing at Lake Pleasant, 1980s.

Their work included innovative lake-lining techniques used at golf courses and other recreational sites.

Gunsight Construction owner Doug Allen worked with Wentworth on various projects. “Murray was always go, go, go on the jobs,” Allen says. “His nickname was Hurry Murray.”

One of Murray’s proudest achievements was constructing the road to Alamo Lake, a challenging endeavor that connected the Bill Williams River to the community of Weldon, allowing Alamo Dam to be built in 1968. He also played a role in constructing Big Surf, Arizona’s wave pool waterpark, which opened in 1969.

In 1957, Murray helped break ground at the original Century Golf Course near 56th Street and Shea Boulevard. Nearly 25 years later, he returned to help remodel the site now known as Orange Tree Golf Resort, bringing his career full circle.

Outside of work, Murray had a passion for the outdoors, enjoying fishing, hunting, and skeet shooting. True to his roots, he Images Courtesy of Wentworth Family lived on Jefferson Street for an astounding 91 years, later residing at My Father’s RetireMurray Wentworth passed away on April kindness, and craftsmanship. His fingerment Ranch before spending his final year 18, 2009, but left behind a legacy not just prints remain on the earth he moved and at Sterling House in Peoria. of roads and golf courses, but of resilience, in the hearts of the lives he touched.

Image Courtesy of Doug Allen

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Southwest JCB 602-454-9808 SWJCB.com

P. 9

Arizona Materials 602-278-4444 arizonamaterials.com

P. 30

DitchWitch 602-437-0351 ditchwitchwest.com

P. 91

MDI Rock 602-569-8722 mdirock.com

P.7

Specialty Companies Group 623-582-2385 specialtycompaniesgroup.com

P. 7

Asphalt Busters 623-936-8800 asphaltbusters.com

P. 59

Dynamic Diesel 602-376-1448 dynamicdieselrepair.com

P. 11

Metro Engineering & Survey 623-466-6640 metroaz.net

P. 58

SSG Equipment Services 480-404-0446 ssgequipmentservices.com

P. 42

ASU Engineering 480-965-7773 construction.asu.edu.

P. 18

Earnhardt 480-926-4000 nobullfleet.com

P. 24

Metro Traffic Control 623-879-0610 metrotrafficcontrol.net

P. 36

Sunland Asphalt 602-323-2800 sunlandasphalt.com

P. 11

Baja Ready Mix 602-503-9391 readymixconcreteaz.com

P. 82

ECCO Equipment 602-276-2040 eccoequipment.com

P. BC

NCS 928-567-6585 networxcs.com

P. 44

Sunstate Equipment 888-456-4560 sunstateequip.com

P. 26

BidJudge 602-456-BIDZ bidjudge.com

P. 30

EES 480-809-4687 emergencyenv.com

P. 5

NECA 602-263-0111 azneca.org

P. 34

SW Barricade 602-788-2222 swbarricades.com

P. 77

Bingham Equipment 623-850-6000 binghamequipment.com

P. 32

Empire Sales Center 520-582-2050 empirecat.com/eloyw

P. 44

New West Oil 602-759-5559 newwestoil.com

P. 83

Trench-Ade 833-384-1176 trench-ade.com

P. IBC

Blueline Grizzly 928-308-1901 bluelinerockgrizzly.com

P. 40

Fisher’s Tools 800-390-4063 fishertools.com

P. 30

New Western Rentals 623-847-3594 newwesternrentals.comw

P. 76

TSR 602-253-3311 tsraz.com

P. 28

Borderland 520-623-0900 borderland-inc.com

P. 28

Forrest Rents 602-620-2383 forrestequipmentrentals.com

P. 34

Pacwest Rentals 480-832-0855 pacwestrentals.com

P. 73

TWC Contracting 480-597-7402 twccontracting.team

P. 89

Branco Machinery 480-892-5657 brancomachinery.com

P. IFC

GenTech 800-625-8324 gentechusa.com

P. 59

Powerscreen 480-321-9185 powerscreenofcalifornia.com

P. 8

Vermeer Mountain West 480-785-4800 vermeermountainwest.com

P. 36

Buesing Corp 602-233-3339 buesingcorp.com

P. 14

GFT Ready Mix 602-269-9206 gftmix.com

P. 69

Preach Building Supply 602-944-4594 preachbuildingsupply.com

P. 20

Westroc 480-550-1815

P. 82

CalPortland 602-817-6929 calportland.com

P. 36

GoodFellow 623-594-5401 goodfellowcorp.com

P. 76

Purple Wave Auction 866-608-9283 purplewave.com

P. 3

WillScot 800-782-1500 willscot.com

P. 46

CAMS 602-331-5455 cams-az.com

P. 20

Insearch Corp 480-940-0100 insearchcorp.com

P. 40

Reuter Fabrication 602-415-0449 reuterequipment.com

P. 58

WSM 623-936-3300 wsmauctioneers.com

P. 16

Castle Hot Springs 844-276-8052 castlehotsprings.com

P. 10

Insurica 602-273-1625 insurica.com

P. 32

RT Underground rtunderground.com 602-622-6789

P. 36

CED 602-437-4200 cedphx.com

P.11

Intermountain Fuels 855-463-8358 intermountainfuels.com

P. 63

S&S Paving 602-437-0818 sspaving.com

P. 58

Cemex 602-416-2652 cemexusa.com

P. 46

JS Cole 602-633-0990 jscole.com

P. 92, 93

Salt River Materials Group 480-850-5757 srmaterials.com

P. 53

Core Ready Mix 480-887-4922 corereadymix.com

P. 26

KE&G 520-748-0188 kegtus.com

P. 9

Sharp Creek Contracting 602-437-3040 sharpcreek.com

P. 18

Curry Fluid Power 602-661-6596 curryfluidpower.com

P. 38

Keystone Concrete 480-835-1579 keystoneconcretellc.com

P. 58

Sitech Southwest 602-691-7501 sitechsw.com

P. 82

Curry Supply 800-345-2829 currysupply.com

P. 38

Landco Power 480-788-1333 landcorental.com

P. 89

Solterra Materials 602-531-0454 solterramaterials.com

P. 57

Custom Truck One Source 602-527-4088 customtruck.com

P. 15

Lang, Thal, King & Hanson 480-534-4900 lang.law

P. 90

Sonsray Machinery 844-sonsray sonsraymachinery.com

P. 22

NINETY FOUR

P. 69

FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES CONTACT BILLY HORNER 602-931-0069 BILLY@ARIZCC.COM

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2025

ARIZCC.COM

ARIZONA CONTRACTOR & COMMUNITY

PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Permit #1662 Phoenix, AZ

w

602-276-2040

Providing Rentals and Service in AZ, since 1998

Frank Alvarez

Jason Turner

Lance Wallace

John Burton

C: 602-769-6725

C: 480-487-0563

C: 602-708-1948

C: 602-725-1123

Operations Manager

Inside Sales

Outside Sales

Outside Sales

franka@eccoequipment.com jasont@eccoequipment.com lancew@eccoequipment.com johnb@eccoequipment.com