Phoenix Alumni Chapter - About Us
The Phoenix Alumni Chapter of the University of Arizona Alumni Association...representing Maricopa County since 1950!
A Long and Proud Wildcat Tradition
By Debbie Frazelle 75'
The Phoenix Chapter of the University of Arizona Alumni Association shares an important anniversary with our Alma Mater – this year (2010) is the University of Arizona’s 125th and the Phoenix Chapter’s 60th! Our Chapter is proud to represent nearly 40,000 Alumni in Maricopa County, and is the oldest and largest among the University of Arizona Alumni Association worldwide network.
The Phoenix chapter was ‘born’ in 1950, when a group of Alumni met socially at the Phoenix Country Club. It all started with only a $50 annual budget and a goal to raise $100 for the University. In true Wildcat tradition, they planned to celebrate reaching that goal with a trip to the Space Age Lodge in Gila Bend. Although that party never happened, they began holding monthly club meetings and to spread the word that there WERE (AND ARE) Wildcats in the Valley of the Sun.
By the end of that decade, they had held their first ball (the Ivy Ball) – a casual event to “recruit” more alumni participation. It was a huge success – growing the club into the ‘60’s. In 1967, the Alumni Association hired their first paid staff in Phoenix – Dolly Robertson. The office was located at the U of A Agricultural Extension – the Farm in Mesa. Everyone was so excited that someone would be answering the phones and assisting with coordinating events! The very first formal Bear Down Ball was held at the Camelback Inn in 1969, chaired by Jaime Matanovich.
In the early ‘70’s, the club began hosting an annual football Kick-Off Dinner with the coaches, in late summer. In 1973, the Phoenix group started hosting bus trips down to Tucson for home football games – the ‘birth’ of the Cat Cruiser. It was (and is) a great way to keep Alumni connected to the University and to support the Wildcat football team. By 1976, over 7,000 Alumni lived in Maricopa County and Paula Large had started working for the Alumni Association. Clearly, even then there was a growing need to bring more U of A visibility to the Phoenix area. The University of Arizona, School of Music brought a performance to Phoenix Symphony Hall, which was hosted by the Phoenix Alumni and attended by almost 1,600 people! In 1978, the Alumni Association opened an office in downtown Phoenix (3rd Street). Also that year, a group of influential and generous Alumni, led by Art Hulick, established our Scholarship Endowment Fund with $10,000 in gifts accrued over the years. We became dedicated to supporting scholarships for the best and brightest Phoenix area high school seniors who were headed to the University of Arizona.
During the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, many U of A events started showing up on the social calendars of Wildcats throughout Maricopa County. Just to name a few…..
· 1981 the first of 4 Jog-a-thons
1982 Community Outreach Committee was created, Dr Jack Copeland spoke on “Heart Transplantation
· 1983 the first of nine Alumni Art Shows
· 1985 Centennial Celebration at Camelback Inn
· 1988 hosts the first of 3 Red and Blue Basketball Scrimmages
· 1990 the first annual golf tournament is held, it raised $808 for scholarships
· 1991 “Salute to Lute” held at Tovrea mansion
· 1992 $40,000 gift made to the Alumni Association for the Century II Campaign
· 1993 a silent auction was added to the annual Kick-Off Dinner
· 1995 begins a joint sponsorship with the Athletic Department and renames the golf tournament “The Alumni Golf Classic”
· 1996 first annual “Lute and the Team” Basketball tip-off dinner
· 1998 25,000 alumni live in Maricopa County
As we entered the 21st Century, Phoenix grew, as did all of Maricopa County. The Phoenix Alumni Club became a Chapter with 50 Board members. The University of Arizona opened the Eller School of Business in north Scottsdale the Medical School Campus in the biomedical “hub” of downtown Phoenix (Van Buren between 5th and 7th Streets). And the Alumni Association Phoenix regional office has moved to that latter location. The University of Arizona IS here!
The Phoenix Chapter currently manages over $750,000 in assets, including the Scholarship Endowment Fund which has grown to over half a million dollars! The Chapter now raises over $100,000 annually with 3 major fundraisers – the Kick-Off Tailgate Luncheon; the Tip-Off Dinner; and partner with the Athletic Department for the Golf Tournament and the Cat Cruiser; and revenue allocated from special U of A license plates. This year alone, the Chapter paid out $94,000 to scholarship recipients. Cumulatively, the Phoenix Chapter has awarded a total of more than $1,000,000 in scholarships to over 500 Phoenix area high school seniors.
With enormous gratitude, this history is dedicated to all the Alumni and staff who have worked tirelessly to make all of this possible, many of whom have come and gone. We have been given huge “shoes to fill” and an incredible history on which future “Wildcats for Life” will build.
Bear Down with Pride!!!
Phoenix Executive Board Officers
President - Marsha Rohan '68
1st Vice President - Cathi Mercer '71
2nd Vice President - Craig Colling '01
Members at Large - Kimberly Rife '98 & Kyle Dillingham '08
Treasurer - Mindy Knicely '97
Secretary - Nicole Johnson '04
For Phoenix Alumni Chapter event information, please contact UA Alumni Regional Director, Mark Strickling at
602-827-2189 or strickling@al.arizona.edu
Are you interested in joining the Chapter as a member or volunteer? If so, please contact Cathi Mercer at cathi@mercerink.com
DONATE TO THE PHOENIX ALUMNI CHAPTER - Make a difference as we assist future scholars.
Support your Phoenix Chapter by becoming a member of the UA Alumni Association!
Did you know that a portion of your membership fee goes directly back to us? Just sign-up at our next event or visit membership website and select Phoenix from the referral code box.
Membership gives you access to discounts at our events, along with career benefits, a full-year subscription to Alumnus magazine, and national savings on everything from travel to entertainment.
