Arizona Historymakers is a title granted by the Arizona Historical League since 1992, to honor outstanding Arizonans who have “made significant impacts in our community and state.”
Celebration and an exhibit to recognize them occurs at the Arizona Historical Society museum in Tempe each applicable year.
Honoree Year Recognized Notoriety Barry Goldwater1992U.S. Senator and 1964 U.S. Presidential NomineeRobert Goldwater Sr.Businessman, Civic Leader, and Father of the Phoenix OpenPhillip CurtisArtist and founder of Phoenix Art CenterJ. Eugene Grigsby, Jr. Artist & EducatorBil KeaneFamily Circus Creator and ArtistLadmo KwiatkowskiCreator and Performer for The Wallace and Ladmo ShowPatrick John McMahonBill ThompsonSandra Day O’ConnorFirst Woman Justice of the U.S. Supreme CourtFrank L. SnellAttorney; Civic & Cultural Development Leader Erma Fiste Bombeck 1993 Author and HumoristEdward JacobsenArt Philanthropist and AttorneyWilliam Masao KajikawaEducator and CoachDwight W. "Pat" PattersonRancher and "Father" of Arizona Baseball Spring TrainingJohn Jacob Rhodes Jr.U.S. Congressman and Central Arizona Project ProponentJohn R. WilliamsArizona Governor and Radio BroadcasterBen Avery 1995 Journalist and Outdoor Recreation Advocate Joe Beeler Western Artist and SculptorTom ChaunceyEntrepreneur, Rancher and Broadcast ExecutiveJ. Lawrence WalkupEducator and NAU PresidentMark WilmerDean of Arizona's Trial Lawyers & CAP ProponentBennie Montague Gonzales1997Southwestern ArchitectRoy P. DrachmanCommercial Real Estate Innovator and Tucson Civic LeaderDel LewisPresident, CEO, and Cofounder of Arizona Television CompanyJewell McFarland LewisChairman of the Board and Cofounder of Arizona Television CompanyEdwynne Cutler RosenbaumArizona State Legislator and Historical Preservation AdvocateAdam Diaz1999Phoenix Government Official and HumanitarianG. Robert HerbergerVolunteer and PhilanthropistKatherine Keirland HerbergerRobert T. McCallAerospace ArtistRose MoffordArizona's First Woman GovernorNewton RosenzweigBusiness and Civic LeaderKarl Eller2001Businessperson and PhilanthropistStevie Eller Eddie Basha Humanitarian and Grocery MogulJerry ColangeloCommunity Leader and Sports EntrepreneurPaul FanninArizona Governor and U.S. SenatorJohn F. LongVisionary Builder and PhilanthropistCalvin C. Goode2003Phoenix Councilman and EducatorJack PfisterCommunity Leader and Advocate for Arizona's FutureBill Shover Valley Visionary and Civic LeaderEsther Don TangBusinesswoman & Community ActivistVirginia Melody Ullman Civic Philanthropist and PreservationistJohn Driggs2005Mayor of Phoenix and Historical PreservationistBruce Babbitt Arizona Governor & U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sam Billison Navajo Code Talker during World War IICarl GormanJoe H. KellwoodMerril SandovalCloves Campbell Sr.Arizona State Legislator and Newspaper PublisherAlberto RiosPoet and Author Barbara Barrett 2008 First female deputy director of the FAA and to run for Arizona GovernorJoe Garagiola Sr.Major League Baseball Player, Broadcaster and AuthorElisabeth Friedrich RuffnerHistoric Preservationist and Community ActivistAlice Wiley SnellCivic Leader and PhilanthropistRichard SnellEd Mell2014Arizona ArtistJim BrunerCivic LeaderRaúl Héctor CastroArizona Governor and U.S. AmbassadorLattie F. Coor Jr.Education Leader and Arizona State University PresidentChuck LakinRanching Innovator and PreservationistMaxine Cortelyou LakinDavid Lincoln Philanthropist and Civic LeaderJoan Rechlin LincolnBill OwenCowboy ArtistMarshall TrimbleHistorian, Teacher, Author Ed Beauvais 2017 Founder of America West AirlinesWink CriglerRancherJon KylU.S. Senator and Water ExpertHarry PappCommunity LeaderRosellen PappRobert F. SpetzlerSurgeonWarren H. Stewart, Sr.Religious Leader and Community Activist Betsey Bayless 2019 Arizona Secretary of State, Health, and Civic LeaderArthur W. DeCabooterEducator and Land PreservationistMichael J. Fox Art and Heritage PreservationistAlfredo GutierrezArizona State Senator and Community ActivistMerrill MahaffeyWestern Artist, Painter, and TeacherVernon D. SwabackArchitectTerry Goddard 2023Politician, Historic Preservationist and Activist for Transparent GovernmentDolan EllisState Balladeer and History Preservationist Frank Barrios Master Storyteller, Social Activist, Water ConservationistMichael M. CrowEducational Leader and InnovatorAngel DelgadilloFather of Historic U.S. Route 66 and BusinessmanDenise D. ResnikAdvocate for Autism Treatment and BusinesswomanDaniel D. Von HoffFounding Physician-in-Chief of TGen, Cancer ResearcherJefferey M. TrentGenomics Pioneer, Founder of TGenElizabeth J. WhiteRestaurateur, Community LeaderAdele O’Sullivan2025Established Innovative Continuum of Care for Arizonans Experiencing HomelessnessBob Boze BellWriter, Humorist, Artist, Old West HistorianDiana Yazzie DevineHousing Innovator and Native American Healthcare AdvocateF. Ronald RaynerAgriculture Innovator and Utilities OfficerJohn W. Graham Real Estate Developer, Community LeaderSharon HarperBusiness/Civic LeadersOliver Harper Eric M. ReimanAlzheimer’s Researcher and DoctorDuane M. WootenPediatrician, Community Leader
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