Bios

WELCOME TO THE HIKING CLUB’S HALL OF FAME. The Hall of Fame honors past Hike Leaders who have made significant contributions to the activities of the club and its members.
A common trait shared by these leaders is their outstanding ability to make hiking a truly safe and enjoyable experience for fellow hikers. In recognition of their contributions, many of these leaders have been granted Leader Emeritus status. Honorees are displayed in the order of when they first became hike leaders.

Bill and Jane Necker

In 1981 the GVR Director asked the Neckers to begin an exercise walking group. They declined by expressed their interest in hiking instead. When GVR gave its support Bill and Jane put an article in the Green Valley News. Thursday was a good day for them. About 35 people showed up to hike the Nature Trail as far as it went (about where the store is now.) Those on that hike expressed an interest in continuing so they scheduled a hike to Josephine Saddle two weeks later. Bill started keeping records of hikers. The GVR director suggested awarding patches for which GVR paid. Bill designed the 50 mile patch and the 250 and 500 mile rockers. In March, 1984, on a trail in Madera Canyon, Bill organized the group to be a charter GVR club. As more people heard about the club attendance snowballed. Both Bill and Jane resigned as leaders in 1986.

Bernadette (Bernie) Greene

Bernie began hiking with the Neckers in September 1981 and became a leader in October. She served as Vice President in 1984/85 and President in 1985/86. She was Trail Maintenance Supervisor in 1988/89. She continued leading until 1992.

Vince Morrison

Vince’s first hike with the club was in May, 1982. He became a leader in 1984. He was part of the group who initiated the search for new trails, many of which we are still traveling. He became Records Keeper in 1985/86, Asst. Hikemaster during 86 - 88, and Records again during 87/88, President in 1989/90, and Vice President in 1990/91. Vince coined our slogan “Safe and Enjoyable Hiking.” Declining vision led to his resignation in July of 1992.

Cameron Beckwith

Cameron joined the club in December of 1982 and became a leader in 1983. He was Hikemaster from1984 thru 1986, President from 1986 thru 1988, Publicity Chair in 1988/89, and Secretary in 1990/91. Besides helping find many new trails, Cameron initiated name tags, the monthly bulletins, first aid kits, necessity and use of good boots, and stressed drinking a lot of water. Before the organized O&R he expected leaders to take new hikers aside at lunch time to tell them about rules of the club. Cameron resigned in June of 1993.

Irene Ritch Flower

Irene joined the Hiking Club in January, 1982, and became a leader in 1983. She served as Secretary from 1984 thru 1986, Vice President from 1985 thru 1987, Treasurer in 1990/91, and again as Vice President in 1992/93. Her knowledge of flowers and birds was a great asset to the club and hikers. Irene resigned as leader in 1993.

Betty Belknap Hummer

Betty joined the club in February 1983 and became a leader in December of 1986. She served as Board Secretary for three years – 1986/1989. She resigned as a leader in April of 1992.

Harry Frye

Harry joined the club in 1983 and became a leader the next year. Harry not only helped develop new hikes but initiated a way to identify leaders’ cars for signing in on Thursday mornings. He initiated the printed Hike Trail descriptions for the club in 1991 in the form of a manual. It was intended to “aid hike leaders in scouting hikes, and to provide them with historical and regional information.” He was forced to resign in September 1992 after having hip surgery.

Bill Fritz

Bill joined the Hiking Club in January 1984 and became a leader that same year. He served on the Board as Asst. Hikemaster in 1985/86, Hikemaster from 1986 thru 1988, President in 988/89, and Vice President in 1989/90. He helped develop many trails. His knowledge of geology was greatly appreciated. He resigned as a leader in April 1996.

Svend Kristensen

Svend joined the club in 1984 and started leading hikes later in 1984. He resigned in December, 1996. Svend loved scouting new areas and seemed to have a “built-in compass. As he was known to say, “I may be lost but I always know where I am.” He moved back to Denmark in 1999.

Clayton Smith

Clayton joined the club the first month he stayed in Arizona in 1984. In the mid 80's the club began to maintain the Nature Trail in Madera Canyon under the Forest Service’s Adopt a Trail Program. Clayton worked monthly on the maintenance of that trail and helped the club construct the blacktopped trail for use by hikers with handicaps. Clayton became a leader in 1991, but was forced to resign in 1997 after heart bypass surgery and radiation therapy.

Mag Turner

Mag joined the Club in February of 1984 and began serving as a leader in November, 1985. She served on the Board as Publicity officer from 1986 to 1989. She and Mary Ann Morrison (wife of Vince) began the Club Potlucks. Mag resigned as hike leader in April 1993 but continued to serve as an assistant leader until 2002.

Marv Partin

Marv joined the club in 1984 and became a leader in November 1985. He served on the Board as Asst. Hikemaster in 1992/93, Hikemaster in 1993/94, Vice President in 1994/95, and as Trail Maintenance Supervisor in 1995/96. Marv resigned as a leader in January 1997.

Wally Morrell

Wally joined the club in 1984 and started as a leader in January 1986. He served on the Board as At-Large Representative in 1986/87, and as Vice President from 1987 thru 1989, Asst, Hikemaster 1994/95, Hikemaster 1995/96, and Treasurer 1996/97. In 1988 Wally invited any one who wanted to hike the day after Thanksgiving to join him. It was so well attended that in 1989 the Club Board decided to schedule one club hike for credit the Friday after Thanksgiving each year. It was decided to honor the current President, whether that person was a leader or not, by having the President lead the hike, thus the “President’s Hike.” Wally is credited with naming several locations on hikes after hikers and leaders. He had so many standing “comments” that they have become known as “Wallyisms.” He resigned in 2002.

Fred Collins

Fred joined the club in 1985 and became a leader the next year. He served on the Board At-Large in 1988/89, Treasurer in 1989/90, and President in 1990/91. Fred wrote and directed a comedic production of “Hikers on the Trail” which was presented to members at a February potluck with such success it was repeated a few years later. Fred resigned in April 1998 due to knee problems.

Win Durant

Win started hiking with the club in the mid 80’s and became a leader in February of 1987. He served on the Board At-Large in 1987/88, Treasurer in 1988/89, Records Keeper 1989/90, and Asst. Hikemaster in 1995/96. Win resigned as a leader in February of 2002.

Frank Jappel

Frank joined the club in October of 1988. He was appointed a leader when he agreed to be Assist. Hikemaster in May, 1989. He served as Asst. Hikemaster in 1989/90 and 90/91, was Hikemaster in 1991/92, served as President two terms from 1992-1994, and was Orientation Chairman in 1994/95 and again in 2000/01. He resigned as a leader in May, 2000.
Frank passed away on December 22, 2004

Charles B. (Chuck) Rogers

Chuck joined the club in 1989 after having hiked in the Santa Ritas for 10 years. He became a leader in 1990 and resigned in November of 1995. In October, 1994, he celebrated his 80th birthday sharing cake with the club on top of Mt. Wrightson. Roger’s Rock is named for him.

Hall of
Fame

Honorees in alphebetical order:

   Cameron Beckwith (1983)
   Margaret Bieber (1987)
   Tad Bird (1995)
   Freddie Carter (1990)
   Pat Caves (1999)
   Fred Collins (1986)
   Jan Dalen (1993)
   Win Durant (1987)
   Iren Flower (1983)
   Kate Foster (1994)
   Milt Foster (1987)
   Bill Fritz (1984)
   Harry Frye (1984)
   Bernie Green (1981)
   Ted Haartz (1995)
   Andy Juhasz (1990)
   Marion Kole (1988)
   Bob Kotz (1997)
   Winnie Kruper (1991)
   Lee Kuiken (1990)
   Jack Hummel (1998)
   Betty Hummer (1986)
   Frank Jappel (1989)
   Svend Kristensen (1984)
   Bob Lund (1986)
   Lillian Monson (1985)
   Wally Morrell (1986)
   Vince Morrison (1984)
   Bill and Jane Necker (1981)
   Jim Perkins (1993)
   Marv Partin (1985)
   Chuck Rogers (1990)
   Clayton Smith (1991)
   Peggy Smith (1999)
   Mag Turner (1985)

Margaret Bieber

Margaret’s first hike was October 21, 1981, shortly after the Hiking Club was started. She became a leader in January 1987. In the autumn of 1982 she and her husband Ed received their first patches. In 1987 she was elected to the Board serving At-Large in 87/88, Records Officer 1988/89, Social Chairman 1989/90. She has substituted helping the Treasurer and at O&R. Margaret received her Leader Emeritus patch in November 2001.

Jan Dalen

Jan joined the club in January of 1990. She became a leader in 1993, but in September 1997 decided it was time to give up leading and become an Assistant. Jan serves as Vice President of the club for 2002/04

Bob Lund

Bob began hiking with the club in January 1984 and started leading hikes in February of 1986. He served two terms as Hikemaster 1989 –1991 and as President 1991/92. It was during this time he decided, with Board approval, that the month of June should be a vacation for the Hikemaster. Among a number of things put in place during his term of office were obtaining a post office box, a logo to be used on bulletins and club stationery, and a newsletter to keep hikers informed about the club. Bob chaired the committee for Orientation and Registration which was begun on a trial basis in January 1993. He chaired the committee to develop the annual dues program. This was initiated January 1, 1995. He also headed the committee for the Operations and Historical Records file in February 1999. In the club annals at least “Lund’s Peak” is named for him. Bob resigned in September 2002 but continues as an Assistant Leader.

Marion Kole

Marion started hiking with the club in 1987. She served on the Board as Social chairman in 1990/91 and Treasurer in 1991/92. She resigned as a leader in January 1994. However she did lead hikes on occasion during the winter months after that time. She has written many poems for hikers honoring their accomplishments.

Lee Kuiken

Lee began hikng with the club in February 1988. She became a leader in 1990 and wrote her resignation letter in June, 1997. Lee served on the Board as Social Chairman from 1993 –1996. She functioned as Name Tag chairman for five years and as well as being active in giving Orientation presentations.

Jack Hummel

Jack’s first hike was January 1995. He was a leader from 1998 until March 2002. The Hummels are part time residents of Green Valley, spending part of the year at their home in Alaska.

Pat Caves

Pat started hiking in November 1995. She became a leader in 1999 and resigned in the fall 2002.

home

Kate Foster

Kate started hiking a few months after moving to Green Valley in 1986. At the persuasion of the hikemaster at the time she agreed to become a leader in the spring of 1994. That made Kate and Milt the first "couple" leaders since the Neckers! She resigned in 1997.

Jim Perkins

Jim joined the hiking club in January 1991. He led his first hike February 11, 1993 and was elected to the Board in 1993. He served as Assistant Hike Master in 93/94, Hike Master 94/95, and Vice President 95/96. For use on computer, he rewrote hike bulletin data in 93/94, catalogued the club’s hikes on a spreadsheet, and then printed the first hike bulletins from the computer in 1994. In 1996 he headed a committee that developed the Policy Manual to augment the by-laws. In 2001, he initiated the Hiking Club Website. Jim served on other committees over the years and has concluded his tenure by authoring, scouting, and finally leading the El Pilar North hike on February 12, 2004.

Winnie Kruper

Winnie joined the Hiking Club in late summer 1989. She became a Hike Leader and led her first hike in December 26, 1991. In 1992, Winnie was appointed to the Hiking Club Board where she served as Social Chairperson and Secretary. During 1997/98 she served as Assistant Hike Master and then Hike Master in 1998/99. She served as Membership Chairperson in 1999/2000 and again in 2000/01. Throughout this period, Winnie has continued to lead hikes until her retirement in January, 2005.

Andy Juhasz

Well known for his hat, jacket, golf club, and lunchtime nap, Andy retired from leading hikes in February 2005 after 15 years. Andy became a leader in 1990 and led his first hike to Seven Falls in February of that year. He served as Records Keeper from 1992-1995. Lodestar Mine will always be associated with Andy as he led it so many times. In 2002, when he turned a young 86, he was honored with having a hike named after him; “Florida Trail to Andy’s Overlook”. Andy retired from the Air Force as a Colonel in 1969 after 28 years of service.

Milt Foster

Milt joined the hiking club in 1986 and became a leader in 1987 when Bill Fritz was Hikemaster and took a chance on him. In addition to Bill, Milt credits Wally Morrell and Charlie Delbecq for teaching him how to lead hikes and have a lot of fun doing it. One of the best things Milt discovered in his twenty years of hiking with the club is that hikers are wonderful people. Milt’s favorite hike is Sycamore Canyon off Ruby Road because of its beautiful pools and unusual rock formations. On December 21, 2006, Milt led his farewell hike to Daniel’s Mine. On the same hike he received his Leader Emeritus patch.

Lillian Monson

Lillian, hiking with the Club since January, 1984, became a Leader in November, 1985. An early Board Treasurer, she opened the first checking account. Starting with the 1000 mile award she designed patches, the Logo, and T shirts. Lillian compiled the first Club History in 1988. Suggesting and naming a newsletter for the Club, she was Editor of “Trail Tales” from 1991 to 2004. She was especially happy to serve on both the Orientation and Dues Committees. Her suggestion to compile information of hiking areas later led to the Club Library. She received the first 5000 mile award February 2004 followed by the first 5500 patch September 2006. She joined the Emeritus Leaders April 26, 2007, after leading the Madera Trail Twist.ber 2002 but continues as an Assistant Leader.

Bob Kotz

Bob joined the Hiking Club in 1994. He soon started volunteering with a Club group doing trail maintenance in lower Madera Canyon one morning a month. He became a Leader in the spring, 1997. During spring, 1999 Bob headed a committee to compile information about various hikes and many maps for use by the Leaders. He was Assistant Hikemaster 1999/2000 and Hikemaster during 2000/2001. As Hikemaster he succeeded in getting written descriptions completed for the numerous hikes that did not have them. He also resurrected many old hikes by scheduling, each week a few hikes that had not been done for three or more years. Bob retired as a Leader in the fall of 2007. He is still an active hiker and says the people that he associated with in the GVHC are the greatest!

Freddie Carter

Hiking and climbing mountains has always been an important part of Freddie Carter's life. The first woman to reach the highest point in all 50 states, she is a member of the American Alpine Club, and a Life Member of the Alpine Club of Canada. In 1989 when Freddie was considering moving to Green Valley she met GVHC hikers on Picacho Peak (she looked the group over very carefully.) After moving to Green Valley and joining the Club, she became a Leader in December, 1990. Her last time to lead was May 2007, retiring in February 2008. She served as Treasurer 1994 1996. Freddie's slide show presentation of her exciting hiking and climbing treks in Canada, the Himalayas, Alps, the Matterhorn and Jungfrau is NOT to be missed!

Tad Bird

Tad's first hike was November 18, 1993. His first time to Lead was to Bog Springs Nov. 30, 1995. He served as Orientation Chairman in 2002/03 and worked as a Presenter for several years. He enjoyed leading and explaining where the hike was, where it was going, and what was being seen. This involved chatter, imaginative stories, and great arm waving. Hikers will remember him for his fun stories, such as one told when viewing the rock formations on the Tumacacori Ramble "Alice Algae was a real good cook, She could cook anything under the sun. Freddie Fungus was a real Fun Guy. Freddie and Alice took a Lichen to each other and started hanging around together on rocks and cliffs and boulders. You see them everywhere." He said of leading "it has been fun." He resigned in October, 2007.

Ted Haartz

On January 14, 1993, Ted was on his first Club hike, a C to Pena Blanca. In December, 1995, Ted began leading hikes. For the 1996 97 year he was Assistant Hikemaster; as Hikemaster for 1997 98 a season plagued with rainy weather adjustments! followed by a three year term as Treasurer, 1998 1999 2000. "Having ascended Mt. Wrightson even before joining the Hiking Club, the choice of hikes has been difficult. For all of the hikes I've led or been on , Silver Hill and Black Mountain are my favorites, and Elephant Head in my younger days and San Cayentano a decade later were the most challenging."

Peggy Smith

Peggy Smith called it quits in 2008 after leading and sweeping hikes since early 1999 in order to avoid being unceremoniously buried along the trail. She loved every minute of wrangling hikers, coaxing bear off the trail, trying to discover every elusive bird, wildflower, tree, bug and large rock on which to sit and leave glasses. She actually enjoyed being Asst. Hikemaster (2004/05) and Hikemaster (05/06) losing only a few friends over that job. Driving for each and every hike no matter how terrifying avoided the problem of leaving jackets which were never returned. Joyfully working on potlucks in order to avoid chairing anything was a strategy that worked. She wishes happy trails to the Club forever and urges everyone to be sure to drink V 8 on every hike.