Page 18 - May Sun Rays flipbook

CA NEWS

Happy Birthday,

Del EJ Webb
Synonymous with Sun City, Del
Webb was a man unafraid to think in 1928 and by 1935, an instant success.
big. Born May 17, 1899, Delbert WKDWÁHGJOLQJFRPSDQ\
Eugene “Del” Webb grew up in the rap- was doing $3 million in The creation of the retirement commu-
idly developing city of Fresno, California. business each year. After nity was just one of numerous endeavors
Most of Del’s childhood was spent in a several successful military spearheaded by the ambitious builder,
fairly prosperous family, but when his contracts, the end of WWII led whose company ultimately became one
father’s contracting business went bank- Del to turn his attention toward- of the world’s largest builders of mili-
rupt, a fourteen-year-old Del dropped out homebuilding. In the booming post-war tary bases, sports stadiums, hotels and
to help support the family. An affable economy, opportunity was knocking at more. It was, however, his most cultur-
young man with passion and drive, he everyone’s door – everyone, that is, except DOO\VLJQLÀFDQWDQGWKHFORVHVWWRKLV
dreamed of playing professional baseball, seniors. heart. Shortly before his death in 1974,
even pitching for a semi-pro league. In Del Webb appeared on The Merv Grif-
1927, a battle with typhoid fever forced The new generation of seniors were not ÀQ6KRZ5HÁHFWLQJRQKLVOLIH·VZRUN
him to refocus his goals. He founded interested in settling for long, quiet days Del declared Sun City to be “the most
his construction company with nothing to do – they were looking to satisfying thing I’ve ever accomplished
begin something new. Many in the con- in my life.”
struction industry balked at the idea of an
age-restricted community, insisting that An incredible life with an incredible leg-
retirees would never leave familiar towns acy, we wish him a happy 117th birthday.
or engage in challenging new activities.
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the need for a place where retirees could
remain engaged with friends, partici-

pate in new ventures and indulge in the
things that they simply hadn’t had the
time for before.

Promising “activity, economy and
individuality,” Del Webb opened the
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outside of Phoenix. An oasis in the
rocky deserts of Arizona, Del and his
partners hoped to see 10,000 inter-

ested home buyers when they opened
the doors to Sun City on January 1,
1960. To their great surprise, over
100,000 people turned up to tour
the new community – Sun City was

Special thanks to our 20th Anniversary Sponsors Del Webb, ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
Suddenlink Communications and Goodwater Wealth

Management Group of Raymond James for thier support of the community
and our anniversary celebrations.

16 | SUNRAYS MAY 2016