ORAL HISTORY TRANSCRIPTS

The oral history interview’s written record is the transcript. More frequently than not, transcription of oral histories is more difficult than verbatim transcription. Uneven grammar, filler words (uhs, ums, and ahs), and erroneous starts are all part of everyday speech.
Our goal is to accurately preserve and transmit the history of Sun Cities. If you find our work enjoyable, we hope you will tell your friends and family about it.

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Oral History Transcripts Volume 1 Case 198-205
Oral History Transcripts Volume 2 Case 206-251
Oral History Transcripts Volume 3 Case 252-269
Oral History Transcripts Volume 4 Case 270-272

L.C. JACOBSON and TOM BREEN ~ to gather background information to be used in the writing of a 25-year history of Sun City.
11/18/83 Tape C198

JAMES BOSWELL ~ detailed description of his involvement with the development and growth of Sun City.
12/12/83 Tape C198

JAMES BOSWELL ~ to gather background information for use in writing the 25-year history of Sun City.
12/12/83 Tape C199

DOROTHY BELL ~ an early resident of Sun City, arriving on August 31, 1960. She was a secretary with DEVCO for 21 years.
8/20/91 C200

TOM AUSTIN ~ activities coordinator for DEVCO in Sun City. He was credited with setting up approximately 100 clubs, and the Homeowner’s Association.
8/22/91 C201

JOHN EDWARD (“Buzz”) ELLIS ~ the 1st Barber Shop in 1960 – before the town opened – when there were only 10 homes built.
8/20/91 C202

BERNICE WALLACE ~ who moved to Sun City in 1960 after reading about it in magazine ad.
8/29/91 C203

WILLIAM CHAPMAN ~ who supplied appliances; consultant to Del Webb Company; helped work  out agreements with the recreation centers; and helped found Boswell Hospital.
9/13/91 C204

JOHN MEEKER CEO of DEVCO Interviewed by Melanie Sturgeon
3/6/96

John Meeker - A Look Back 1959-1981

ALICE MESSICK and her husband sponsored and promoted the Sun City Angels, a woman’s softball team. 9/26/91 C208

BEULAH R. HEUER first heard about Sun City while visiting in Mesa 2/7/92 C210

BURT FREIRICH was the owner, editor, and publisher for the News Sun, the Sun City
newspaper, from 1960-1984. 1/22/92 C213

DR. EDGAR DEISSLER continued a medical practice in Sun City because there were no doctors when I arrived; population about 2,800. R 10/10/91 C211

EVELYN PARRY as note-taker at the first Oakmont Rec Ctr mtg, I used roll of toilet paper for my notes. 9/20/91 C207

FLORENCE M. SEARS became hostess in the model homes and later work in office and King’s Inn. 9/26/91 C209

JOHN & IDA DODT moved to Sun City when there were no houses north of Grand
Ave. 1/22/92 C212

MARGARET MULHOLLAND was secretary to Sun City doctor and was against incorporation. 9/20/91 C206

ROSE BUTLER – Pedal Pushers formed because I wanted to cycle, plus the roads were smooth
and the community was easy to get around. 10/3/91 C210

ELIZABETH INWOOD helped organize first Homeowners
Association and her husband was the first Homeowners Assoc. President 2-14-92 C218

HARVEY FINKS was an attorney working in SC and Youngtown 2-14-91 C217

LUCILLE A. RUTHEFORD was an archivist and founder of the Youngtown Historical Assoc. 2-14-92 C219

MILDRED TOLDRIAN was an early resident of Sun City West and active in community affairs. 2-1-92 C215

ZELLA WILSON and her husband owned the first camera shop in Sun City. 2-7-92 C216

Additional transcripts will be coming soon

L.C. JACOBSON and TOM BREEN ~ to gather background information to be used in the writing of a 25-year history of Sun City.
11/18/83 Tape C198

JAMES BOSWELL ~ detailed description of his involvement with the development and growth of Sun City.
12/12/83 Tape C198

JAMES BOSWELL ~ to gather background information for use in writing the 25-year history of Sun City.
12/12/83 Tape C199

DOROTHY BELL ~ an early resident of Sun City, arriving on August 31, 1960. She was a secretary with DEVCO for 21 years.
8/20/91 C200

TOM AUSTIN ~ activities coordinator for DEVCO in Sun City. He was credited with setting up approximately 100 clubs, and the Homeowner’s Association.
8/22/91 C201

JOHN EDWARD (“Buzz”) ELLIS ~ the 1st Barber Shop in 1960 – before the town opened – when there were only 10 homes built.
8/20/91 C202

BERNICE WALLACE ~ who moved to Sun City in 1960 after reading about it in magazine ad.
8/29/91 C203

WILLIAM CHAPMAN ~ who supplied appliances; consultant to Del Webb Company; helped work  out agreements with the recreation centers; and helped found Boswell Hospital.
9/13/91 C204

JOHN MEEKER CEO of DEVCO Interviewed by Melanie Sturgeon
3/6/96

John Meeker - A Look Back 1959-1981

ALICE MESSICK and her husband sponsored and promoted the Sun City Angels, a woman’s softball team. 9/26/91 C208

BEULAH R. HEUER first heard about Sun City while visiting in Mesa 2/7/92 C210

BURT FREIRICH was the owner, editor, and publisher for the News Sun, the Sun City
newspaper, from 1960-1984. 1/22/92 C213

DR. EDGAR DEISSLER continued a medical practice in Sun City because there were no doctors when I arrived; population about 2,800. R 10/10/91 C211

EVELYN PARRY as note-taker at the first Oakmont Rec Ctr mtg, I used roll of toilet paper for my notes. 9/20/91 C207

FLORENCE M. SEARS became hostess in the model homes and later work in office and King’s Inn. 9/26/91 C209

JOHN & IDA DODT moved to Sun City when there were no houses north of Grand
Ave. 1/22/92 C212

MARGARET MULHOLLAND was secretary to Sun City doctor and was against incorporation. 9/20/91 C206

ROSE BUTLER – Pedal Pushers formed because I wanted to cycle, plus the roads were smooth
and the community was easy to get around. 10/3/91 C210

ELIZABETH INWOOD helped organize first Homeowners
Association and her husband was the first Homeowners Assoc. President 2-14-92 C218

HARVEY FINKS was an attorney working in SC and Youngtown 2-14-91 C217

LUCILLE A. RUTHEFORD was an archivist and founder of the Youngtown Historical Assoc. 2-14-92 C219

MILDRED TOLDRIAN was an early resident of Sun City West and active in community affairs. 2-1-92 C215

ZELLA WILSON and her husband owned the first camera shop in Sun City. 2-7-92 C216

Additional transcripts will be coming soon