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About Tucson
Tucson (TOO-sahn) is a growing metropolitan area of over one million people that keeps getting better and better - Tucson, as a city of over 525,000, has been rated as the country's 32nd largest City. The city's surrounding geography is a postcard image of cactus forests, rolling hills, and craggy mountains. National and State Parks and Forests ring the city.
Major incorporated suburbs of Tucson include Oro Valley and Marana northwest of the city, Sahuarita south of the city, and South Tucson in an enclave south of downtown. Communities in the vicinity of Tucson (some within or overlapping the city limits) include Casas Adobes, Catalina, Catalina Foothills, Flowing Wells, Green Valley, Tanque Verde, New Pascua, Vail and Benson.
Tucson lies in the borderland, a region that blends the cultures of the United States and Mexico, and has a long history of settlement by ancient Native American peoples, Spanish explorers, and Anglo frontiersmen.
The weather is mild nearly all the time, just right for all kinds of fun outdoor activities.
History of the Caballeros del Sol
As Retold by Charter Members Schuy Lininger and Stub Ashcraft
In the mid 1920’s, two doctors named Huett and Kline who specialized in the care of tubercular (TB) patients saw the need to began touting the great dry heat of Tucson as the perfect place to be for people with lung problems. This need along with the desire of Tucson business people to get more people to move to Tucson eventually evolved into an organization called the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club. Years later, The Visitors & Convention Bureau was added to the professional heading.
For the next 37 years (1926-1963), the Sunshine Climate Club grew as the premier organization to bring and develop new business to Tucson. The organization was funded in part by the Chamber of Commerce. Many of the original “City Fathers” of Tucson served with this group.
As the Tucson Chamber of Commerce grew, both the City and County lacked funding for the Sunshine Climate Club. So, in 1963, two key people – Frank Drachman and Roy Miller convinced the entire Board of Directors of the Sunshine Club to dissolve their Club and become a standing committee in the Tucson Chamber of Commerce. The group would be called the Caballeros Del Sol and Roy Miller (who ran the J.C. Penney store downtown) would become the first El Jefe.
In recent years the Caballeros have continued to honor their mission of bringing new business ventures to Tucson and in representing Tucson to the region, state, and international community even though the group is no longer a standing committee of the Chamber.
Mission Statement
To facilitate and promote business relationships between Tucson, Arizona Communities, neighboring states, and Mexico; Provide a networking and business development vehicle for members; and make periodic trips to communities to promote commerce.
Past El Jefes
A brief look at our past chairmen and chairwomen:
Jim Howard 2008-09
Amy Hammarstrom 2007-08
Doug Wyland 2006-07
Harry Lodge 2005-06
Bob Webb 2004-05
Frank Farias 2003-04
Ken Westenfeld 2002-03
Tom Kiernan 2001-02
Dan Chambers 2000-01
Carol Somers 1999-2000
Fred Baum 1998-99
Hoot Gibson 1997-98
Glenn Garrett 1996-97
Joe Mooney 1995-96
Paul Miles 1994-95
William Richardson 1993-94
Bob Hannon 1992-93
Cliff Bleich 1991-92
Al Frerking 1990-91
Irv Finical 1989-90
John Combs 1988-89
Jim Neihart 1987-88
Larry Brown 1986-87
Ralph Simons 1985-86
Fritz Selby 1984-85
Paul Payne 1983-84
Dick Stringer 1982-83
Doug Sutton 1981-82
Charlie Sewell 1980-81
Robert Thompson 1979-80
Robert Meilbeck 1978-79
Russell Stevick 1977-78
Herb Clark 1976-77
Santry Fuller 1975-76
George Codd 1974-75
Billy Joe Varney 1973-74
Phil Vito 1972-74
Q.J. Robb 1971-72
Schuylar Lininger 1970-71
Max Lininger 1969-70
Max Lininger 1968-69
Fred Vance 1967-68
Joe Metcalf 1966-67
Gilbert Ronstadt 1965-66
Bill Smith 1964-65
Roy J. Miller 1963-64
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