Remembering Joel D. Valdez

Foundations

Jan 1

Written By Duffy

In December, of 2010, a generous gift agreement was made between the Community Finance Corporation (“CFC”) and The University of Arizona Foundation fund. Two CFC members of the board, Michael Hammond and Kendall Bert, spearheaded the movement to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of Joel D. Valdez. The intent was to illustrate how success can be achieved through hard work, dedication and thinking outside of the box. Their vision for creating this scholarship was also to set in place an example of how Mr. Valdez’s leadership, integrity and humility can act as a model for students in their lives and future careers.

In 2014, a bust was created to honor Mr. Valdez for his 52 years of public service, including 16 years as Tucson City Manager, and 20 years as the UA Vice President of Business Affairs. The bust resides in the Student Union Memorial Center, which can be seen from the second floor when looking down from the Pearl Harbor Memorial. The bust reads “While serving under four university presidents, Joel D. Valdez oversaw the largest construction projects in the history of the University and embraced innovative and creative financing methods for capital projects such as the Student Union Memorial Center. He provided immeasurable support of diversity on campus through hiring, mentoring, educating, and encouraging employees and students to achieve their full potential.”

Mr. Valdez graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. degree in Education and later studied at the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University’s Senior Managers in Government Program. He believed that reading was the key to everyone’s success in life. He’d always say, “The answers to all of your questions are out there, all you have to do is read”. His father didn’t graduate from high school but used the resources from the Tucson Main Library to educate himself, which allowed him to start a successful import/export company. His father’s influence sparked his passion for education, and he gained the understanding that anyone can reach their potential by educating themselves. Because of Mr. Valdez’s unwavering support of the public library system, the Tucson Main Library was named in his honor in 2002.

Recipients of the Joel D. Valdez Scholarship should understand wholeheartedly that it is an honor to be a part of such a special legacy.

Remember…