Builder of much, mentor to many: Flagstaff honors life of Paul Babbitt Jr.

Remembered as a calm, thoughtful, humble and deliberate public servant who listened first before offering a carefully considered response, Babbitt believed public service was a calling and a passion, according to his family. He served on the Flagstaff City Council from 1976 to 1984, the last four of those years as mayor. Later, he represented District 1 on the Coconino County Board of Supervisors for 18 years. As a young man, he served in the U.S. Army.

“Paul was forward-thinking and envisioned a modern future for Flagstaff, often challenging established ways of doing things. He did this while maintaining a wry smile and dry wit,” said Coconino County Supervisor Patrice Horstman, who joined his mayoral campaign just out of law school, during the celebration. “He was a smart and serious guy, but he knew how to chuckle at himself, and his kind manner put people at ease.”

Former Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans shared her memory of Babbitt as a mentor: “Just seven weeks ago, I sat with Mayor Babbitt and we discussed the connection between statesmanship and empathy, statesmanship and community, statesmanship and what it means to be of service to others, statesmanship and the importance of laying foundations that future generations could build on. It is said that ‘a society grows great when men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit,’” she said to the gathering. “As citizens of Flagstaff, we do not have to look far for examples of the ‘many trees’ that Mayor Babbitt planted for us.”

Speakers recalled some of Babbitt’s accomplishments, including building the new city hall, the Flagstaff City-Coconino-County Public Library and Wheeler Park in downtown Flagstaff. He also is recognized for saving Buffalo Park from highway development and protecting Dry Lake for future generations.

“Looking around, I can see what Paul meant to this community,” said Paul’s son-in-law Michael Pierce, husband to Marney Babbitt-Pierce. “The stories and tributes I’ve heard speak volumes of his impact as a public servant. Yet, my connection to Paul is different. I knew him as Marney’s dad — a sweet, caring person with a consistently calm demeanor who was content to be in the moment with you. His presence was peaceful and easy, and time with him was a respite from a world racing toward the next big thing.”

“Our goal for today was to reflect upon a complex life of a pillar of the community -- a life well-lived -- and to create a service that reflected upon this man’s legacy and how the community continues that legacy,” said Paul’s son, Paul Babbitt III, who facilitated the celebration.

“This has been amazing,” said longtime Flagstaff businessman and Paul’s cousin Eddy Babbitt of the gathering. “What’s left of ‘Old Flagstaff’ is here today. I haven’t seen this many family members since the Babbitt family reunion at the Babbitt Ranches’ 125th anniversary in 2011.”

Former Arizona Gov. Bruce Babbitt attended the event with his wife, Hattie.

“Growing up in Flagstaff with my brother was a great adventure," he said. "And his dedication to public service has always inspired me to follow his example.”

Paul’s younger brother, Charles, a retired Phoenix attorney, said Paul became his mentor: “Paul was a great skier and an accomplished fly fisherman. But first and foremost, he was a wonderful family man, a strong and staunch civic leader who worked well with his colleagues and did a lot of work on behalf of the Flagstaff community.”

Paul was the third child in the family of six.

“One of the great memories I had of Paul and all of us when we were very young was during the winter storm of 1949 -- the biggest snowstorm in Flagstaff’s history,” Charles said. “All the schools were closed. Paul, Bruce, Kenneth and I were all at home and it was just this amazing winter playground. We built tunnels, sledded off the roofs of the houses and down Leroux Street. And we built bonfires out of old Christmas trees!”

“Paul represented authenticity and he lived authentically,” said his cousin Billy Cordasco, president of Babbitt Ranches. “It was incredibly meaningful to me to see both [the late Jim Babbitt] and Paul in the mornings having coffee in downtown Flagstaff. They represented a generation that could almost touch Arizona’s pioneering beginnings yet were deeply committed to setting up the future for the benefit of generations to come.”

“His knowledge of history for the family and for Babbitt Ranches was second to none,” said cousin Susan Babbitt. “We were on the Babbitt Ranches Board of Directors for a number of years together. I’m very grateful for sharing that time with him.”

“Paul was a really quiet man,” said relative Bobby D’Mura and Babbitt Ranches board member. “He listened. And when he spoke, you listened, because he would always have something very insightful, very well thought out to say,”

“I loved that man,” said retired Coconino County Juvenile Court Judge Margie McCullough, a relative of Babbitt. “He was just so kind, so intelligent, so thoughtful.”

Community members who paid tribute to Paul included Arizona Regent designee and former Coconino County Supervisor Liz Archuleta.

“As a young supervisor, Paul immediately and genuinely welcomed me as his colleague," she said. "I was fortunate to tap into his wealth of public service experience, history and knowledge. We laid the foundation for Coconino County to be innovative, responsive and visionary.”

Coconino County Manager Steve Peru said Paul’s guidance, mentorship and friendship has had a lasting influence on him through his own public service journey: “While most of my career has been in local government at Coconino County, I predict that whenever that wraps up, I’ll continue to be involved in public affairs, just as Paul was. He will be so very missed.”

“Paul was a mentor and friend to so many, including me,” said Jeff Meilbeck, retired CEO and general manager of the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA). “His wit was a joy, and the quality of his heart made him a man to care about and respect. I am as grateful that I knew him as I am saddened at his passing.”

Former Clarkdale Town Councilmember Bill Regner sought Paul’s counsel on assisting Clarkdale through some significant transitions.

“As the speakers today shared, Paul would listen intently and quietly and then offer some wisdom that would either validate your conclusions or give you pause to reconsider them. It was such a gift to me to have this wonderful resource and his mentorship when I was so hungry for it.”

Babbitt’s grandfather, C.J., was one of the five Babbitt brothers who came to Arizona in 1886 from Cincinnati, Ohio, to become cattle ranchers. Since then, the family has been instrumental in building Flagstaff, operating one of the largest and longest-running family-owned ranches in Arizona, establishing trading posts and other businesses, promoting education and the arts, serving in the military, supporting community needs through their foundations, and leading as elected officials.

“The most important part of Paul’s strength is that he truly loved this community and loved working in government,” said former Arizona Congressman Tom O’Halleran. “He considered everyone as partners. We will all miss Paul Babbitt, but we will never forget him.”

“Mayor Babbitt was one of the greatest statesmen our community has known. And I will be forever grateful for his mentorship and friendship,” Evans said.

“We lost a giant of a man, but his legacy and love of our community remains,” Horstman said. “With all his accomplishments, his greatest was his partnership with his wife Mary, and raising their children, Marney and Paul.”

Paul, 83, died at his Clarkdale home, on the morning of April 4 after a battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his family, listening to Tennessee Waltz, which he enjoyed dancing to with Mary in their kitchen.

“He left as he lived, gently, gracefully and thoughtfully,” she said. “Without fuss.”

Flags around Arizona were lowered to half-staff in his memory on Sunday.