Glendale Daily Planet

Promote Your Page Too

FACEBOOK! JOIN US!

GLENDALE MAYOR, M&I BANK PRESIDENT KICK OFF FUNDRAISING EFFORT TO RESTORE HISTORIC GLENDALE LANDMARK  

Historic Thunderbird Tower Restoration at 59th Avenue and Greenway Road

Photograph of the tower from the WW-2 era Fortunately for historians, there are hundreds of photographs covering the entire history of the base, many taken by Life magazine photographer John Swope, whose wife, Dorothy McGuire, and other stars, including Jimmy Stewart, Hoagie Carmichael, Leland Hayward and Henry Fonda, put up funds to start this  school for military pilots. Photo courtesy  TSIM Archives

The Thunderbird School of Global Management is widely recognized as the number one school in the world for international business programs.  Thunderbird has been a valuable community partner and one of our cities’ most historically significant institutions.  The school is currently working on restoring a key piece of their history, the Historic Tower Building. 

Thunderbird Tower is one of Glendale’s most significant landmarks and served as the air control tower at Thunderbird Field, an airbase used by the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. By the end of the war, more than 10,000 pilots from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and China had trained there.

Remnants of that earlier time — including the tower, barracks and two airplane hangars — can still be seen at the former airfield, which is now home to Thunderbird School of Global Management, the first graduate management school in the United States focused solely on international business.

 In 1945, the war was over and the field had been deactivated.  Thunderbird’s founders had the vision to establish a school that would focus on foreign affairs.  The tower building served as a central hub of activity for the campus for sixty years as the school emerged into the highly acclaimed institution that it is today.  In 2006, the tower needed to be closed due to structural damage. 

In 2007, students led an initiative to restore the tower.  The outside of the tower will be restored to resemble the historic charm and character of its glory days.  The interior will include environmentally friendly elements with the goal to become LEED certified.  The newly restored tower building will feature two common areas, a pub with an attached game room, the Thundershop, the Veterans/Alumni Gallery and a student kitchen. 

Mayor Elaine Scruggs attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the tower restoration in November of 2009.  At this time she was moved by the history and tradition of both the school and the tower building.  She felt that the school’s extraordinary story was one that the community needed to hear and she made a commitment to develop a community outreach and fundraising campaign to raise awareness of the prestige, history and tradition of Thunderbird and also let Glendale residents know of the opportunity to contribute to this project. 

Last week, Mayor Elaine Scruggs, along with M&I Bank Arizona Regional President
 Stephen Johnson, kicked off a fundraising campaign to try and raise the remaining 
$450,000 needed for the restoration of Thunderbird Tower. Here  we see the  first
 check for 500 dollars the M&I Bank  contributed  to kick the campaign off.
  -Photo by Ed Sharpe Glendale Daly Planet

Over $2 million has been raised toward the restoration of the tower.  Last week, Mayor Elaine Scruggs, along with M&I Bank Arizona Regional President Stephen Johnson, kicked off a fundraising campaign to try and raise the remaining $450,000 needed for the restoration of Thunderbird Tower.  

Glendale residents and businesses have the opportunity to contribute to this project and also have their name recognized in the newly restored tower.  The name of each contributor will be posted on the donor wall inside the common area.  There are additional naming and recognition opportunities available based on the level of donation. 

Thunderbird School for Global Management archivist Nelda Crowell provided a history lesson of Thunderbird Field for the fundraising kickoff. Here, she points to a painting of the tower.

Thunderbird School for Global Management archivist Nelda Crowell  provided some history of Thunderbird Field, an airbase opened by the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941 to provide training for pilots from 26 countries, including American, British, Canadian and Chinese. By the end of World War II, more than 10,000 pilots had been trained there.

Fortunately for historians, there are hundreds of photographs covering the entire history of the base, many taken by Life magazine photographer John Swope, whose wife, Dorothy McGuire, and other stars, including Jimmy Stewart, Hoagie Carmichael, Leland Hayward and Henry Fonda, put up funds to start this  school for military pilots. 

Ray Kultala explained, "So many people in Glendale do not even know of the world famous Thunderbird School of Global Management that is in our own city".  Glendale residents Ray and Winnie Kultala  became honorary co-chairs for the residential development for the tower fund raising project.

Donations are being accepted through the Glendale Office of the Mayor.  All donations to the tower restoration project are tax deductible since Thunderbird is a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation recognized under section 501(c)3 of the IRS code.  All necessary information for making a contribution is on the Donation Form below. 

If you would like to contribute to this important effort and become a part of the history of Thunderbird School of Global Management, please mail this form along with your check so your name can be properly recognized on the donor wall.  Donations will be accepted through August 31, 2010. 

Completion is scheduled for no later than Oct. 1, 2010 with a grand opening party slated for November 2011.

• Donation Form (pdf)

Become part of history itself! - Thunderbird school is also offering naming and recognition opportunities. Imagine the amazement of people years  from now  when they see you name on a table or other item when they come to visit!

How can you help us save a Tower, restore a legacy and build a future?

Giving options are available at all levels and include:

• Individual Gifts (purchase your piece, large or small, of the revived Tower)
• Corporate Sponsorships & Matching Gifts (find out if your organization will match your support)
• Donate Alumni/Veterans memorabilia
  (help fill the gallery with objects that tell the Thunderbird story)
• Organize your chapter to participate in the Alumni Chapter Challenge
• Organize a Class Gift
• Participate in the Tower Fundraising Gala
• Give us your suggestions and ideas on how to achieve our goals

PICK THE SQUARE FOOT YOU WANT TO BE "YOURS"!

To buy a specific  portion of  the TOWER you need to contact the school Info provided below.

Thunderbird school is offering naming and recognition opportunities, please work directly with the school for that. You can buy square footage online at www.thunderbird.edu/tower

Businesses or residents can write a check payable to the “Historic Thunderbird Tower Restoration,” which can be mailed or dropped off at the mayor's office, 5850 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, AZ 85301.

For more information, call 623-930-2260, or visit the website at www.thunderbird.edu/tower or www.thunderbirdtower.com.


To see some photographs of the construction project goto www.thunderbirdtower.com

Glendale mayor Elaine Scruggs read a proclamation that will be presented at council
 declaring the month of June as Thunderbird Tower Restoration Month. To the left
 Councilman Steve Frate of the Cholla district and to the right Vice Mayor Manny Martenez.
 -Photo by Ed Sharpe Glendale Daly Planet

Caption Needed