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- 10. Grower shares money, name for ag lab in Yuma
BY JOYCE LOBECK
YUMA SUN BUSINESS EDITOR
Grower and developer Glen G. Curtis flashed his trademark grin and remarked that "you can't take it with you."
So he's done the next best thing and left a legacy that will benefit agriculture in Yuma County and around the state for years to come.
Curtis and his family kicked off a fundraising campaign for a new research laboratory at the Yuma Agricultural Center by contributing $250,000. The center is part of the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences presence in Yuma County.
For his generosity, the building will be named in Curtis' honor.
"I really appreciate this honor," Curtis said to a standing ovation when he took the microphone during a groundbreaking ceremony for the project Wednesday.
"This is a great day for Yuma," Curtis said from a wheelchair. He added that his family has had close ties with the UA, with several of his children and grandchildren having graduated from there, a great-grandchild currently is a UA student and the newest member of the family, a week-old girl, "probably will go there, too."
CALS Dean Eugene Sander thanked Curtis for his support. "Without the foresight and generosity of the Curtis family, we wouldn't be here. You've also given us your good name to be on the building ... the use of your name to advance agriculture here."
Sander told the audience, "Think of yourselves as a prominent part of UA. You have the beginnings of a minibranch campus of UA here."
To date, the Yuma community has raised $1 million for the new facility, with Robert Barkley and Rocky Curtis serving as fundraising co-chairmen.
Other benefactors include Vic Smith, Tom and Mary Lou Edwards, Gary Pasquinelli, Barkley, Gus Nunez of Imperial Date Gardens, Joe Soldwedal, Dune Company, RDO Equipment, Bruce Williams of Amigo Farms, Keithly-Williams Seeds, Eddie Harrison, Montie Lee, Bill Daily of Daily Farms, Arizona Crop Improvement Association, Sidney Tanaka of SMT Farms, Henry Meyer of Meyer Farms, Ray Hancock of Dome Valley Farms, Neil Bowman of Coronation Peak Ranches, Cody Naquin, Najeh Edais, Gray and Terkelsen and Jim Cuming.
The university will match the funds toward the project's cost of $4 million, said Jim Davis, director of development and alumni affairs for CALS. That will be the cost to finish and equip a metal building that was acquired from the Nevada Test Facility, dismantled and relocated to the Yuma Valley Agricultural Center at 6425 W. 8th St.
When completed, it will provide a state-of-the-art research laboratory for the UA faculty based in Yuma County, replacing a 50-year-old facility.
Construction could start by fall and be completed next year.
"I want to say thank you to the Curtis family and the rest of the donors," said Yuma County Supervisor Casey Prochaska. "This will be our future and where our children will be educated."
UA research conducted in the Yuma area since 1906 has helped build the agriculture industry here that has become recognized around the world as the "best," she said. The new facility will help continue that tradition, she added. - Updated: May 2, 2006
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