The Early Years

The Arizona Chapter is the state’s first and oldest MOAA affiliate. The chapter traces its roots to the Retired Officers Club, a multi-service group of officers that formed in 1955. In September 1956, the club requested affiliation with The Retired Officers Association (TROA), the predecessor to the Military Officers Association of America.

The Arizona Chapter was chartered by TROA on October 22, 1956, with a membership of 70. The charter lists the following members as the chapter’s first officers:
• Maj. Charles Powell, USAR, President
• Lt. Vernon Pieters, USN, Vice President
• Capt. Wilson Scott, USAF, Secretary-Treasurer
• Lt. Cdr. Michel Sarcone, USN, Chaplain

Standing Committee Chairmen that first year were:
• Rear Adm. Lawrence Leever, USNR, Programs
• Lt. Pieters, Membership
• Lt. Col. David Kurtz, USA, Legislative
• Col. Roy Baber, USAR, Personal Affairs

Those pioneer leaders guided the chapter into the future and laid the foundation for the active organization the Arizona Chapter has become today. Early members included MG Barry Goldwater, USAF, and BG Robert Scott Jr., USAF, author of the well-known memoir God Is My Co-Pilot. Capt. John McCain, USN, (now Arizona Senator John McCain) was a guest speaker at a chapter meeting in the early 1980s and subsequently became a chapter member. Carl Hayden, Arizona’s first U.S. Representative when statehood was granted in 1912 and Senator from 1927 to 1969, was an honorary member of the chapter, as was Ernest McFarland, who served Arizona as U.S Senator, Governor and Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice.

Chapter meetings in the 1950s into the 1980s were held in a variety of Phoenix-area locations, some no longer in existence. Meeting sites included the Williams Air Force Base Officers Club, Beefeaters Restaurant and Alpine Village Restaurant,

A 40th anniversary celebration was held at the Luke Air Force Base Officers Club in 1996 with 130 in attendance. Col. Marvin Harris, TROA Public Relations Officer, was featured speaker, and Arizona Congressman John Shadegg and his wife Shirley were guests. A special commemoration was conducted to honor charter members.

In 2006 the chapter’s golden anniversary was celebrated at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort with Vice Admiral Norb Ryan, MOAA President, as featured speaker. Medal of Honor winner CWO Fred Ferguson and his wife were guests, and total attendance was 146.

Arizona Chapter Activities and Honors Through the Years  

The Arizona Chapter has grown from those original 70 members to 200 at the start of 2009. With the transition from TROA to the Military Officers Association of America, a MOAA charter was issued to the chapter in 2003.

Over the years the chapter developed programs to promote community and military service. Foremost among these is the JROTC Scholarship Program. Scholarships valued at $1,000 each are awarded to deserving JROTC graduates from area high schools who have demonstrated leadership, high moral character and service. Students’ scholarship applications are reviewed by chapter members to select winners. The scholarships are awarded each spring at a chapter meeting. Twenty-five scholarships have been awarded since the program began in 2003. The chapter maintains a special scholarship fund to support the program, with donations from chapter members and community businesses. A spring and fall golf tournament for members and guests is another ongoing source of funding.

A companion to the Scholarship Program is the JROTC Medal Program. Chapter members present Achievement Medals annually to JROTC cadets in the next to last year of studies who have shown outstanding qualities, including exceptional potential for military leadership. Each recipients is selected by the cadet’s JROTC instructor. Presentations take place at a special ceremony at each of the 17 high schools the chapter supports, along with other awards presented to cadets by other military and veterans organizations.

Each year, the chapter provides an Honor Guard as part of the annual Memorial Day commemorative service at the Veterans National Memorial Cemetery in North Phoenix. Members also promote the support of such community programs as the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, Arizona National Guard Family Assistance Program and Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve.

Two chapter members have served on the MOAA National Board of Directors, Col. Chuck Schluter, ARNG (Ret), and Col. Gary Fredricks, USAF (Ret), who is a member of the current board.

The chapter and many members have been recognized for excellence and service. Thirteen chapter members have been inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame since the Hall’s inception in 2001.

Also begun in 2001 was the chapter’s Meritorious Service Award Program for members and spouses who exhibit outstanding service above and beyond that normally expected. Thirty-six individuals have won MSAs since the program began, and many of them have won subsequent awards in the form of Oak Leaf Clusters.

The chapter has received 5-Star Level of Excellence Awards from MOAA and Communication Awards for the chapter print newsletter, web site and electronic newsletter.

The Arizona Chapter is proud of its long history of service to members, veterans and the community and is dedicated to building on that tradition every year.

For  some more chronology and photographic history, please visit our Events Scrapbook page.