REFERENCE TITLE: Terry Wheeler; death resolution

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session 2020

HR 2008

Introduced by Representatives Cook: Shope

 

A RESOLUTION

 

On the death of Terence O. Wheeler.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Terence O. Wheeler, former mayor of Globe and a leader in the Arizona cattle industry for more than half a century, died on March 25, 2020 in Globe, Arizona at the age of 84.

Terry Wheeler was born in Tucson on October 28, 1935 to Oswin and Catherine Wheeler.  In 1953 he graduated from Tucson High School, where he was on the gymnastics team.  He went on to attend the University of Arizona College of Agriculture, where he helped found the university's intercollegiate rodeo team.  He received a bachelor's degree in animal science and range/watershed management in 1958.

Following his college graduation, Terry pursued a career in cattle and range management with the Bureau of Indian Affairs at San Carlos.  His work with the BIA took him to North Dakota and to the Navajo Reservation in Chinle, Arizona.  He later served as the University of Arizona cooperative extension agent for the San Carlos Apache Tribe and for Gila County.  He subsequently worked as a consultant in range management and reclamation for ranchers, tribes, mining companies and other landholders throughout Arizona and the Southwest.  Beginning in the 1980's, Terry was a leading advocate for the holistic range management methodologies developed by Allan Savory for reversing desertification and reclaiming grazing lands, a position that took him to Africa and the Middle East as part of the United States State Department's Agency for International Development and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

In more recent years, Terry managed ranches in Colorado and Arizona, and he eventually purchased and operated the Jones Ranch located just north of Globe, where he became an active and involved member of the Gila County community.  After serving nine years as a Globe city councilman, Terry continued his exemplary public service as Mayor of Globe from 2011 through 2016.

Despite the demands of his ranching ventures, Terry Wheeler served various national, state and local professional organizations in such capacities as president of the Gila County Cattle Growers Association and as a member of the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association, the National Indian Cattle Growers Association, the Society for Range Management and the Arizona Town Hall.  Passionate about protecting the rights of western cattlemen and public land use, he made many trips to Washington, D.C. to meet with congressmen on their behalf.  Terry was active throughout his adult life in numerous volunteer organizations, his parish council, local schools, little league baseball and 4-H. He served in the United States Navy (Reserves and Active Duty) from 1952 to 1961.

A loving and devoted husband and father, Terry is survived by his wife, Diana, his six children, Kevin (Rebecca), Kathleen (Keith), Daniel (Leslie), Diane, Nora (Dale) and Eileen, his 13 grandchildren and his six great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are his brother, William (Patty), his sister, Ellen (David), and his former wife, Anita.  He is also survived by three stepchildren, Frank (Lee), Shaunna and her daughter, Emily, and Marty (Susie).  He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and fellow citizens of the great Globe community.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona:

That the Members of the House of Representatives sincerely regret the passing of Terence Wheeler and extend their deepest sympathies to his surviving family members.