Glen Curtis, noted philanthropist and 2002 Citizen of Year, dies

BY JEFFREY GAUTREAUX, SUN STAFF WRITER
Dec 31, 2006, 6:51 pm


Glen G. Curtis, one of Yuma’s most successful and generous business leaders, died Saturday at his home in Yuma. The noted citrus farmer, developer and philanthropist was 85 years old.

Glen T. “Spike” Curtis said his father had been suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease for the past few years and passed away at 6:20 p.m. Saturday. The elder Curtis was with his wife, Annette, his 12 children and their families at the time of his death.

“He was just a real charitable and giving person,” Spike Curtis said. “He gave a lot of money to the Yuma Community Food Bank, the Catholic Church, the University of Arizona, the Catholic school. But he gave a lot of money anonymously, too. He was just a very charitable person. That’s what he liked doing.”

Spike Curtis said the family is planning a private burial Thursday with a memorial service at 2 p.m. Friday and a wake to follow that service. Spike Curtis said the family is “getting by.”

“We’re doing good,” he said.

In a life filled with accolades thanks to his generosity, Glen Curtis was chosen as The Sun’s 2002 Citizen of the Year and the Benefactor of the Year and Philanthropist of the Year at the 2004 Yuma Community Foundation Heart of Yuma Awards. He came to Yuma in 1950, helping to grow 20,000 acres of citrus as well as to develop residential and commercial areas throughout the county.

The final project Glen Curtis worked on is still ongoing — the ambitious Coyote Wash development in Wellton. The development, now selling in stages three and four, has plans to add a championship golf course and more homes in the future.

Dunbar Norton, who worked for many years on economic development in Yuma, said Glen Curtis was always very supportive of those endeavors. “I have a great deal of respect for the man,” he said.

When asked why the man gave so generously, Norton recalled being among a group having coffee who asked Glen Curtis just that question. “He said it was based on the premise that you pay back,” Norton said. “You have earned, you owe, you pay back. If you can’t give back dollars, you give back time.”

Glen Curtis’ commitment to Yuma was honored in April 2006 with the naming of the Glen G. Curtis Agricultural Research Building at the Yuma Valley Experiment Farm, 6425 W. 8th St. The Curtis family pledged $250,000 to kick off the fundraising campaign to develop the 20,000-square-foot building.

Glen G. Curtis was born June 5, 1921, in San Diego. He served as a U.S. Air Force pilot in World War II and retired from the service as a major to San Diego with his first wife, the late Elena Orendain Curtis. In 1949, they moved to the Baja peninsula to farm, and it was the farmers there who introduced the Curtises to Yuma.

In 1950, Glen Curtis moved here and opened a real estate brokerage office focusing on agriculture properties. He and Elena would raise 12 children together.

Glen Curtis developed the citrus business as Curtis, Woodman and Roach. The development side of the business grew as well. Today, Glen Curtis Inc. sells commercial and residential properties throughout the county, and its sister company, Glen Curtis Development Inc., plans and develops those properties.

Glen Curtis donated $2 million to Yuma Catholic High School to help build an athletic complex that is named in honor of Elena Orendain Curtis, who passed away in 1987. In 1990, Glen Curtis married Annette Lux Fitzgerald. Between them, they had 15 children, 42 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Father John Friel, the founding president of Yuma Catholic, said Glen Curtis was excited that the school and the city of Yuma could both use the athletic fields at the complex, so he gave $1 million to the project. Friel said that when Glen Curtis heard that the fields would be done on time, but the school may not be, he gave another million to get the school done as well.

Friel said Glen Curtis was aware that people had helped him, so he wanted to help others. “Glen was a good, good soul,” he said.

According to a letter written by one of his daughters to nominate him as the Citizen of the Year, Glen Curtis in 2002 alone gave $2.5 million to local charities, such as the Yuma Community Food Bank, Assistance League of Yuma, Crossroads Mission, Hospice of Yuma and Yuma Catholic.

Rocky Curtis said his father was one of the "good old timers" and as generous as they come. He said his father supported all kinds of groups including little league baseball, girls softball and the Catholic Church. "He loved this community, and he loved his family and friends," Rocky Curtis said.

Jeffrey Gautreaux can be reached at jgautreaux@yumasun.com or 539-6858.