Flagstaff,
Arizona was the birthplace of Adam Diaz in September 2, 1909, but he
has been a resident of Phoenix for 87 years. He began working with George Luhrs
in the Luhrs Hotel as a messenger boy with Western Union. From this humble beginning,
after promotion to an elevator operator, he became Superintendent of Properties
for the Luhrs properties until his retirement. Adam Diaz is noted for having
been elected as Phoenix's first Mexican American City Councilman in1948. He
served four years on the council and one year as vice-mayor of the city of Phoenix.
Later Diaz served for five years in the Phoenix Elementary School District number
one. Adam Diaz has been involved in key projects over the years that made contributions
to the downtown Phoenix area. Diaz assisted the government efforts to renew
the urban area with clean up and restoration of many downtown buildings and
residential areas. He assisted with fund-raising and providing materials of
the 1890 vintage for the restoration of Rosson House, to which the
Luhrs
properties donated various materials and furniture. Diaz served on the board
of directors of two community based organizations: The Friendly House and Chicanos
Por La Causa. Adam Diaz served actively in several organizations, commissions,
and committees: League for United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Arizona
Centennial Commission, the Governor's Conference on Youth, the Boy Scouts board
of directors, and Vesta Club. He was honored with the 1994 Profiles of Success
Hall of Fame award from Valle Del Sol, Inc.; the 1995 Valley of the Sun Humanitarian
Award; and recognized in the 1999 Historymakers Gala V by the Historical League,
Inc. of the Arizona Historical Society.
Adam
Diaz. City Councilman and Community Service
