This article is a follow-up to our last article. In it, we highlight Jim’s life and community service to the Town of Oro Valley.
Jim’s Early Life
The idea to incorporate Oro Valley began with a conversation at a service station
The LOVE article on April 8, illustrated Jim’s dedication and long, hard work in the effort to incorporate the town. How did it start? An article in the Arizona Cracker Barrel, April 1982 states: One morning in 1969, a Country Club (Estates) resident was getting his car serviced at the Mobile station at Ina and Oracle when a man approached him asking, “Aren’t you Jack Spaulding?” “Yes, I am,” said Jack. “I’m Jim Kriegh,” said the man, “and I’ve been thinking it might be a good idea to incorporate and make a town out of Oro Valley.” “Why?” asked Jack. “The main reason,” said Jim, “is Tucson. It’s gone about as far to the East as it can go and you can bet it’s going to spread to the North and Northwest, and there goes country living.” “Country living is why I am here,” said Jack. “What do we do?” Through persistence, patience and time, Jim’s dream of incorporation became a reality.
The ”No property tax” promise
One of the main opposition arguments to incorporation was that “Our property taxes will go up.” The incorporation proponents assured the opposition that Oro Valley would never have a property tax (Oro Valley residents pay property tax to Pima County). Oro Valley relies on sales tax (at the time of incorporation it was 2%) and revenue that now additionally includes its legal share of state and county taxes, and Town of Oro Valley licenses, permits and fees, and grants.
Oro Valley’s first General Plan – Core Value: Protecting the environment
A preeminent factor in the first General Plan for Oro Valley was environmental concerns that were very near and dear to Jim’s heart. It listed objectives as:
In 1976 after the town’s incorporation, Jim was appointed the town’s engineer, a volunteer position at that time. He was elected and served on the town council from 1978 until 1981. Jim continued to work in the field of engineering, including overseeing the construction of the Hilton El Conquistador Resort. In 1989 he became the “paid” town engineer (by appointment) until he retired in 1991.
Oro Valley’s oldest park named in Jim Kriegh’s honor
On April 18, 2001, coinciding with Oro Valley’s birthday, the town honored Jim by naming its oldest park in his honor [ed note: Prior to that it was named for a Pima County Supervisor, Dennis Weaver]. This naming was particularly fitting as it was the park that Jim regularly frequented with his dog and coupled with his love of nature. James D. Kriegh Park is located at 23 W. Calle Concordia in the vicinity of Jim’s former home. Jim was both surprised and humbled at receiving the honor.
Jim’s wife, Marjorie, was the first town historian
Jim was a huge champion of community volunteerism. When speaking about the town’s origin and staff, Jim said, “The reason this town is so successful is because we had volunteers from the beginning to make it successful.” In the early Oro Valley days before a revenue stream was established many key positions were on a volunteer basis. Jim served as a volunteer in many capacities through the years. Jim and Marjorie began collecting and archiving documents, photos and articles, in an effort to keep the pre-incorporation history of Oro Valley alive. Marjorie was the first designated town historian and Jim continued her effort after her passing.
Oro Valley lost its founding father on October 10, 2007 at the age of 78
Jim’s legacy will live on and is one that the Oro Valley Historical Society wants to keep at the forefront.
Future articles will include Jim’s creation of the Oro Valley Historical Society as well as his livelihood of rock and meteorite collecting.
If you would like to hear a past interview with Jim visit: www.ovhistory.org. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to “Find what you need”. Then select “Videos.”
References for the article:
Oro Valley Magazine April 2006.
Arizona Daily Star October 13, 2007
The Explorer Oct. 15, 2014
The Explorer April 25, 2001
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Interested in local history? Stop by Steam Pump Ranch on April 24 for our last outdoor tour of the season. The Oro Valley Historical Society presents docent-guided tours from 10 a.m. to Noon. No reservations are required for the 50-minute tour that leaves on the hour and every fifteen minutes thereafter. Tours leave from the OVHS tent that is located just south of the Farmer’s Market. Suggested donation is $5 to assist in the cost of our displays and exhibits and ongoing programs. We hope to see you!
The Oro Valley Historical Society is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit volunteer organization, whose mission is “To promote research, preservation, education, and dissemination of historical information related to the greater Oro Valley area”. We invite you to become a member or volunteer. Visit us at ovhistory.org and help keep Oro Valley history alive!
Jim’s Early Life
Jim was a native of Kansas born in Dodge City on December 29, 1928. “I don’t think he ever lost the small-town boy in him from Kansas,” noted Dick Eggerding in a past interview. Dick, along with Jim and Pat Spoerl, founded the Oro Valley Historical Society (to be addressed in a future article).
Education and relocating to Tucson
Jim attended the University of Colorado and earned an undergraduate degree in civil engineering followed by a master’s degree. Jim taught at Boulder and then followed an engineering colleague to Tucson.
Education and relocating to Tucson
Jim attended the University of Colorado and earned an undergraduate degree in civil engineering followed by a master’s degree. Jim taught at Boulder and then followed an engineering colleague to Tucson.
In 1958, Jim took on a teaching position at the University of Arizona. Jim met his future wife, Marjorie, in the casita development where they both lived. They wed in 1960 . Homes at that time, typically included the laundry room as part of the kitchen. If not for Marjorie’s dislike for that design feature, Jim might not have ended up in the then unincorporated area northwest of Tucson. Their realtor was able to meet Marjorie’s requests (sans laundry in the kitchen ) at what became their lifelong home on Calle Concordia. They reared two children, Kevin and Kathleen in our town. The couple were loving partners for 31 years until Marjorie’s death in 1991.
The idea to incorporate Oro Valley began with a conversation at a service station
The LOVE article on April 8, illustrated Jim’s dedication and long, hard work in the effort to incorporate the town. How did it start? An article in the Arizona Cracker Barrel, April 1982 states: One morning in 1969, a Country Club (Estates) resident was getting his car serviced at the Mobile station at Ina and Oracle when a man approached him asking, “Aren’t you Jack Spaulding?” “Yes, I am,” said Jack. “I’m Jim Kriegh,” said the man, “and I’ve been thinking it might be a good idea to incorporate and make a town out of Oro Valley.” “Why?” asked Jack. “The main reason,” said Jim, “is Tucson. It’s gone about as far to the East as it can go and you can bet it’s going to spread to the North and Northwest, and there goes country living.” “Country living is why I am here,” said Jack. “What do we do?” Through persistence, patience and time, Jim’s dream of incorporation became a reality.
The ”No property tax” promise
One of the main opposition arguments to incorporation was that “Our property taxes will go up.” The incorporation proponents assured the opposition that Oro Valley would never have a property tax (Oro Valley residents pay property tax to Pima County). Oro Valley relies on sales tax (at the time of incorporation it was 2%) and revenue that now additionally includes its legal share of state and county taxes, and Town of Oro Valley licenses, permits and fees, and grants.
Oro Valley’s first General Plan – Core Value: Protecting the environment
A preeminent factor in the first General Plan for Oro Valley was environmental concerns that were very near and dear to Jim’s heart. It listed objectives as:
- Insure that development is compatible with the area’s topography, natural landscape and resources
- Promote physical forms which are in harmony with the natural environment and reflect a design quality appropriate to the area
- Protect the natural beauty and qualities of the existing desert environment
- Encourage the preservation of the mountains, foothills, and hillsides
- Promote efficient resource utilization through careful design of the physical environment
- Provide for a comprehensive, interconnecting, open space system based on natural environmental features such as the natural wash system and other areas of significant vegetation and wildlife
- Plan limited and contained locations for economic activity that respect the characteristics of existing and planned land uses
In 1976 after the town’s incorporation, Jim was appointed the town’s engineer, a volunteer position at that time. He was elected and served on the town council from 1978 until 1981. Jim continued to work in the field of engineering, including overseeing the construction of the Hilton El Conquistador Resort. In 1989 he became the “paid” town engineer (by appointment) until he retired in 1991.
Oro Valley’s oldest park named in Jim Kriegh’s honor
On April 18, 2001, coinciding with Oro Valley’s birthday, the town honored Jim by naming its oldest park in his honor [ed note: Prior to that it was named for a Pima County Supervisor, Dennis Weaver]. This naming was particularly fitting as it was the park that Jim regularly frequented with his dog and coupled with his love of nature. James D. Kriegh Park is located at 23 W. Calle Concordia in the vicinity of Jim’s former home. Jim was both surprised and humbled at receiving the honor.
Jim’s wife, Marjorie, was the first town historian
Jim was a huge champion of community volunteerism. When speaking about the town’s origin and staff, Jim said, “The reason this town is so successful is because we had volunteers from the beginning to make it successful.” In the early Oro Valley days before a revenue stream was established many key positions were on a volunteer basis. Jim served as a volunteer in many capacities through the years. Jim and Marjorie began collecting and archiving documents, photos and articles, in an effort to keep the pre-incorporation history of Oro Valley alive. Marjorie was the first designated town historian and Jim continued her effort after her passing.
Oro Valley lost its founding father on October 10, 2007 at the age of 78
Jim’s legacy will live on and is one that the Oro Valley Historical Society wants to keep at the forefront.
Future articles will include Jim’s creation of the Oro Valley Historical Society as well as his livelihood of rock and meteorite collecting.
If you would like to hear a past interview with Jim visit: www.ovhistory.org. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to “Find what you need”. Then select “Videos.”
References for the article:
Oro Valley Magazine April 2006.
Arizona Daily Star October 13, 2007
The Explorer Oct. 15, 2014
The Explorer April 25, 2001
---
Interested in local history? Stop by Steam Pump Ranch on April 24 for our last outdoor tour of the season. The Oro Valley Historical Society presents docent-guided tours from 10 a.m. to Noon. No reservations are required for the 50-minute tour that leaves on the hour and every fifteen minutes thereafter. Tours leave from the OVHS tent that is located just south of the Farmer’s Market. Suggested donation is $5 to assist in the cost of our displays and exhibits and ongoing programs. We hope to see you!
The Oro Valley Historical Society is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit volunteer organization, whose mission is “To promote research, preservation, education, and dissemination of historical information related to the greater Oro Valley area”. We invite you to become a member or volunteer. Visit us at ovhistory.org and help keep Oro Valley history alive!
