May 2025
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Scottsdale has lost one of its most iconic and enduring residents with the passing of Paul Messinger, a lifelong public servant, community champion and beloved friend whose legacy shaped the city in countless ways. He was 95.
Messinger and his family were instrumental in advocating for the Scottsdale Heritage Connection, a dedicated research center for local history that opened in 2019 at the Civic Center Library.
Among his many contributions to preserving local heritage, Messinger helped found the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame in 1994 – an honor he shared with several other civic leaders, including Don Ruff and Art DeCabooter. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame the following year and received its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.
Messinger was also a gifted storyteller and a keeper of Scottsdale’s living history. For years, he wrote a popular, memoir-style history column for The Arizona Republic. He compiled many of those columns into two published books, the second of which was released in 2023 – an impressive feat completed when he was well into his 90s.
Born in 1929, Messinger arrived in Scottsdale as a child and grew up working on his family’s farm near Miller and Indian School roads. A graduate of Scottsdale High School’s class of 1948, he married his high school sweetheart, Cora Ross, in 1950. Together, they raised two sons, Ken and David, and built a family legacy of service and compassion, establishing Messinger Mortuary in 1959 on the very land he had once farmed. They also operated Scottsdale’s first ambulance service – an example of their deep commitment to community care.
Messinger’s civic involvement was vast and heartfelt. Some of the groups he shared his time and talents with included:
- Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library
- Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce
- Scottsdale Historical Society
- The Scottsdale Charros
- The Elks Club
- The Lions Club
- Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West
In 1971, Messinger was appointed to the Scottsdale City Council and went on to serve a full term until 1976. During his time on the council, Scottsdale saw transformational change, including the expansion of city parks, the creation of the city’s water department, the opening of the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, and early development of the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt – projects that continue to benefit residents today. He later served in the Arizona State Legislature, representing Scottsdale’s District 28 from 1979 to 1985.
Messinger also played a significant role in honoring Scottsdale’s military heroes. He was instrumental in establishing the Scottsdale Memorial for the Fallen, serving on the committee that worked for over a decade to bring the vision to life and generously contributing to make it a reality. The monument stands as a permanent tribute to Scottsdale residents who gave their lives in military service.
Paul lost his beloved wife and partner, Cora, in 2020. Yet he remained active and engaged, always ready to lend his encyclopedic memory, infectious enthusiasm, and generous spirit to anyone who asked.
“Paul Messinger was one in a million,” said community historian Joan Fudala. “His devoted, unending service to Scottsdale has inspired generations of civic leaders, and his stories helped us all remember and appreciate the Scottsdale we came from.”
Paul was interred at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale on April 30.
Register now for Scottsdale Stories & Sweets as part of June Days
Register now for a special treat on Tuesdays in June as Scottsdale Stories & Sweets returns to June Days 2025. June Days is a celebration of Old Town Scottsdale with hundreds of events (many free or minimal cost) that you can do throughout the month.
Scottsdale Stories & Sweets is a free event that begins at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in June at the Scottsdale Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. Have dinner before, either at home or in one of our wonderful Old Town restaurants, then head to the Scottsdale Community Design Studio for dessert provided by the city of Scottsdale from an Old Town bakery or restaurant. Sit down in the air-conditioned comfort to hear storyteller Bruce Wall share tales of the early days of Scottsdale.
June 3: The Pioneers Came to Scottsdale: Listen as our storyteller talks about the early days of Scottsdale. Why did the early settlers come to Scottsdale, who was the first to live here, what early Victorian house is still standing, and how Scottsdale got its name is just the start. Learn about the pioneers who moved here before running water, electricity, or flush toilets. Enjoy a sweet treat from Ruze Cake House, a local Old Town Scottsdale treasure! 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Scottsdale Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. Register.
June 10: The Pioneers Built Scottsdale: More stories of the early pioneers of Scottsdale who settled here before most modern conveniences were available. You'll hear about the first business on Main Street, our first businesswoman, Scottsdale's first incredible entrepreneur, and their legacies. We'll also explore the story of the family who donated the land that became Scottsdale High School. Enjoy a treat from The Marketplace by Arcadia Farms, a local Old Town Scottsdale prize. 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Scottsdale Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. Register.
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Q&A: Johnny Rose came to Scottsdale in 1914 and opened a Pool Hall. It was rebuilt and had several owners and uses. Do you know what the business is called today? See the answer below. |
June 17: The Pioneers Shopped in Scottsdale: We'll learn where the early pioneers shopped in Old Town and the families that ran those businesses. There will be stories about the family that brought professional boxing and wrestling to Old Town, a Mexican Food restaurant that began after two brothers were denied service at a bar in another city, and a store in Old Town that started as a pool hall and a grocery store more than 100 years ago. The sweet treat is from The Bright Side Cafe, a local Old Town Scottsdale coffee shop inside The Mercantile Market! 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Scottsdale Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. Register.
June 24: Crimes in the Times of the Pioneers: The first homicide in Scottsdale was a double homicide in 1901, and the first "officer-involved shooting" happened in 1938. There's an amazing story behind both incidents. We'll also learn how the mail came from Phoenix to Scottsdale more than 125 years ago, why an Arizona high school has an unusual mascot, and how law enforcement kept Scottsdale residents safe before the formation of the Scottsdale Police Department in 1963. Our treat is from Chin Up Donuts, a local Old Town Scottsdale bakery! 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Scottsdale Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. Register.
There is more information for all June Days events.
Join the Scottsdale Historical Society's Annual Meeting
Plan to attend the Scottsdale Historical Society's annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 16, at the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road. Everyone is welcome. There will be a presentation at the meeting by Bob Fowler, who will show "Then and Now" photographs of Scottsdale. You can find out more at the Scottsdale Historical Society webpage.
Fighting the 2023 Diamond Fire with slurry!
The Scottsdale Heritage Connection recently received a donation from Scott Hamilton, a retired city of Scottsdale Preserve Planner. The donation consists of more than 30 years of digital images, videos, slides, and articles on the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Although that is a lot to sift through, staff has uncovered a few small video clips of a slurry bomber fighting the 2023 Diamond Fire.
The Diamond Fire started on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at approximately 5 p.m. near 130th St. and Ranch Gate Road in North Scottsdale, and 11 miles west of the Rio Verde community. The wind-driven fire quickly burned nearly 2,000 acres, threatened up to 400 homes at its peak, and forced the evacuation of multiple nearby communities. Wildland fire resources called the fire 100% contained a week later, on July 4, 2023.
Search Diamond Fire 2023 slurry bomber in the Scottsdale Public Library catalog to view these videos.
Answer to Q&A
Today, Johnny Rose's Pool Hall is called Mexican Imports, 3933 N. Brown Ave., on the northeast corner of Main and Brown Streets. Learn more about this business and the incredible family that has run it for almost 100 years at "The Pioneers Shopped in Scottsdale" on June 17!
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