Ranching, Reading and Writing

From establishing the institution, elevating it to university status, creating a world-renowned forestry school and Ecological Restoration Institute, advancing research opportunities and maintaining the vision of a premier undergraduate residential experience, the Babbitt family and Northern Arizona University have built a world-class commitment to stewardship of Arizona’s landscapes and communities. “The single most important thing that happened in the history of NAU regarding the Babbitt family was (the late) John Babbitt’s determination to bring the school to a university level,” said former Arizona Regent Norm Sharber. “Without the word ‘university’ on your name, it was difficult to obtain certain grants or attract top faculty. John fought some heavy battles in the legislature.” The quiet, reserved state senator served in the Arizona Legislature from 1945 to 1948 and has been recognized for his ability to make things happen. But the Babbitt family’s impact on NAU and education began long before that. In the late 19th century, the Arizona Territory was a rough place. The Arizona Territorial Legislature decided a reform school was needed to house and rehabilitate lawbreakers. George Babbitt, a gregarious, generous and popular businessman, was appointed president of the board looking into such a facility. “George probably knew a reform school was not what Flagstaff wanted, but moved forward to establish the building with the idea that the legislators’ minds could be changed about what kind of school would actually be created,” said James E. Babbitt, nephew of the late state senator with the same name. Indeed, the reform school did not materialize but the Northern Arizona Normal School did. It was a college to teach teachers. It started in 1899 with the red sandstone building now known as Old Main and later became the Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff. George and other leaders of the day likely believed the business of education would have a positive impact on the economy as well as on the culture of the town they were creating. GOOD FOR BUSINESS, TOO George died in 1920, but other Babbitts then championed the cause of higher education. As a state senator, James E. “Jim” Babbitt was considered one of the most influential democrats in the county. In 1936 he helped establish master’s degrees at the colleges in Flagstaff and Tempe (now Arizona State University). This move boosted enrollment in Flagstaff as credential-seeking teachers spent their summers on the mountain campus. In 1944, Jim died during a hunting trip. John was called to finish the Senate term. He was elected to another term and became Senate President. From the Senate, he went on to spend 16 years on the Arizona Board of Regents. “John Babbitt was one of the forces getting Coconino County behind the Tempe college becoming a university. He thought if we were supportive of them, they would be supportive of us. And it worked out,” said 12th NAU President Gene Hughes. “I just know that behind the scenes was John Babbitt thinking, ‘This is going to be good for Flagstaff.’ He had that vision, for the Babbitt businesses, the livestock industry and the community. John also led the effort that created the School of Forestry in 1958. SERVICE AS REGENTS Two other Babbitt family members served as regents guiding the state universities in what became known as The Babbitt Chair. Norm Sharber, a respected businessman married to Dr. Rayma Sharber (daughter of arts patron Viola and Babbitt Ranches President Joseph Babbitt) was appointed in 1965. He and NAU’s 11th President J. Lawrence Walkup would walk the campus together wondering how to accommodate the thousands of students headed their way. Those conversations eventually led to a north and south campus. Sharber’s brother-in-law, Ralph Bilby, married to Mary Babbitt (another daughter of Viola and Joseph), was appointed to the Board of Regents in 1974. He is credited with playing a significant role in the creation of the skydome to house athletic events. When President Hughes was inaugurated in 1979, Governor Bruce Babbitt challenged NAU not to be a pale carbon copy of the other two universities, but to find its niche, concentrating on the Colorado Plateau. “During that time we were able to acknowledge the work of really exceptional professors, like Wally Covington, as Regents’ Professors,” Hughes said. Covington’s unconventional research of turning traditional forestry on its head by protecting old-growth trees and removing overly abundant younger trees to restore degraded forests captured former Governor Babbitt’s attention. Later as U.S. Interior Secretary, Babbitt called for scaling up national forest restoration efforts stating that the scientific foundation had been laid by NAU. He and U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl supported the creation of the Ecological Restoration Institute in 1996. With Covington as ERI founder and executive director, NAU was able to broaden its forest health efforts to the intermountain West. OUTDOOR LABORATORY While NAU was gaining national recognition in forest ecology, Babbitt Ranches was interested in helping the university expand its outdoor laboratory. In 2002, the Babbitts donated Wild Bill Camp near Bellemont to NAU. This action led to many environmental science and research projects across the Colorado Plateau, including on Babbitt Ranches. Comprising vast wildlands, varied topographies and diverse life zones, this area became one of the largest ecological study sites in the world. “The Babbitt family and Northern Arizona University have shared a mutually beneficial relationship committed to higher education,” said NAU President John Haeger. “The Babbitts’ dedication to the land and to critical research helps NAU further its mission as a national leader in sustainability and education.” Among their contributions, the Babbitts have influenced the university’s growth, strengthened its research capabilities, created scholarships and taught classes. “Many Babbitt family members have participated in efforts to support the university and may well have had more of an impact on the school than any other group of people,” Covington said. NUMEROUS BABBITT NAMES Today, the NAU president’s office is housed in the Babbitt Administration Building, named after John Babbitt. Other buildings carry Babbitt family names, including Babbitt Dorm, named for former State Sen. Jim Babbitt, and the Bilby Research Center, named for Regent Bilby. The Babbitt Board Room, adorned with the original Babbitt board table and Babbitt memorabilia, is located in the W.A. Franke College of Business. “There’s a lot to be learned from an organization like that,” said NAU Landsward Institute Director Karan English. “The Babbitts have influenced the region and the university with their good neighbor policy, their respect for the land, and their strong ranching and family values.” Bonnie Stevens is the Ecological Restoration Institute at NAU’s Program Director for Public Information and Education.