Anza trailblazer helped preserve history

Richard Williams talks at an Anza Trail event, joined by Lillian Hoff, in an undated photo.

Courtesy of By Kathleen Vandervoet, Special to the Santa Cruz Valley Sun

Published: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 10:39 AM MST

The Anza Trail, which parallels the Santa Cruz River and offers an outstanding walking and bird-watching experience, has been created during the past 17 years by the efforts and donations of many energetic volunteers.

One of those volunteers, Rio Rico resident Richard Williams, who helped construct the trail and held the key position as Anza Trail Coalition president for about 13 years, died Nov. 20. He was 69.

Williams was instrumental in establishing and heading the non-profit organization which assures that the Anza Trail remains open and easy to use. The coalition has also served as a way to see that the trail is extended, as additional segments of private land are included.

The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail is part of the U.S. National Parks system, but most of the funding and trail maintenance takes place locally, said Karol Stubbs, the president of the Anza Trail Coalition of Arizona and also coordinator of the Santa Cruz County trail management council.

The trail follows the route taken in 1775-76 by Capt. Juan Bautista De Anza, a Spanish soldier, and close to 300 colonists and soldiers, who opened a new overland route and founded what is now San Francisco, Calif.

Williams, whose brisk Australian accent caught the ear of everyone he spoke with, came to work at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park in 1992, and quickly became involved with the fledgling Anza Trail.

Bob Barnacastle, manager of the Tubac Park from 1987 to 1996, said Williams was “dependable and energetic. He had good ideas. We were really a good team. He was very reliable. When you asked him to do something, he’d get it done right away.”

Barnacastle had discussed the historic significance of the area with Roy Ross, an owner of the land that became the first segment of the Anza Trail between the Tubac Park and the Tumac�cori National Historic Park. The easement was donated by the Ross’ group, the Baca Float Land Development Limited Partnership, and volunteers set out to build the trail.

Ross said Williams “had leadership ability. He removed the stumbling blocks” in establishing the trail. “He was involved every day,” Ross said.

Carmen resident Mike Burns, a long-time volunteer, met Williams on the day the trail’s first segment was constructed in 1992. “Richard brought a lot of enthusiasm for the trail. You could always count on him to be a strong supporter,” Burns said.

Coalition founded in 1992
Willliams and 13 others founded the non-profit Anza Trail Coalition in August 1992. His wife, Connie, said that being a trail supporter came naturally. He worked for Arizona State Parks in environmental education for a year before he being transferred to Tubac and the couple had volunteered their time to improve the Arizona Trail.

Connie, a math and science teacher at Calabasas Middle School and then district data analyst until she retired in 2006, said trail building “was just something he did and he was good at it,” she said. He found a niche with the Anza Trail Coalition. “He liked organizing people and running the business meetings.”

Barnacastle agreed: “He was the spark plug of the coalition.”

Williams participated with officials at Rio Rico Properties as a Rio Rico segment of the Anza Trail was developed. Sheila Vasquez, assistant vice president, said, “It was a pleasure to work with Richard. He was the moving force” as the cooperative agreements were developed. Rio Rico Properties provided an easement and parking at the trail head, and participated in the preparation of information about birds and wildlife for hikers. “Richard had such a passion for the trail,” she said.

Career in real estate
Williams started a new career when he earned a real estate license in 1996. He and Jim Ross headed Burns Realty in Rio Rico from 1999 to 2002, and Williams purchased Rio Rico Homes and Land in 2002, Connie said. He was the recipient of the Santa Cruz County Board of Realtors Vision Award for 2007. He was president of the Santa Cruz County Board of Realtors in 1999, and named Realtor of the year for 2001. Recently, Williams and Dan Eggers were working on “Resort Terrace,” on the southwest side of The Esplendor Resort.

Until about a year ago, Williams remained heavily involved with the Anza Trail Coalition of Arizona, serving as its president for many years, and holding the position of Santa Cruz County coordinator. The state organization incorporates trail management councils in Pima County, Pinal County, Maricopa County and Yuma County.

Stubbs, a volunteer for the past five years, succeeded Williams in February 2009. She said she was recruited by Williams to participate as soon as she and her husband moved to Tubac. “Richard was my mentor,” she said. “I’m grateful that I got to spend time with him.”

A memorial is planned for Williams on Jan. 17, at 3 p.m. at the Otero Hall in the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. For information about membership in the Anza Trail Coalition, visit the Web site at www.anzatrail.com. The National Park Service trail information can be viewed at www.nps.gov/juba.

Reach the writer at kathleenvan@msn.com

Hit the trail

Enter the Anza Trail in Santa Cruz County at these locations:

Rio Rico Drive, I-19 Exit 17, east to the Anza Trail ramadas and parking lot.

Palo Parado Road, I-19 Exit 25, east across river to Anza Trail parking area on the left.

Tumac�cori National Historical Park, north edge of property, follow the signs.

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, south edge of property, follow the signs.

Tubac Country Club, across driving range to the east.