September 5, 2021
Norma Helped Make Our Day. Ralph & Nancy Helped Make Scottsdale.
By Les Conklin
Norma Bell just made our day! She was seeking information about Ralph Knight’s contributions to Scottsdale. Fortunately, I was able to point her to the Scottsdale Library’s online archive of A Peak at the Peek magazine issues that were published from 1983 through 1996.
It’s easy to review the archive. You can Begin with “How to Seek Peak Treasures in Scottsdale Library Online Archive.” Click Here. You will learn a great deal about Ralph and his wife, Nancy, and much more about what is now north Scottsdale.
GPPHA Founders, Early Members (left to right): Bill Moyle, Jeanine Moyle, Liz Stapleton Ogden, Ralph Knight, Nancy Knight, Norma Bell, Jane Rau, and Nancy Yerger.
Ralph and Nancy founded GPPHA*, today’s GPPA, in 1977. Ralph died in 2010. Recently, I have been wondering how Nancy was doing. Norma said that Nancy is “great”, and that Nancy is enjoying the summer at her beach home in Massachusetts. So, that was outstanding news. Then Norma thanked GPPA and said that it is “doing a great job.” That really made my day.
When I became GPPA’s President and A Peek at the Peak‘s Editor, I wanted to learn more about GPPA’s early days and its founders. In 2006, after several phone calls I reached Norma Bell, who arranged the meeting. I met with Norma and other original members at the Knight’s. When I saw the Knight’s beautiful home, located just west of Pinnacle Peak’s summit, I understood why they took a leading role in helping to plan and manage the area’s rapid development. The result of the meeting was a multi-part article “They Protected Pinnacle Peak and More” Click Here.
The last time I saw the Knights was at Cookout at the Ranch XV. Ralph was in a wheelchair. Friends of the Scenic Drive, which had merged into GPPA in 2005, had invited the Knights to attend as its guests. I’m very glad that the Knights got to attend. Scottsdale residents owed them so much. Their presence helped make that day.
*Note. The Greater Pinnacle Peak Association organized as a homeowners association in 1977. In 2003, it was reorganized as the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association, a 501 c (3) nonprofit charity.
Photo by Tony Nelssen.
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