Delmar Dee John

Inducted in 2019

Jan 1

Buckeye/Gila Bend - Maricopa County

Inducted in 2019

Delmar Dee John was an Arizona native. Born in Safford on December 11, 1920 he was a third generation farmer, the fifth of five sons born to Charles Porter and Emma Irene (Cluff) John.

Young Delmar was a natural born athlete. The healthy lifestyle on the farm possibly contributed to his athletic abilities. He lettered in football, basketball and track in high school and again at Gila Junior College, now Eastern Arizona College, in Thatcher. As a young athlete he won a state pole vaulting award and heavyweight boxing championship. Delmar transferred to Brigham Young University on a football scholarship but was soon called home because of his mother’s illness.

Delmar was drafted into the Army, but wound up in the Air Force as a Crew Captain. It was an emotional time for the young man. He buried his mother one day and left to fulfill his military obligation the next.

When he left the military Delmar return to the family farm in Safford. It was there that he met and married Jean Lewis in 1948. The couple had five children.

When his father died he moved to Boise to establish his own farming operation. Later he settled in Rainbow Valley. While in Rainbow Valley he received a call from Bishop Billy Haggard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asking him to farm leased ground to raise money to help build the LDS church in Buckeye. He did so while continuing to farm his own land. Later, Delmar purchased land between Buckeye and Gila Bend, where he stayed until his death. He grew cotton, alfalfa, barley, wheat and one year he tried melons.

Some of his other endeavors included farming at Hassayampa with Lyle Keane, the Enterprise Ranch and the LVL with Paul Smith and Erwin John and 3200 acres on the Paloma Ranch. At the end of his farming operation he had over 4000 acres of cotton.

Delmar and his brother Erwin farmed together for many years under the name John brothers. Eventually Delmar bought Erwin out and Erwin retired.

Delmar liked it when the younger farmers sought his advice. He had a strong work ethic. He believed in hard work, long hours and no nonsense. He didn’t tolerate bad behavior. He was always a plainspoken man.

Delmar John passed away on December 26, 2008.