Frank Auza
Frank Auza
Flagstaff - Coconino County
Inducted in 2019
One of Frank Auza’s outstanding and lasting contributions to the sheep industry was building the sheep bridge over the Verde River. In 1940 Frank Auza, Sr. and some other sheep men got together and built a bridge over the Verde River at Bloody Basin. The bridge was used by many sheep outfits needing a safe way to cross the river to move their flocks between summer and winter pastures no matter how the river was flowing. It still stands as a memorial to Auza.
Auza came to this country in 1915 from Lizarso, Navarra, in the Basque area of Spain, with his mother, brother and sisters to join his father and brother on a sheep ranch in Phoenix. He was ten years old at the time.
After his father’s death five years later the family moved to Flagstaff where young Frank went to work with his brothers. Tragedy struck in 1922 when his mother passed away from pneumonia. Frank worked for Dr. Raymond and Ramon Aso as a herder. He worked his way up to the position of foreman for Dr. Raymond. He later worked for Antonio Manterola for several years.
In 1959 Frank bought the Lockett Sheep Company and formed the Auza Sheep Company. He was a member of the Arizona Wool Growers’ Association and served as the official cook for the Wool Growers annual barbecue from 1926 until his sons took over the job. He retired from the sheep industry in 1976 and enjoyed his winters in Tacna, Arizona and his summers in Flagstaff until his death in 1999 at the age of 94.
Frank’s Basque upbringing instilled in him a strong work ethic that he passed on to his children. He believed that his sons should have jobs during the summer months, either working for him or someone else. If they didn’t find one he would send them to the sheep camp as a cook. His sons went on to become sheepmen in their own right. Joe and Johnny worked with their dad while Frank and Pete were serving their country in the military. Later, Frank, Pete and Johnny ran sheep in the Yuma area as Auza Brothers. Martin ran feeder lambs in the Yuma area and in the Imperial Valley of California.
He and his wife Elsie (Barreras) Auza had eight children; Frances, Joe, Frank Jr., Pete, Johnny, Martin, George and Elyse. Five of the boys continued the family tradition of raising sheep.
Affiliations
Arizona Wool Growers’ Association - Member
The Western Range - Member
The Sheriff ’s Posse of Flagstaff - Lifetime Member
