The Lower Verde River Valley Hall of Fame inducted 11 individuals as its class of 2026 during a packed ceremony held at the Rio Verde Country Club Wednesday, March 25, alongside two Legacy Award recognitions.
Fountain Hills residents Bob Burns, Debbie Clason, Mary Endorf, David Iverson, Betsy LaVoie, Jim LaVoie, Denise Matus, Scott Schlossberg and Art Tolis were included in the ceremony, as well as Frank Haggard of Tonto Verde and Nellie Quail of Fort McDowell. Haggard’s wife, Judy, accepted on his behalf due to illness, and Quail’s award was posthumous and accepted by sister Clissene Lewis.
The Fountain Hills Desert Botanical Garden, which celebrated its 50th year, and the Russo Family, a group of over 30 individuals who have served the town in arts, culture, education and government for nearly five decades, were also recognized with the Legacy Award.
