Frank Elton Brooks

MARCH 13, 1923 – MARCH 19, 2011

Frank Elton Brooks, age 88, of Tucson AZ died after a long illness on Saturday, March 19,2011. He was born in Switzer, West Virginia on March 13, 1923. His sister, Iris Robinette (deceased) was born two years later. His father, Lorenzo Dow Brooks (deceased), worked days as a school teacher and after a short stop at home, worked nights in a coal mine and helped his friends and neighbors build their homes. His mother, Mary Queen Brooks (deceased) taught school and raised her family.

Frank’s job as a youth was to walk the railroad tracks and pick up the spilled coal for heat for his family and their friends. Tough times in the depression. Because of his asthma, Frank was sent to live with family in Florida to complete high school. He ultimately came to Tucson in 1941 to relieve his various health problems and found his lifetime home.

With very little money, he lived at the YMCA in downtown Tucson and was a bellman at the Congress Hotel, at the same time he enrolled at the University of Arizona. After a short stint in the Army during WW II as a Communication Specialist, Frank married Ruby Gibson and helped raise Jim and Betty Carter. Sons Frank Dow Brooks and Carl David Brooks followed thereafter.

While working at the Hotel and attending the U of A, Frank opened Whitey’s Pool Hall and found a way to stretch his days even longer. He later added a job at a gas station where he met the owner of the Metropolitan Water Company who became very impressed with Frank’s work ethic. This began Frank’s real lifetime career in the water business in and around Tucson.

Metropolitan water was bought by the City of Tucson and Frank left to become the City Manager of Tombstone Arizona, a job he truly enjoyed. During this time, Frank married Lurlene and had daughter Mary Iris, the last baby born in the Tombstone Hospital, and, after returning to Tucson, had son Robert E. Brooks.

Along with his friends Roger Clyne, Bill Shirley and his father, he bought the water system in Huachuca City. He worked every weekend doing repairs and reading meters for the next ten years, all while working full time for the City of Tucson. He married Dee Fayette and added daughters Suellen (deceased) and Cherie to his family.

Mayor Don Hummel hired Frank to manage the annexation of many private water companies to the City, which allowed Tucson to grow from town to city. After being named Director, Frank managed hundreds of employees as he brought reclaimed water to the city and led the planning of the CAP Colorado River delivery system. The City still recognizes his contribution to the water conservation program, Beat The Peak, which cut water usage in the system by over 25 percent. On April 28, 1988, U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini recognized Frank for his 29 years service to the state of Arizona by reading his accomplishments into the United States Congressional Record, bringing his record to the attention of the President of the United States.

After his retirement in 1988, he ran for and was elected to the Board of Directors of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District on which he served a five year term.

Frank never slowed down. He managed and maintained fifteen apartment units, served on the Board of Directors of the Marshall Home for Men and raced the Gato Sereno 23 foot sailboat throughout the Sea of Cortez and Arizona lakes. He enjoyed membership in the Elks Lodge and Masonic Temple in which he was a member for 55 years.

Frank was well read and had an amazing memory for poetry which he shared with others on virtually any occasion. This ability reflected his loving and gentle personality which allowed him to make friends of anyone he met. He was a fine gentleman in good times and bad and was a teacher, mentor and leader to his family who will miss him dearly. His grandchildren, Stephanie, Dow, Michael, Brian, Alicia and Shawn benefitted greatly in their early years from the love, attention and time they spent with him. His great-grandchildren, Daniella, Tyler, Jessica, Kyle, Darien and Nolan did not benefit from his time but felt his love.

The next time you drink a glass of water, think of the man who led us to drink.

Funeral Services will be held at East Lawn Cemetery, 5801 E. Grant Road, Tucson AZ 85712 on Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 2:00 Pm. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Marshall Home for Men.