As the town of Oro Valley approaches its 50th anniversary this April, one of the town’s founders sat down with KGUN 9 to reflect on its growth over the past five decades.
“I think people who live here, like living here,” said Lauren Rhude, who made up one of the five members on the first town council for Oro Valley.
These days, Rhude, who is a 94-year-old military veteran, spends most of his days at the Watermark Retirement Community with his wife, Lila, of 71 years.
“[We’re] getting a little older, and I’m 94; she’s 92,” said the Colorado Springs native.
But nearly fifty years ago, on April 15, 1974, he, along with the rest of the council, voted to officially make it its own distinct town.
“There were a lot of people who didn’t want it to be incorporated. So we had some real battles,” he said regarding the hurdles they had to overcome. “Council meetings almost came to fisticuffs sometimes because some group didn’t want it, as they had their five to ten-acre parcels.”
Over the next four years, he would continue serving on the town council, while his wife served as town clerk, as they worked to establish essential services like the Oro Valley Police Department.