Del Webb Corporation Photograph Collection (PH-00313)

Founded in Phoenix, Arizona in 1928 as the Del E. Webb Construction Company by Delbert Eugene "Del" Webb, the Del Webb Corporation served as the lead construction firm on numerous projects across the United States. Beginning with the construction of gas stations, churches, and small storefronts, the Del Webb Corporation grew rapidly during World War II. The firm built some of the largest military installations in the West, including airfields, training bases, barracks, and internment camps such as the Poston War Relocation Center in Poston, Arizona. Following the conclusion of World War II, the firm continued to expand, taking on projects including Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California; Madison Square Garden in New York, New York; and the original Flamingo Hotel and Casino and the Mint Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Del Webb Corporation became the first publicly traded corporation to operate a casino, which was the Mint Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas. The firm would also own and operate other Las Vegas properties including the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino, the Sahara Hotel and Casino, and Lucky Casino. In 1960, the Del Webb Corporation introduced the Sun City retirement community, which proved to be hugely popular and lucrative. In 2001, the Del Webb Corporation was purchased by Pulte Group, Inc. creating the largest homebuilding company in the United States, but the Del Webb name remained tied to its age-restricted communities.

Del E. Webb was born to Ernest and Henrietta (Forthcamp) Webb in Fresno, California on May 17, 1899. His father, a contractor who operated a sand and gravel business, went bankrupt when Webb was 14. Because of this, Webb quit school and began working as a carpenter in 1917 to help his family out of financial trouble. He also began supplementing his income by playing semi-professional baseball in 1918. In 1926, he was injured sliding into home base and suffered a severe attack of typhoid fever, which caused him to retire from playing the sport. On the advice of friends, Webb moved to Phoenix, Arizona where he worked as a carpenter until starting his own construction company in 1928. From 1945 to 1965 Webb was a part-owner of the New York Yankees Baseball Club, a time period in which the team won ten World Series titles. Webb was married twice: first to Hazel Church in 1919 (divorced in 1953) and then to Toni Ince in 1961. Del E. Webb died of lung cancer in Rochester, Minnesota on July 4, 1974 at the age of 75.

Sourcea:

"Del Webb History." Accessed February 12, 2020. http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/14/147717/DelWebb/DelWebbHistory.pdf

"Del Webb Corporation - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Del Webb Corporation," Reference for Business. Accessed February 12, 2020. https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/32/Del-Webb-Corporation.html#ixzz6DloqAefq

Del E. Webb Corporation Photographs, MSS-279. Arizona State University Library: Greater Arizona Collection. Accessed February 12, 2020. http://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/asu/dewc.xml;query=;brand=default