Phoenix History: Story of Charles F. Willis, forgotten figure of Arizona mining
An acquaintance recently asked me if I knew anything about Charles F. Willis whose name she had encountered in a research project. I had to admit that I was not familiar with him, but would do some sleuthing. The following is what I learned.
Charles Francis Willis was a trained mining engineer who first worked, after graduation from MIT in 1906, for mining operations in Colorado and New Mexico before he ventured out to Arizona. But he changed course a bit becoming Professor of Mining and Metallurgy at the University of Arizona in 1912.
Willis, or Charley as most people came to address him, must have made quite an impression teaching. And in fact, he is said to have turned down some job offers to continue teaching. But then he was asked to be the head of the 2-year old Bureau of Mines affiliated with the UofA in 1915. This was before the young state of Arizona had an official Bureau of Mines — sort of mind boggling consider how important mining was and is to our economy.
But Arizona did finally establish a Bureau of Mines in early 1915 and Willis became the director of this new state entity. Willis later resigned and worked for Phelps Dodge for a couple of years.
Then R.A. Watkins lured Willis to move to Phoenix in 1920 and become the new editor of the Arizona Mining Journal. In this position, Willis anticipated that he would “be better able to serve the mining industry.” And serve he did for 26 years.
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The reputation of the Mining Journal allowed Willis provide information that helped small and large mining operations. Willis’ publishing work and speaking engagements did help him to realize the need for an organization that focused strictly on small mining operations. A state-wide organization formed in August 1929 and Willis became the secretary of the Small Mining Operators Association in 1938. He immediately started a monthly publication targeting the membership calling it Pay Dirt.
Willis became so involved with assisting small mining operations that he lobbied the legislature for the creation of the Department of Mineral Resources which Governor Jones approved in March 1939. This was another means of strengthening the state’s mining industry.
Willis sold the Arizona Mining Journal to Mining World in 1946 and dedicated himself to Pay Dirt until poor health caused him to sell the publication in 1968.
When you look at the Arizona State Seal, you see a miner prominently standing with his pick and shovel. Will he strike gold, silver, or copper and be rolling in the money? We’ll never know, but we can be certain that the miners and all those associated with the industry in Arizona worked hard for their riches. Charles F. Willis typifies the many influential “behind the scenes” people who contributed so much to Arizona’s mining industry for over 50 years, but remain little known by the rest of the state.
Donna Reiner is the co-author of three books on Phoenix history.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Charles F. Willis, forgotten figure in the history of Arizona mining
