Jack August, an appreciation

At the 2004 launch party for my novel Dry Heat, I'm with Jack August, center, and his wife Kathy Flower August. Jack passed away on Friday.

When I was a popular columnist at the Arizona Republic, it felt as if everyone outside of the Kookocracy (I coined the term), including many of the most prominent people in Phoenix, became my friend. "I never thought I'd read this in the Republic!" they would say about my writing, truth-telling about the Ponzi-scheme economy, the crash to come, the lost beauty, policy blunders, and Phoenix's forgotten and ignored past. "Don't worry, you'll have a place with us" if you get fired, some promised. I was not fooled.

When the pressure became too much and the Republic kicked me out as a columnist, they almost all melted away. Instantly. Like drops of water on a high-summer sidewalk. I was not only dropped but shunned. Later, some would resurface if they needed something, but that's human nature not friendship. I can count the genuine friends who stuck with me on two hands. Jack August stuck. He was that kind of man. Crisis reveals character.

His death at age 63 is a staggering loss for Arizona, for all who knew him. He was a towering figure as a historian of a state that suppresses its past, where so many newcomers keep the home of their heart in the Midwest and crow, "There's no history here." He was an irreplaceable counterweight to these toxins. He was a mensch who gave full measure to the term "a gentleman and a scholar."

I first ran across Jack long before, in an appropriate way, pulling one of his books out of the shelves at Flagstaff's sadly lost McGaugh's bookstore and newsstand downtown. This was on a visit, showing my girlfriend my home state with no expectation I would ever live here again. A title caught my eye, Vision in the Desert, by Jack L. August Jr. The book chronicled Carl Hayden's leading role in the long fight for the Central Arizona Project. Susan bought it for me and I read it on the plane as we crossed the country.

My mother had spent a decade working on the Arizona v. California lawsuit and the CAP, mostly for the Arizona Interstate Stream Commission but also for the lead attorneys, Mark Wilmer and Charlie Reed. I knew my water history. One of my dreams was to write a history of Arizona's fight for the Colorado River, especially the outsized personalities, back stories, and intense days-and-nights of work fueled by uppers and booze as David took down Goliath. Vision was impressive and I wondered: Who is this Jack August?

By 2001, I was back in Phoenix, married to Susan, and living in a 1914 arts-and-crafts bungalow a block from where I grew up, by then called the Willo Historic District. Among the many who contacted me to speak to their clubs or classes, one immediately jogged my memory. Jack August, at the time teaching at NAU, wanted me to lecture his class in Prescott. I drove up with no small degree of trepidation. This was Jack August, Yale-trained historian and author of that book I loved.

He put me at ease immediately, the class went off wonderfully, and one of the greatest friendships of my life began. So much bound us together. We were part of a tight circle of natives to which I gave voice. We shared a love of history and Arizona. Our world views, sense of humor, and enjoyment of living were magically aligned. We joked about envying the other's life.

I had trained as a historian, thinking I would get my Ph.D. and escape journalism. He was one. As a journalist, I wrote history on its leading edge. As a scholar, Jack wrote the serious assessments, interpretations, and revisions that time provided. Jack's steadfast support of my work at the Republic, and later at Rogue Columnist, was invaluable. I can't count the number of important people Jack introduced me to. Later, he encouraged me to write A Brief History of Phoenix and was my most important peer reviewer. We both knew that history was potent, not boring, because lessons learned are essential to survival and truth is dangerous to bullies, hustlers, and tyrants.

Over the years, over so many meetings, lunches, dinners, drinks, and emails, we bucked each other up, inspired each other's work, traded information and sources, and had a grand time. We intended to get together next month, in fact. Jack and his wife Kathy were regulars at our legendary parties at the historic bungalow on Holly Street. Many of these were unusual in that they would bring together people from many fields and backgrounds who didn't know each other. But everybody, it seemed, bonded with Jack.

He had an appearance that was part Falstaff, part Wild West prospector, but even this surface was alive with more. His eyes glistened with intelligence. He could pivot between sympathetic listener and tossing the perfect bon mot into a conversation. Jack was brilliant. His mind was incisive, his bullshit detector infallible. Jack possessed the rare ability to get living historical figures talking about the most intimate details, along with the patience to spend hours in the scholar's solitary research through documents, diaries, letters, newspaper accounts. Sifting out rumor and legend, fraud and bias. "Hard labor makes royal roads," as Barzun and Graff teach. Every successful historian is a good detective.

But it can be a hard life, except for a privileged few. Plenty of promising Ph.D.s are teaching at community colleges in Lower Slobovia — or starving between their adjunct and Starbucks gigs. Jack also loved Arizona, which is inspiring but can be limiting professionally. He published and didn't perish, completing 10 books and many articles, so went on from NAU to faculty appointments at Arizona State and the University of Arizona. He became director of the Arizona Historical Foundation. When that closed, he became a scholar in residence at Snell and Wilmer. Last year, he became historian and director of Institutional Advancement at the Arizona Capitol Museum in the State Library.

The world of university presses is often maddening and oppressive. And New York publishers have no appetite for "regional" work on the critically important history of Arizona. This is a reality that all who seek to preserve and advance Arizona history face, especially beyond cowboys and Indians and gunfights. Jack took on work that in other hands would have been vanity projects, histories of Snell and Wilmer and the Herberger Theater, as well as co-authoring political autobiographies. In his hands, these works gained rigor and seriousness, becoming important contributions. Jack August never sold his integrity. His Dividing Western Waters, on Mark Wilmer, and Norton Trilogy, as well as Vision in the Desert are major accomplishments, essential for every Westerner's library.

Although a progressive and a Democrat, Jack had many friends who were Republicans. Secretary of State Michele Reagan appointed him to the state museum post (one he loved, being in the historic old territorial capitol building). He was close to the late Sam Steiger. Lately, he had become friends with former Republican Gov. Fife Symington, and was working through his papers in preparation of a biography. Everybody loved and admired Jack August, a man of substance, honor, and loyalty. You don't hear that phrase much today.

The loss is beyond counting. Beyond the pain to Kathy, his family, and friends, is what Arizona and the world won't get: the history he had yet to write. His most consequential work was yet to come. For example, he was sitting on the notes of extensive interviews of former Gov. Evan Mecham. Now more than ever, we need to understand more about this man and his era. Jack knew every dirty deed and noble feat in the building-the-transcontinental-railroad-meets-Mad-Men water history. He revealed some personal discoveries about my mother that astounded me (his word, too, about what he had discovered). Most of his critically important information about such pivotal figures as Roy Elson went with him. We writers have to make a living. We always hope there will be time for the great works we really want to write. Time doesn't always oblige.

Jack never stopped wanting to find the way to get me back to Arizona full-time. I'll always be grateful, but I knew it'd never be arranged. I had made too many powerful enemies with my history writing. I lacked his gift for remaining viable there, and so many other gifts, too. When word came to me almost two weeks ago that he had suddenly collapsed, then was on life support, an already dismal January fell dark. I kept it quiet, although I did ask people on Facebook — so unlike me! — to send healing prayers for a dear friend. My followers did so in abundance. Yet in this vale of tears prayers aren't always answered as we would wish...for now we see through a glass darkly.

It wasn't supposed to happen like this. Years ago, Jack had asked for my papers, to be archived after I died. It was by far the best death threat among the many I received at the Republic. So I have been dutifully filling Hollinger boxes, as if was anyone would give a damn about my papers. But Jack cared. And that made all the difference. So it was for all of us who loved him.

 

Comments

[James Melikian]

Jack August was a true gem of a man between his impressive scholarship of Arizona's past and being acquainted first hand with so many key political figures, but also for having a deep sense of decency along with a great sense of humor. I spent a lot of time with Jack in 2016-first asking him if the collection of early Tombstone documents coming up for sale at an auction in Dallas last June was worth buying up to keep in Arizona. He not only wrote me back quickly to say "yes, buy it all up", but also went through every document I bought to tell me it's full history and how rare it was. He then asked me loan it to the Arizona State Capital Museum where he worked as the official State historian so that he could make an exhibit of them, which he did present to the public in September and October. I truly enjoyed working with him and will miss him terribly. He was a great asset to the state of Arizona as a scholar, and a great friend and human being. I had no idea that he was ill and learning about his passing away at such a young age still leaves me in shock.

[Deborah Montgomery]

My husband (Danny) and I absolutely loved spending time with Jack - I still can't believe that he is gone. He even wrote a paragraph about Dan in one of his books and proudly showed it to us when it was published. Such a loss of a wonderful man and friend.

[Robert Nelson]

At times I grew weary of listening to Jack talk about how much admired you and your work.. :). He really loved you.

[Ken Moore]

Very sorry for your loss. I wish I had known Jack August.

[Terry Davis]

Thanks, Jon..... a beautiful tribute!

[Concern Troll]

A great tribute to a great Arizona historian.

[Ramjet]

Wonderful tribute to a great man. His passing is a great loss to all of us who care deeply about Arizona and its history. Vaya con Dios amigo/

[Kim Brown]

I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute.

[Mike Doughty]

I did not know Jack August,but as a resident since 1966 I was revolted by the conservative views espoused by the Republic and E.Pulliam.I am sure Jack and i would have been friends
I have found it ironic that the" chicks are coming home to roost" at the Republic It is called a "liberal rag" by the wing nuts.For 40 years I was waiting for this day but I find no satisfaction as the "kookocracy" as you call it has found it's backing from other sources.
We rode the tiger for 50 years,but getting off is a bitch.Unfortunately for all of us.

[Bradley Dranka]

Rogue Columnist,

In my seven years in Arizona, I came to the conclusion that dissent (from the rampant conservatism) was, at best, tolerated. Tolerated in the sense that, if the "in crowd" could, they would change you in an instant. Conformism was expected. If you chose to be inclusive, worldly in your political views, or anything not "orthodox," you were shunned and subject to scorn for not getting the "gist."

The horizon is very limited in Arizona.

[Jon7190]

Sorry to hear about your friend's passing. Really good obituary. While I was unfamiliar with Jack August, after reading it I wished I had known him and was saddened by the loss to Arizona and his family and friends at far too young an age.

[Paul Rubin]

Really good guy. We were supposed to meet for a beer a few weeks ago. He was helping me with something, going well beyond the call of duty. Told me couldn't seem to shake "the crud" and would let me know when he was better. Terrible news. Hope all is well up there. All good here, though I sure do miss writing magazine-type stories once a month for much of my "adult" life. Life does go on, however, for us lucky ones....pr

[Rogue Columnist]

Paul, Phoenix is poorer for the lack of your in-depth journalism.

[Bradley Dranka]

Rogue Columnist, sad to say, but the powers-that-be in Phoenix and Arizona are probably at best indifferent to his passing, if their cynicism is any clue.

[John Reinan]

I have a lot of good friends who will no doubt mourn my passing, but I doubt any one of them is capable of putting together a tribute like this. You conveyed the weight of his loss to those, like me, who knew nothing of him.

[Hank Lacey]

I never knew Jack August personally, but I know his brother and I know from conversations with him that this eminent man was one of Arizona's, and the West's, most admirable scholars and a funny, interesting, and good soul.

Jack August worked to shine the historian's light on one of the most crucial pillars of the state's prosperity: water. He helped Arizona, and her people, understand what came before so that they might prepare for what is to come. That is a true gift.

Condolences to his family.

[Mark Sanchez]

Jack August was my cousin, I loved him and we were close.

Our connection goes back about 60 years, when Uncle Jack and Aunt Tess relocated their family from Philadelphia to Phoenix. Even then, the kids – not just Jack – showed the strength, playful spirit and love of family that always reassured me: When I am with them, I am home.

This link extended beyond the backyard football games Uncle Jack refereed and the barbecues, where Uncle Jack and Tess shared their appreciation for people and the larger world they inhabit.
I know Jackie took that understanding into his adult life. It made him a good listener, a good story-teller and fueled his desire to make sense of a confusing world. Of course, Jack would be a historian! He showed us, through ten books, a Pulitzer nomination, countless articles and his active presence in the classroom.

Events threw us together: In Tucson, where Jack pursued his Master's degree and I reported the news. In Albuquerque my broadcast career and Jack's doctoral studies intersected. He let me know the historian and reporter share many of the same impulses: the good ones are fair and tell a story completely. Jack came by those gifts naturally. He often gave me an advance look at his writing projects; I'd share stories I particularly liked.

Jack and I remained close through job changes and marriages. We shared family comings-and-goings, and Arizona always remained a target-rich environment for his political observations. Hanging with Jack was a generous education!

Jack loved his family – the one he was born into and the one he inherited when he married Kathy. He understood this gave form and direction to his life. Jack wrote about others and he authored his own life-story very well.

He always made me feel welcome. Whenever we talked, wherever we gathered, I always knew I was home.

God bless you, dear cousin. Put in a good word for me.

Mark Sanchez
January 21, 2017

[Nan Wellins]

So sorry to read about Jack's passing. I was really fond of him during our days in Silliman College (Yale) long ago. He always had a twinkle in his eye and made you feel good. Clearly, a life well and thoroughly lived, but gone much too soon.

[Shelley P.]

I spoke with Jack August a only handful of times. The first was at Seamus McCaffrey's, where I was to meet a group of others interested in discussing Arizona history.

It was mid-March or April 2016, I'm pretty sure. I had only recently become aware of Jack because our common FB friends were congratulating him on his new gig as Arizona Historian; with a swell title like that I had to take a closer look, and I liked what I was reading by and about him.

So when I walked into McCaffrey's, I just assumed when I saw him at the bar that he was also there for the discussion. "You're Jack August!" I said, and then seeing he'd just taken a swig of his drink, I filled the time with "...b-u-u-u-u-u-t I'm guessing you probably already knew that."

He had the big genuine laugh you'd expect from that face. He nodded like he was considering what I'd said. "Yes...I am, and...yes, I did!" Once he realized why I had approached him, he told me he wasn't there for the discussion but that he knew where the group was and took me to them. Along the way he said, "You know, I'd love to join you guys but I'm flying to Chicago tonight with Jon Talton."

At least, that's how I remember it: that he was either waiting for you there or that he had time to kill before heading to Sky Harbor to meet you. Or maybe he wasn't going to see you until he got to Chicago. What stood out was that it had something to do with a new book of yours and he was proud to be helping in some way.

I was reminded of that when you mentioned him in "The Bomb Shelter." The loss to family, friends, and scholarship is obviously greater, but every time I read or hear Jack's name I feel a bit regretful for the missed conversations with someone who seems to have treated everyone like they were already friends.