Harold Bernard “H.B.” Thurber (1897-1991) was born in Bay Shore, New York. In 1915, age 18, he married Carrie Fisher (1896-1980) and they had three sons: Harold Eastwood (1917-1994), Walter “Budd” Robert (1920-1991) and Seymour “Sam” Warren (1922-2021). As a young man, H.B. had a variety of occupations, including yacht captain, co-owner of an auto painting shop, and music publisher. While serving in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War I, H.B. contracted pneumonia, which developed into tuberculosis. To manage his health condition, he needed a drier climate, so in 1924 the family moved to Arizona and purchased the Sorrells ranch, located on the Nogales-Patagonia road, south of Patagonia.
H.B. credited his neighbors, Will Hathaway and Jim Finley, with teaching him and his sons cowboy and ranching skills. H.B. named his ranch the A Rail Ranch, where he ran Whiteface range cattle and began his lifelong involvement with Hereford cattle. In 1928, Arizona drought conditions prompted him to relocate to the Sherwood Valley Ranch near Willits, California. At Sherwood Valley, H.B. maintained herds of horned Herefords and polled Herefords. Unfortunately, the California climate was too cold and damp, so in 1930 the family relocated to Carson Valley, Nevada, where they leased a ranch for a year before returning to Arizona.
In 1932, H.B. purchased property in the Greaterville Road area north of Sonoita and began to build the Thurber Hereford Ranch. During the 1930s and ’40s, he purchased a total of 1,600 acres and leased over 8,000 acres. H.B. became one of the best-known ranchers in the area and was often referred to as “Mr. Hereford.” An article in the May 1951 issue of Arizona Stockman said that “the man and his stock are outstanding for three things: Most of his foundation cows have large udders and give lots of milk; his range is exactly as described 100 years ago—grass up to a horse’s belly; and everything about the ranch is done with the smoothness and precision one finds on a naval battleship.”
H.B. also partnered with or managed other local ranches, including the neighboring Singing Valley Ranch and the Douglas Livestock Co. holdings. In 1969, at age 72, H.B. sold his ranch, retaining 10 acres on which he built a retirement home.
H.B. was active in cattle organizations, including the American Hereford Association and Southern Arizona International Livestock Association. An ardent supporter of local and state fairs, he was president of the Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Association (1937-1945), helped secure the land for the relocation of the Pima County Fairgrounds to Houghton Road, and served on the State Fair Commission for 24 years.
H.B. was a staunch Republican and frequently hosted and entertained politicians and other dignitaries. His retirement home included a large trophy room in which he displayed his trophies, awards, memorabilia and collections. Thurber Hall at Patagonia Community United Methodist Church was named for H.B. in recognition of his fundraising efforts for the building. H.B. Thurber Hall at the Pima County Fairgrounds recognizes H.B.’s contributions there.
The Thurber family all participated in ranch operations and the community. Harold, Budd and Sam first attended the nearby one-room Empire School, and Carrie drove the school bus that brought the Greaterville students to school.
The boys were all active in 4-H, attended Patagonia High School, and each graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in animal husbandry. All three pursued careers in ranching in Arizona, California and Texas. In 1947, Carrie had a serious stroke and her niece, Dorothy Fisher, came to live with H.B. and Carrie in 1950. Dorothy taught at the Empire School, helped care for Carrie, and ran the house and ranch office. Carrie died in 1980 at age 84; H.B. died in 1991 at age 94.
