Verkamp, Settles<br>receive GC honor
SHOSHONE POINT — The Grand Canyon Pioneers Society inducted two former local residents and pioneers into the Grand Canyon Hall of Fame Award for Community Service Saturday during a picnic at Shoshone Point.
Mary Hoover, left, recalled memories of Margaret ‘Peggy’ Verkamp and Raymond ‘Jack’ Settles with Al Richmond, right, and other members of the Grand Canyon Pioneers Society Saturday during the annual picnic.
Margaret M. "Peggy" Verkamp and Raymond D. "Jack" Settles were both inducted for their exemplary community service during their years at Grand Canyon. They became the 12th and 13th individuals to be honored in the past four years since the inception of the award.
Mary Hoover, a past Hall of Fame inductee herself, knew both honorees and talked briefly about their accomplishments.
Verkamp, who wrote a comprehensive history of Grand Canyon Village several years ago, was heavily involved in school activities.
"Peggy was on the school board for 12 years," Hoover said. "Through her efforts, we have a high school here past the sixth grade."
Those familiar with Grand Canyon’s past know there was not always a high school in the village. Verkamp hooked up with a senator to help bring change to that scenario.
"The feds didn’t want a school here," Hoover said. "Those who went to school here know how it was in the old days. You have to go away to school."
Once the sixth grade was completed, students had to continue their education in places like Williams or to a school in Utah. Hoover said some mothers moved away with their children during the school year and returned during the summer months.
"Our school has really grown, it’s a great school," Hoover said. "A lot of that we can say was due to Peggy."
Besides the school, Verkamp was involved in various other aspects of community life, such as helping the community library get off the ground and serving as a longtime historian.
Settles, who could not attend the picnic due to wife Betty being ill, also served on the school board and played a role in its upgrades over the years.
"I remember Jack from the old Babbitt’s store," Hoover said. "Jack and Betty were always active in the community. They did a lot of things for the school. I believe they got the school library going."
Hoover said back on some of those school boards, there were some pretty active "discussions" during meetings.
"When he was on the school board, they had some fights, not with words, but real fights," Hoover said while simulating a punch.
Settles was active in the American Legion and "whenever he was asked to do something, it got done," Hoover said. He also donated regularly to various causes when he was at Babbitt’s.
Al Richmond, Pioneer Society member who helped establish the Hall of Fame award four years ago with former Grand Canyon National Park superintendent Rob Arnberger, said Settles was influential in getting television service to the area.
"Jack has a great sense of humor," Hoover said about Settles. "It was a dry sense of humor. You just had to know Jack."
Ken Phillips, GCNP search and rescue ranger, was on hand for the picnic and spoke on behalf of the National Park Service.
Phillips said that besides being a national park, the village is also a community. He added that it’s special to be able to honor those who have contributed to community service.
Verkamp and Settles will be added to a plaque that hangs in an entryway at the Shrine of the Ages honoring those receiving the award in the past.
The first recipients in 1998 were Buford and Myra Belgard, Jack and Betty Verkamp and Hoover, who were involved with the community through the American Legion’s post and auxiliary.
Past honorees
Following is a list of recipients of the Grand Canyon Hall of Fame Award for Community Service:
Year Recipients
1998 Buford & Myra Belgard
Jack & Betty Verkamp
Mark K. Hoover
1999 Emery C. Kolb
James "Art" Metzger
Frank & Hannah Rotter
2000 John D. Bradley
Edwin W. Cummings
2001 Margaret "Peggy" Verkamp
Raymond D. "Jack" Settles
Note: The Pioneers Society has also awarded its Pioneer Award. Past winners of that award have been Harvey Butchart, Gale Burak and George Steck.
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