Williams News Logo
Grand Canyon News Logo

Trusted local news leader for Williams AZ and the Grand Canyon

The passing of a Grand Canyon legend
Services for Buford Belgard set for Oct. 24

<br>Submitted photo<br>
Buford Belgard at Grand Canyon.

<br>Submitted photo<br> Buford Belgard at Grand Canyon.

WILLIAMS, Ariz. - The Grand Canyon community lost a friend Sept. 26 with the passing of local icon Buford Belgard at the age of 89. Belgard lived at Grand Canyon from 1940 to 1975, where he worked for the Fred Harvey/Amfac Company for 39 years. Besides his many years of community service in organizations such as the Grand Canyon Rotary, Belgard was also well known for his work with the American Legion's John Ivens Post No. 42, once based in the Tusayan area. A memorial service for Belgard is planned at the Shrine of Ages Chapel Oct. 24 beginning at 2 p.m. Graveside services will be held following the memorial. Members of the John Ivens Post, located in Williams, and Masonic Lodge No. 40 will present the services. Belgard will be buried alongside his wife Myra, who preceded him in death on Oct. 20, 2008.

Long-time family friend Mary Hoover said Belgard worked very hard to help improve the Grand Canyon community during the years he lived there. Belgard operated a laundry in the area for a number of years. Hoover worked for the family for 28 years in various capacities.

"I was supposed be the office girl when I started out and the cashier, but I learned the while operation and eventually became the assistant manager," Hoover said. "Though at one time Fred Harvey did not like having women in management."

Besides his business, Belgard also worked in a number of community organizations.

"He served on the school board there for 16 years. He often helped with different projects that they had," she said, adding that he also helped with the Shrine of the Ages wherever he could and other projects.

"He helped the Rotary. He was an officer once and he served in other offices," Hoover said. "At one time the community building was a community building. There were dances there and there were movies there and there was a library there, for children and for adults. When we had to move, we couldn't get anyone to help us move the library and he ram-rodded it and got the boys from the laundry and a couple others to help us box the books, which was a big help."

At the Grand Canyon's Legion post, Belgard served as post commander for two years. He also served as state commander for Arizona and on National Executive Committee.

"He was Vice Commander for the state of Arizona when there was only one Vice Commander. Now they have districts and I think there are 12," Hoover said.

Belgard was also instrumental in preserving the Legion in the Grand Canyon area.

"He was one of the ones who got the old hut started," Hoover said. "It was the George Reed homestead. The idea was that they were going to give the Legion some amount of acreage. It ended up with them buying about two acres. They got the hut by really working at it. They had to borrow money and they scrounged and people came and offered things to them."

Eventually declining membership brought the Legion to lease their property out, which led to a hotel on the property. The group eventually bought a building in Williams to operate the Legion in the early 1990s. Hoover started with the Legion as an auxiliary member and went on to become Auxiliary President. She continues to serve as secretary for the Grand Canyon Legion.

Hoover first came to Arizona in 1946. She met the Belgard family on her first day working at Bright Angel.

"I got to know them over the years and we became good friends," Hoover said, adding that she was proud to be the babysitter to the family's first child, Karen. She was also asked to be Godmother for their second child, Rebecca.

"I have enjoyed a good relationship with my god-daughter over the years. We've been really good friends and I've tried to help them whenever I could," Hoover said.

Belgard's two children, Karen and Rebecca, were both born and raised in the Grand Canyon area. Both attended school at Grand Canyon. The Belgards eventually moved to the Williams area in the mid-1970s, where they operated Gateway Cleaners until 1993. During that time, the family continued to stay involved in the Grand Canyon community.


Donate Report a Typo Contact