Past Arizonans of the Year

2020: Arizona’s health care workers. For their professionalism, their commitment to their fellow human beings and for their endurance in a pandemic whose end was not in sight.

2019: Tom Buschatzke and Ted Cooke. These water managers overcame differences to help forge an historic compromise on our Colorado River water supply.

2018: Kyrsten Sinema. Not only is she Arizona’s first female senator, but her insistence on bipartisanship shows us how politics should be.

2017: John McCain and Jeff Flake. Arizona’s senators stuck out their necks and paid the price for it. And in so doing, reminded us of core American values.

2016: OSIRIS-REx. The space mission headed by Arizona scientists promises to reveal key parts of who we are.

2015: Doug Ducey. Arizona’s new governor had two huge policy wins in his first year in office.

2014: VA whistleblowers. They braved an angry, vindictive administration to shine light on the poor treatment of veterans.

2013: Yarnell volunteers. Those who helped the victims of the fire that killed 19 hotshots are a perfect picture of selflessness.

2012: Jon Kyl. The Arizona congressman’s work ethic and unique willingness to delve into the details astonished supporters and exhausted the opposition.

2011: Gabrielle Giffords. The Arizona congresswoman became an example of strength and resilience, and a model for Arizona and the nation.

2010: The volunteer. In the worst economic times in a generation, volunteers were never so sorely needed nor so appreciated.

2009: Sandra Day O’Connor (Arizonan of the Decade). The former U.S. Supreme Court justice’s accomplishments made her one of the most powerful people in the world.

2008: John McCain. For his historic run for the presidency, his stoic leadership during the darkest hours of the Iraq War and his valiant fight for immigration reform.

2007: Philanthropic foundations. A group, not a person, earned the distinction for its hard work, generosity and critical mass.

2006: Michael Crow. Arizona State University’s 16th president took risks that have transformed ASU.

2005: Jim Kolbe. The Arizona congressman tackled Social Security and immigration reform when others preferred to steer clear.

2004: Pat Tillman. He put aside a football career with the Arizona Cardinals to serve his country and give his life as an Army Ranger.

2003: Sandra Day O’Connor. In a year that saw historic decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court, her opinion almost always counted most.