David Hossler
In recognition of his efforts to recognize others, Hossler was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award in May 2020 by Tyree and James Sheldahl, board president of the Education Foundation of Yuma County.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the educational efforts of Yuma County over a long period of time.
According to Yuma County School Superintendent Tom Tyree, no one was a more obvious contender for the award’s first-ever recipient than David Hossler. A career lawyer and longtime Rotarian on the local, regional and international levels, Hossler was instrumental in creating the Education Foundation of Yuma County — upon whose board he served as chairman following its formation — and spearheading one of the area’s largest and longest-running events, the Teacher of the Year Banquet.
“Inducting individuals into our Hall of Fame is our way of recognizing the efforts of those who have historically provided our students with an outstanding educational environment in which to succeed as well as recognizing those students who, as a product of our educational system, have gone on to make valuable contributions to our community and the nation,” said Tyree. “David J. Hossler’s efforts in creating the Education Foundation of Yuma County and his many years of service on its board as a Rotarian make him a standout choice for this first-ever prestigious award.”
As the product of two educators, David Hossler was personally acquainted with and deeply passionate about education; alongside his roles as an active Rotarian and lawyer, he taught courses for Webster University, the University of Phoenix and Arizona Western College and coached the Yuma High School mock court team. According to his wife, it was his first-hand experience that fueled Hossler’s drive to help create Teacher of the Year, which he was an active participant in until his health began to wane about 10 years ago. “He’s taught his whole life and always felt very passionate about it,” said Gretchen Hossler. “He always felt that the hardworking, underpaid people in education needed recognition.” In recognition of his efforts to recognize others, Hossler was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award in May 2020 by Tyree and James Sheldahl, board president of the Education Foundation of Yuma County.