Marshall Trimble
Encyclopedia
Marshall Trimble is an American author, singer, community college
professor
, and Arizona
's official state historian. In addition to his position as director of Southwest studies at Scottsdale Community College, he is a popular speaker.
in 1939. When he was eight, his family left the Salt River Valley and moved to Ash Fork, Arizona
where is father worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. Following high school, Trimble enrolled at Phoenix College
where he was a member of the nationally ranked baseball team. During those same years he played for the semi-pro
Glendale Greys baseball team. The 1956 Greys were runner-up for the Arizona State Semi-pro Baseball Championship.
In February 1957 Trimble dropped out of college and joined the United States Marine Corps
. Inspired by a Marine buddy, he purchased his first guitar in 1958 and taught himself to play while listening to records by Johnny Cash
, Elvis, and Buddy Holly
. His motivation for leaning the guitar was to overcome shyness and to attract girls. He returned to college and graduated from Arizona State University in 1961. Two years later Trimble was touring with the Gin Mill Three, a folk group performing Kingston Trio-inspired music. During his travels he took the opportunity to visit a variety of historical sites and museums. While visiting the Little Big Horn Battlefield in Montana in 1968 Trimble made up his mind to become a western historian and writer. He returned to Arizona State University
, taking every available course in Arizona and Western history. In 1969 he began teaching at Coronado High School.) Initially teaching American history, after two years he was teaching 10 sections of Southwest history. As part of his teaching style, he played his guitar and sang old Johnny Cash songs to demonstrate how folk music and history were interrelated.
In 1972, Trimble was asked to create an Arizona history class at Scottsdale Community College
. Within three years it was one of the largest classes at the college and in 1977 began serving as director of that school's Southwest Studies program. After publishing his first book in 1977, he used his guitar and songs to liven up promotional book readings. Since then he has hosted several radio shows,including Trimble’s Tales and The Emmy award-winning television show, Arizona Backroads. Additionally he has appeared on CBS This Morning, Good Morning America
, KAET-TV at ASU and the Nashville Network.
He appears several times a year on stage at Prescott's Historic Palace Restaurant and Saloon on Whiskey Row. On December 9, 2010, he sang Arizona at a ceremony at the Arizona State Capitol to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the signing of the Arizona State Constitution.
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
's official state historian. In addition to his position as director of Southwest studies at Scottsdale Community College, he is a popular speaker.
Biography
Trimble was born in Mesa, ArizonaMesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
in 1939. When he was eight, his family left the Salt River Valley and moved to Ash Fork, Arizona
Ash Fork, Arizona
Ash Fork is a census-designated place in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. The population was 457 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ash Fork is located at ....
where is father worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. Following high school, Trimble enrolled at Phoenix College
Phoenix College
Phoenix College is a community college located in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Founded in 1920, it is one of the oldest community colleges in the country....
where he was a member of the nationally ranked baseball team. During those same years he played for the semi-pro
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
Glendale Greys baseball team. The 1956 Greys were runner-up for the Arizona State Semi-pro Baseball Championship.
In February 1957 Trimble dropped out of college and joined the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. Inspired by a Marine buddy, he purchased his first guitar in 1958 and taught himself to play while listening to records by Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Elvis, and Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
. His motivation for leaning the guitar was to overcome shyness and to attract girls. He returned to college and graduated from Arizona State University in 1961. Two years later Trimble was touring with the Gin Mill Three, a folk group performing Kingston Trio-inspired music. During his travels he took the opportunity to visit a variety of historical sites and museums. While visiting the Little Big Horn Battlefield in Montana in 1968 Trimble made up his mind to become a western historian and writer. He returned to Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, taking every available course in Arizona and Western history. In 1969 he began teaching at Coronado High School.) Initially teaching American history, after two years he was teaching 10 sections of Southwest history. As part of his teaching style, he played his guitar and sang old Johnny Cash songs to demonstrate how folk music and history were interrelated.
In 1972, Trimble was asked to create an Arizona history class at Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale Community College, is located in Salt River, Arizona, a suburb/rural area of Phoenix. Scottsdale Community College is a two-year college located on the eastern boundary of the city of Scottsdale, Arizona, on 160 acres of land belonging to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community...
. Within three years it was one of the largest classes at the college and in 1977 began serving as director of that school's Southwest Studies program. After publishing his first book in 1977, he used his guitar and songs to liven up promotional book readings. Since then he has hosted several radio shows,including Trimble’s Tales and The Emmy award-winning television show, Arizona Backroads. Additionally he has appeared on CBS This Morning, Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
, KAET-TV at ASU and the Nashville Network.
He appears several times a year on stage at Prescott's Historic Palace Restaurant and Saloon on Whiskey Row. On December 9, 2010, he sang Arizona at a ceremony at the Arizona State Capitol to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the signing of the Arizona State Constitution.
Honors
- In 1997, Governor Fife Symington IIIFife Symington IIIJohn Fife Symington III is an American businessman and the former Governor of the U.S. state of Arizona from 1991 until his resignation in 1997.-Background:...
appointed Trimble the state’s official historian. - Medal of Honor from the Daughters of the American RevolutionDaughters of the American RevolutionThe Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
- Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arizona Office of Tourism.
- Scottsdale Hall of Fame 2004.
- Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame 2004.
- Wild West History Association Lifetime Achievement Award 2010.
- 2011 Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.
- 2011 Arizona Historical Society "Al Merito" Award.
Books
- Arizona: a Panoramic History of a Frontier State, New York: Doubleday, 1977.
- Arizona Adventure, Phoenix: Golden West, 1982, 2003.
- The CO Bar Ranch, Flagstaff: Northland Press, 1982.
- In Old Arizona, Phoenix: Golden West, 1985, 2003.
- Roadside History of Arizona, Missoula, Mont.: Mountain Press, 1986, ISBN 0-87842-198-X.
- Arizona A Cavalcade of History, Tucson: Rio Nuevo Publishers, 1989, 2003.
- Wild West Heroes and Rogues: Wyatt Earp and the Showdown at Tombstone,Phoenix: Primer Publishers, 2008.
- Ash Fork: Images of America, San Francisco: Arcadia Publishers, 2008.
- Arizoniana, Phoenix: Golden West, 1988, 2003.
- Arizona 2000, Flagstaff: Northland Press, 2000.
- Law of the Gun, Phoenix: Arizona Highways, 1997.
- "Arizona Trivia." Golden West Publishers 2004.
- "Arizona: A Diamond in the Rough." Donning 1987.
- "It Always Rains After A Dry Spell." World Pub. 1999
- "Never Give a Heifer a Bum Steer." Arizona Highways 1999.
- "Pulling Legs Attached to Tenderfeet" World Pub. 2000.
External links
- Official site
- Marshall Trimble: State Historian, The American Folklife Center, Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
.