Thunderbird school takes on WWII air tower restoration

Thunderbird School of Global Management graduate Will Counts has restored an historic 1902 grocery store and an 1898 opera house.

Next on his list —  revive a 1941 air control tower that sits on the Glendale campus of the business management school. Construction will begin in the next few weeks on the structure that helped American, British and Chinese pilots train during World War II.

The project is expected to transform the three-story tower into a social hub for students for dining, shopping, playing and relaxing.

“We’re excited to get this building into great shape because it really means so much to the school and students here,” Counts said.

Built in 1941, the tower was part of Thunderbird Airfield, used for contract primary flight training of Allied pilots during World War II. The field, created in part by actor James Stewart, continued as a facility and Thunderbird Field 2 was added in Scottsdale.

At the end of the war, the Glendale property was sold for educational purposes, becoming the Thunderbird School of Global Management, a post-graduate business school.

The tower was used for office and classroom space throughout the years, but closed in January 2006 because of structural damage.

When he started classes at the school, Counts said he and other students used to walk by the historic building, but never understood the significance.

Counts, along with 2008 graduates Rebecca Mitchell and Andrew Burman, had the idea to renovate the air tower.

“When you think of air towers now, you automatically think about really tall structures like at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport,” said Counts, a Missouri native. “Towers weren’t that tall back then, but people looked out for planes in them anyway.”

Through the contributions and donations of 600 students, they’ve raised a little more than $2 million and hope to receive an additional $500,000 in the process.

The tower has been gutted, with construction to begin shortly after a ground-breaking ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Thursday on the campus.

WWII veteran Donald Marsey, a 87-year-old Colorado resident who trained at Thunderbird 1 Army Air Field in 1943, will be in attendance, along with Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs.

According to Counts, the tower will be a cross between traditional and modern feel.

“We’re really trying to capture what you might feel like as a cadet then, while giving it an up-to-date look and feel,” he said.

Mitchell Vantrease can be reached at 623-876-2526 or mvantrease@yourwestvalley.com.