Obituary of Boyd L Finch

L. Boyd and Polly Finch L. Boyd Finch passed away peacefully on May 11, 2015 in Tucson, Arizona. He was born on February 6, 1925 in Galesburg, Illinois, to L. Boyd and Arah Dean Finch. After childhood in Illinois and Colorado, he earned a Bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Arizona and a Master's degree in political science from Stanford University. He married Polly Ann Hagan of Clifton, Arizona in 1948. He spent his first 12 career years working as a reporter, photographer, and editor with newspapers in Arizona and California, interrupted by one year in Washington D.C. as a Congressional Fellow of the American Political Science Association. In 1960 Boyd was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in California's 13th District, but lost in the general election. In 1961 he returned to Washington D.C. to serve as Confidential Assistant to Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall. He was active in conservation initiatives during the Kennedy Administration, especially Appalachian strip mining. He also administered the "President's Cabinet Artist Series" which arranged Washington performances by some of the country's greatest artists, musicians, and writers. This series was conceived by Stewart and Lee Udall and actively promoted by First Lady Jackie Kennedy. Decades later Boyd wrote of this in his book, Legacies of Camelot - Stewart and Lee Udall, American Culture, and the Arts. Boyd served in senior Interior Department positions until retiring in 1981, with the final ten years spent as Associate Regional Director of the Southeast Region of the National Park Service, based in Atlanta. Following retirement, Boyd and Polly moved back to Tucson and embarked on years of explorations including Kenya, Tanzania, Scotland, England, Israel, New Zealand, and Australia, along with Alaska, Hawaii, the Canadian Rockies and Maritimes, and uncounted other U.S. destinations. Boyd was a dedicated amateur historian with a focus on Arizona and New Mexico, and served as the Sheriff (President) of Washington D.C. and Tucson chapters of the Westerners International historical association. He was also active with the Arizona Historical Society, writing and reviewing numerous articles for its Journal and for the Western Historical Quarterly. He also authored two additional books: Confederate Pathway to the Pacific: Major Sherrod Hunter and Arizona Territory, C.S.A.; and A Southwestern Land Scam: The 1859 Report of the Mowry City Association. Boyd's volunteer service included many years on the Board of Directors of the Western National Parks Association, a term as Chair of The Friends of the University of Arizona Libraries, and chairmanship of the publications committees for both the Arizona Historical Society and the Western National Parks Association. Boyd also served as a commentator on the Civil War for public television stations in Tucson and Phoenix. Among numerous writing awards he received were the C.L. Sonnichsen Award from the Arizona Historical Association, the Cook Wood Award from Westerners International, and the Blue Pencil Award from the Federal Editors Association. He was also granted the Stewart Udall Environmental Award by the Santa Fe Conservation Trust, and the Meritorious Service Award from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Always kind and patient, Boyd was an excellent professional, a devoted husband and father, and a genuinely good person. At his death he was living at Cascades of Tucson retirement center, and the family wishes to convey their heart-felt appreciation to the staff and management there for the skill, kindness, and friendship they always displayed with Boyd and his beloved wife of 64 years, Polly, who passed in 2012. He is survived by his sons, Lawrence B. Finch of Fresno, California, and Kenneth H. Finch of Omaha, Nebraska, plus four grandchildren. There will be no services, but memorial gifts may be sent in his honor to the Arizona Historical Society, 949 East 2nd St., Tucson, AZ 85719. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Dodge Chapel.