Madge Heckman Lesher
Alice Marguerite Heckman Lesher (Madge) Born 1890 Bradford Massachusetts Died 1980 Phoenix Arizona Matriculated University of Arizona 1914 (two years) Married C. Zaner (Zip) Lesher Capt. U.A. Marine Corps 1919 Re-entered University of Arizona 1931 Graduated with Highest Distinction 1933 Member Alpha Phi Fraternity Children: Robert Overton Lesher ('42) and LLB ('47) Suzanne Lesher Huck ('45) Grandchildren: Steven Harrison Lesher ('75) Janet Lesher ('77) Wendy Huck Godfrey ('77) Great Grandchild: Daniel Charles Huck ('07) Madge has 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren but the ones named have graduated from or are attending the University of Arizona. In September of 1913 a young lady from New England boarded a steamer bound for Galveston Texas via the seas around the top of Florida. From Galveston a Pullman car on the Santa Fe Railway took her to Tucson where she was greeted by a full desert moon and magic mountains. She never looked back! Her sister and brother-in-law Helen and Charlie Willis an MIT graduate and member of the faculty of the College of Mines and Engineering helped her to matriculate at the University of Arizona then a student body of 50 girls and 200 boys. She loved it all entering in sports and many activities including a life-long joy at her being cast as Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore at the Herring Hall Theatre. At the outbreak of World War I she had become engaged to C. Zaner (Zip) Lesher a handsome redhead one of the founders of the local chapter of SAE. Upon his return from action in the trenches of France they were married in Warren AZ (a suburb of Bisbee!) Madge left her classrooms behind while raising her two children Bob and Sue but when they were in school she returned at approximately the age of 40 and received her degree With Highest Distinction. Meanwhile her husband and love of her life Zip had become Registrar and Director of Admissions for the University and together they built a wonderful life centered around the faculty friends and activities of the school they loved so much.