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SIERRA VISTA — Randy Groth’s last day as the associate vice president for outreach at the University of Arizona is June 30, but he and his family intend to remain in Sierra Vista, active in the local academic, business and political community.
“I will continue to do the civilian aide job, probably for the next five years or so,” Groth said.
Groth’s original appointment as Arizona’s civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army for Arizona in 2003 was the usual six years of two three-year terms. “My understanding is that they’re reinventing that, and I’m going to be around for a while,” Groth said. The appointment will become one of 10 years, after which one becomes an emeritus. “I’ve really enjoyed it,” he said.
The civilian aide position is one that advocates for Arizona soldiers and their families, “taking the word of the people back to the department of the Army,” Groth said. Groth reports directly to Secretary of the Army, Peter Guerin, as the community liaison, “involved at the highest level of the Army, in rallying the politicians for our soldiers — that kind of thing,” he said — and representing Fort Huachuca and the Army’s Yuma Proving Ground at the state level, throughout the country and in Washington, D.C.
 University of Arizona official Randy Groth, who also serves as Arizona’s civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army, discusses his future plans. (Ed Honda-Herald/Review) |
The civilian aide appointment, which Groth will continue to embrace, comprises a protocol rank of lieutenant general.
Groth is also a member of the Arizona Investment Council.
Groth has spent 26 years in higher education — at Cochise College for nine years, and at the University of Arizona South for 17.
“It’s been a wonderful experience, both at Cochise College and the university,” he said.
Groth has a doctorate in higher education finance from the University of Arizona.
He lived in Sierra Vista as an “Army brat” from 1959 to 1969. In 1976, he returned as a lieutenant in the Army.
And here he stays.
Both his children are Buena High School graduates and are currently attending the University of Arizona. “I’m staying here. I love Sierra Vista,” he said.
He has given notice to UA and will be a part-timer as the associate vice president for outreach until his last day June 30.
Over the years, during table-talk conversation with academics or military officers, most of the time they know not what they are going to do upon retirement — other than essentially continue in their particular line of work, Groth said. That is, academics continue research and writing, and military personnel often get jobs with contractors, he said.
“They end up staying and doing the same thing,” Groth said. So he and his family don’t mind staying in Sierra Vista, but Groth wishes to switch his day-to-day roles and tasks in this community.
What once was a hobby — real estate — will now occupy the majority of Groth’s business hours, while he intends to gain a seat at the University of Arizona South’s University South Foundation, the establishment of which Groth played a crucial administrative role at UAS. “You can’t walk away from 26 years being in education,” Groth said.
Rick Mueller, University South Foundation vice president and past president of the foundation, said Groth will remain important to UAS and the surrounding community. “He’s got a wealth of experience,” said Mueller, who is also the Sierra Vista mayor pro tem.
“He was the first dean of University of Arizona South. He and his wife were both integral in energizing the community, to raise funds to build all but one building on that campus. That could not have been done by the foundation without the assistance of Dr. Groth,” Mueller said. And as greater Sierra Vista continues to grow, bettering local educational opportunities “is tied to quality growth,” Mueller said.
“As dean and vice president of the university, he’s advised the foundation, and the foundation is looking forward to his retirement so we can add him as an active member of the foundation board,” Mueller said. “I’m very confident that with he and his family remaining here, they will continue to be active members and contribute greatly to the Sierra Vista community. Even though he is retired, he will still be a valued asset.”
Judy Gignac, Bella Vista Ranches general manager, former member of the Arizona Board of Regents, and a longtime associate of Groth’s, also spoke highly of Groth and expects success from him during his second career. “Let’s go back and start, from the storefront (UAS) campus all the way to where we are now. You can see that he is a builder. He is somebody who can motivate people and enthuse people and get people behind a project to build to completion,” Gignac said. “It’s just that kind of challenge and opportunity that he really loves to do.”
Groth has prevailed during his time at the university in spite of times of lack of funding, she said. “His business acumen is very high. He has that kind of knowledge. His degree is in economics so he has all the stuff — including life experience — that makes him good at this,” Gignac said.
After Groth and his group of partners built up the official professional area north of Highway 90 in east Sierra Vista, “I think that what he learned from that was that he enjoyed it, he did it well, and he could make a very good living at it,” Gignac said. She mentioned the Groth-and-partners project under way behind Walgreens. “It’s a model that seems to work,” she said. “It’s my experience with Randy Groth that whatever he puts his mind to and gets excited about is going to be very successful.”
Right now, in a parcel behind the Walgreens at the corner of Fry Boulevard and Coronado Drive, Groth and his business partners are in the process of furthering Groth’s new career and former hobby. “By the time I finish building these three, I will have been involved with 19 professional/office buildings,” Groth said — whether involved by a vote, such as was the case when he served on the Cochise College Governing Board, or by vote as he served with the Sierra Vista Citizens Advisory Commission, or via helping raise millions of dollars to build up Sierra Vista’s UAS campus, or now as a developer.
Whether it’s a venture involving a purchase/refurbish, or purchase of existing real property, or commercial development from the ground up, “I thought, if I’m going to retire and transition, maybe I’ll make my hobby full time,” Groth said. He enjoys working with the city and leaving his mark on the community he and his family love — “I see opportunities for what I do in my niche,” he said.
His company recently incorporated is Groth Development Services LLC, with which he intends more partnerships in the future with business partners Groth, Rutherford, Browning and Scott LLC.
Herald/Review reporter Gentry Braswell can be reached at 515-4680 or gentry.braswell@svherald.com.
