A Man and a Priest...

This is not a sports story.

Far from it. But it is about the past...a long, long, long time ago. Back in the 17th century, a priest roamed the land that we now call our home. No street lights...no interstates, mostly just desert land. The priest did his part though, building mission after mission, 21 in all went up all over the Sonora Desert.

He was affectionately known as "Father Kino". His given name was Eusebio Francisco Kino, a Jesuit priest who traveled the countryside preaching unity and good will. This September, a shrine will be dedicated to Father Kino at the base of "A" Mountain, just west of the Santa Cruz River. The location of the shrine is often referred to as "The Birthplace of Tucson."  Father Kino died in 1713. His whereabouts unknown.

In 1966, a University of Arizona archaeologist by the name of Dr. William W. Wasley and his crew were digging in Magdelana, a small Mexican town less than 100 miles south of the Arizona border. They came across the find of a lifetime. Wasley and his crew discovered the grave site of Eusebio Francisco Kino.

Wasley passed away in 1970. He was my father-in-law.  My boys' grandfather. I was 21 years old at the time of the discovery. The word spread swiftly, from the tiny streets of Magdelana, to the busy streets of Nogales, and to Tucson and all of the Arizona communities.

In all his years of excavation as an archaeologist could Dr. Wasley have dreamed of such a discovery? That was his job and he certainly left his mark in the history books.