Community members gathered Wednesday afternoon to honor the late Richard A. Segal, a longtime attorney and former president of the State Bar of Arizona, who helped found the downtown development group Phoenix Community Alliance.
Segal died on April 18 this year. Family members and fellow community leaders close to Segal met at the Maricopa County Justice Museum and Learning Center on Jefferson Street near First Street, a space Segal helped create.
“I know Dick would be so happy, because he really loved this place, to have you all here,” said Glenn Davis, a former Maricopa County Superior Court judge. “He worked with me to get this museum space created.”
Martin Shultz, former chair of Phoenix Community Alliance, called Segal “the calmest voice over a long period of time.”
“He could pipe up in a soft way with the most prescriptive solution to the problem,” Shultz said. “His advice was always solid … frankly, no one ever questioned the guidance that he gave.”
Schultz also complimented the tremendous amount of pro bono work Segal did in his legal practice. He said it was a testament of Segal’s dedication to serving others.
Former Phoenix Mayor Terry Goddard referred to Segal as “the rock who held the business community here.” He said Segal had immense modesty despite his accomplishments, especially those resulting from his legal skill and involvement in the city.
Goddard brought a painting with him, originally printed as a symbol of Phoenix, which he presented to Segal’s wife, Susan.
“We had 75 copies made and I gave all but this one away to folks who contributed a great deal to making their city better, and I should have given one to Dick Segal and I didn’t,” he explained. “So Susan, if I could give this to you, I would very much appreciate it.”
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton frequently referenced Segal’s leadership and the role he served in reviving and maintaining Phoenix’s downtown over his many decades of work.
“If you loved Phoenix, Dick loved you,” Stanton said. “But he didn’t want you to love our city in the abstract; he wanted you to act on that love. To role up your sleeves and make positive change. Dick knew that leadership was not a spectator sport.”
Stanton called Segal’s track record of success “without peer.”
“I speak not just as the current mayor of Phoenix, but on behalf of all the mayors of Phoenix who were fortunate enough to work with Dick over his more than 50 years of service to our city,” Stanton said.
“These early leaders changed the course of Phoenix history,” he added. “They created the organizational infrastructure for downtown advocacy. Thousands and thousands of Phoenix residents will have improved quality of life now and many, many decades in the future because of Dick’s leadership … Our city needs more Dick Segals.”
Contact the reporter at grsandle@asu.edu
