STARR, George, Sr.

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ Wednesday, April 13, 2011 George Starr, Sr., 96 I thank God for my longevity, and the Diyin that prayed for me when I was young. In those days medicine men were strong, weren’t greedy, and didn’t ask for money, and how much they are going to have. They didn’t talk about themselves. As a small child at age 7, I started dancing with the Crown Dancer on top of Mt. Graham, and continued to this day. They picked me because people believed in those days that children were sacred. Then I went to boarding School at San Carlos at age 11. My friend, Scott Hadley, my brother, Harry Starr, Ray Henry, Riley Dussie, Newton Pike, Newton Kindelay, Amos Kozie. We used to go out and watch Mt. Turnbull from the top of the hill – that’s why we were expelled from school. Then I went to work with my grandfather, John Rope, at Ash Creek taking care of horses. From then on I became a cowboy working in different places all over the mountain, building the dam, and building fences on the Reservation line. My grandpa, John Rope, he was a great man, worked hard, taught me to pray and how to be a good man, pray for everything living – plants, water, trees, how to travel, the Gila River, to have respect for people, your relatives, your clans-people, animals, family, your cousins. You have to be respectful to others and treat them like your relatives – even the plants, trees, animals. My grandparents were John Rope and Sarah Hadley Rope. Their children were: Hannah Rope Starr – my mother, Phyllis Rope Wesley, Chris Adam Rope, Ada Rope – Rope Jordan, Irene Rope-Rustin. My mother married Emery Starr from Camp Verde. Their children were: Emma Starr, Frank Starr, Effie Starr, George Starr, Harry Starr, Sadie Starr, Inez Starr. I was born on June 3, 1914 in Navajo Point by Gila River. I went to Mission School. My first teacher was Mrs. Vanchepa. I was baptized in the Gila River by Mr. Schlagger on March 24, 1927 – he was our first missionary on the Reservation. He used to live in a tent, wickiup shade house. Harry and I were baptized on the same day, so our birth date got mixed up. Mine was June 3, 1914, his 1916. The medicine man that prayed for me was Abraham Hadley (“Smooth Road”). He named me Nakose (Big Dipper) which is an Indian name that I would live a long time. My grandfather, John Rope, he was from Cedar Creek, and my grandmother, Sarah Hadley, was from East Fork. John Rope’s clan is Bis Zahe - Sarah Rope’s clan is Tugain - My father’s clan is Jilnihe Nadnaiye. I lived a long life because I worked hard, started at age 11 being a cowboy, horse wrangler, building dams, fences, building roads, churches, and working at the sawmill. I worked at the grocery store as butcher, clerk, and cashier. The first store that was built on the Reservation was owned by the name of Al Thompson, Leonard Malone, Ralph Osborn, Mr.Wheeler. In Navajo Point the first people that owned the store were P.B. Hall, R.C. Clayborn, Mr. and Mrs. Petty. The first Lutheran Missionaries that came to our Reservation were Mr. Schleggar, Mrs. Hessnan, Mr. Paul, Mr. Bedan, Mr. Paulinski, Mr. Sprangler, Mr. Schippenhauer, Mr. Sonntag. I was in the rodeo business during 1930; that’s how I met my wife Edith, because I broke my leg during the rodeo. She was working in the hospital at Whiteriver as a nurses’ aid. We got married in January of 1938, and then Lenora was born on a frosty morning. My children are Mayena Nash, George Starr Jr., Carmalita Goseyun, Abel Starr, Leo Starr, Geraldine Chatlin, Carol Starr, and Michael Starr. I love all my children, and all my grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.