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The Slovakia Population of Tucson

Before 1918 immigrants to the United States and specifically Arizona
came here identifying themselves as Austrians, Hungarians, Austro-Hungarians,
Czechs, Slovaks, Bohemians and Moravians, making specific separations of the
immigrants difficult. The birthplace, Austria, could have included the Czech, (Bohemian)
Moravian and Slovak areas. The 1870 Federal Census of Arizona Territory lists two residents
in the Territory who give their place of birth as Bohemia. The two residents of the territory of "Bohemian" extraction were John W. Sequens, age 38, garrisoned at Ft. Bowie, post office Tucson. M. Fry, age 24, listed as a laborer, residing in Prescott, Arizona. Neither John Sequens nor M. Fry is listed in the 1864 Federal Census of the Territory. In 1937, the Federal Census stated that 300 people in Arizona listed birth in Czechoslovakia. Source: Arizona Historical Society

Political, Educational & Community Leaders

Milan and Dorthy Novak - Dr. Milan Novak developed and directed a new program for monitoring all University of Arizona research involving the use of humans. Dr. Novak served in that capacity for 20 years starting in 1970. Dr. Novak established one of the nations first blood banks. He held the patent for disposable plastic transfusion equipment. He also helped establish continuing medical education programs for doctors at 51 hospitals in Arizona. Dr. Novak served 29 years at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine in Chicago and Dean of the Graduate College at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Medical School. He created turquoise jewelry as a hobby. Milan and Dorthy Novak came to Tucson in 1969, and both were very active in civic organizations and the Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson.

Dorthy helped establish the Tucson Ronald McDonald House. She received the prestigious "Hon Kachina" Award for her many charitable activities that continue to contribute to Tucson. Dorthy and Milan were inducted into the Amateur Speed Skating Union of US Hall of Fame in 1979. Source: Arizona Daily Star 1/8/92 & 8/13/97. Records of the Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson

As a boy in Bohemia, Joseph Martinek was an inveterate reader of American Indian stories. The few coins he saved went to buying books about "Geronimo, Chief of the Apaches" or "The Saga of Sitting Bull" or "In The Land of the Navajo". Reading and rereading these stories, the boy came to love the American Southwest. He decided that someday, somehow, he would live there. In 1947, Joseph realized his boyhood dream when he and his family moved to a small adobe house on the Arizona Desert, some five miles from the outskirts of Tucson. At the time, he said: "It took me 50 years, but I finally made it to the Indian country." Here surrounded by the beauty of the Southwest, he wrote poems and stories, and became known as the "Czech Poet of the Desert."

Milan & Dorthy Novak

One of his books is "Songs of the Desert," a collection of poems published in the USA, Canada and England in 1957. Mr. Martinek was the "Founding Father" of the Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson. Joseph Martinek came to Tucson in 1947 to fulfill a childhood dream. He was born in Podebrady, a village near Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1889.

He was a metal worker by trade, immigrating to the United States in 1909 and was an emissary of Thomas G. Masaryk the first President of the newly formed country of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Joseph Martinek was versed in seven languages and organized immigrant workers in the steel and mining industries prior to World War I. He authored books and poetry published in several publications. During World War I he rallied to the cause of gaining freedom for Czechoslovakia.

He was the editor of "Pravo Lidu" in Prague in 1934. Hitler placed Mr. Martinek on the "Black List" and in 1939 he escaped to the United States. He supported social security and unemployment insurance and was labeled a radical leader. Joseph Martinek was a "Rebel With Many Causes" influencing the history of two continents, and being branded a traitor by two governments. He played an active role in the American Labor Movement. He founded and served as president of a large consumer co-operative; serving as a teacher, journalist, lecturer, author, editor and poet; participated in the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic. Source: "The Journal" published by Czechslovak Society of America, May, 1980. Records of the Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson and Paula Malik, Vice President, Czech Slovak American Club 2001,02,03

Augustus Brichta was the first public school teacher hired by the Tucson Unified School District in 1867. The school opened as the first English-speaking public school in Tucson and the Arizona Territory. Augustus Brichta was born in New York City. His parents took him to Havana, Cuba, and then to Missouri, where he entered St. Louis University. The family settled in Texas, in 1846 he joined a Texas Regiment under General Zachary Taylor, the Texas Mounted Volunteers, drawing $21 per month pay and rations for his horse.

He joined the gold rush to California, but with little success he returned to Prescott, AZ. He came to Tucson in 1868 when Tucson became the Territorial capital, where he became the legislative enrolling clerk. Next, he became the first school teach for the Tucson Unified School District. The school building was approximately 25 x 40 feet and enrolled about 55 boys of Mexican descent.

A platform and desk for Master were constructed for $15.00; nine desks and six benches furnished the dirt floor school. Due to a lack of funds the school closed after six months. Brichta was paid for only for of those six months. Brichta also operated the Wheat Saloon. He later became a hotel clerk, assistant postmaster, county recorder, constable and the first justice of the peace in Nogales. In his later years Brichta was engaged in mining ventures in the Tucson Mountains and acquired real estate in Pima County. In 1960, the Brichta School was opened to honor the first District I, teacher. Source: Arizona Historical Library Brichta file, which includes a narrative about his experience in the Mexican War. Additional information
from TUSD History "The First Hundred Years."

Joe Malik, Jr. and his wife Paula came to Tucson in 1960 from Austin, Texas. He built the University of Arizona Russian and Slavic Languages Department into a nationally recognized program. Malik was the first Russian professor in Arizona. He was executive secretary of the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and European Languages, served on the Board of Directors of the Saguaro Credit Union, and was President of the Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson.

Frank Minarik came to Tucson in 1925 on a stretcher because of a severe affliction of arthritis. He eventually was able to walk without crutches and worked diligently for others who had physical limitations. He became a successful Realtor. He helped build the first clinic in Tucson for crippled children. He was a founding member of Little League baseball, Arizona's national Democratic Committeeman, and president of the Southwest chapter of Arthritis and Rheumatism foundation. Minarik received many awards, including a regional award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1955. Source: Arizona Daily Star 5/5/1955 & 1/2/1972

Sports

Louis Brichta, grandson of Augustus Brichta, attended the University of Arizona and played varsity football in 1912-13. He was awarded a trophy for being the school's top all-around athlete. There were 17 graduates in 1913. Louis was a mining engineer, born in Tucson in 1889. In 1942, Louis worked for the U.S. Bureau of Mines. While at the bureau, he conducted several investigations in mineral resource development, compiled a tri-state zinc-lead district catalogue, and co-authored 13 other Bureau of Mines Publications. For his contributions to the bureau, he was given a Commendable Service Award. Source Arizona Daily Star, 11/1/1963

Musicians

Music is an important part of the Czech Slovak culture and a group called the
"Bouncing Czechs" provides entertainment from time to time at club meetings. Current
member, John Prokop is the leader of the group. Past members include Frank Prokop, George Masa, Joe Malik and Bill Kohut. John Prokop also currently plays tuba in several Tucson bands and is President of the Tucson Concert Band and the Old Arizona Brass Band. John's father Frank was a well-known professional drummer in Chicago before coming to Tucson in about 1985.

Pioneer Women of Czech Slovak Decent

Marie Masa worked in the Eagle Bakery and was a founding member of the Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson. Sam Levine who baked a traditional �houska� for the club that was six feet long owned Eagle Bakery. Mrs. Masa spoke of the beginnings of the club that was organized November 10, 1954, during the era when people were being labeled Communists" by the leadership of Senator Joseph McCarthy. Mrs. Masa was invited to a gathering of the Czechs and Slovaks, but feared that the group might be classified as "un-American." Yet, courageously, she attended the initial meeting and recalled that if the Club began meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance they would be "safe." This remains a tradition in the Club meetings today. Mrs. Masa's daughter, Shirley Jakimowich, was influential in creating the first Czech Slovak Cookbook and served as President of the Club. Mrs. Masa's grandson, Eddie Jakimowich Jr. owns and operates A-1 TV Service and Rentals. George Masa, son of Marie was an accomplished musician and participated in several musical groups in Tucson. George also served as President of the Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson. Mary K. Austin was an active member of the Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson. Mary was the manager of Tanque Verde Guest Ranch for five years, President of both the Elks Ladies and Rebecca's, and Chairperson of the March of Dimes and several other activities in the Tucson area. She was also in five movies with Audie Murphy, Jimmy Stewart, Dan Duryea and others. Mary was born in Kosice, Czechoslovakia and came to the U.S. at nine months of age. She was in a coma on the voyage and the captain of the ship wanted to throw her overboard in a canvas sack. Her mother refused to give her up to the captain. Mary lived many years despite her near death experience at age nine months.

Zdenka Kapral, author of "Tomorrow Will Be Better" a story of the Kapral familys life under Nazi occupation and later under Communist occupation of Czechoslovakia. The Krapal's settled in Tucson in 1983, her book was published in 1990. Alex Kapral was a prolific inventor including quick release glue used to stick diapers on babies, "Hello, My Name Is," created a sugar that is palatable to animals and repulsive to people that helped save the Czechoslovak sugar cane industry. Alex Kapral had 150 patents, mostly in chemistry.

Clara Novy Best, received Outstanding Volunteer of the Year of Tucson, as a result of her many volunteer activities including her years of work at Ronald McDonald House. Clara is the daughter of Rudolph Novy the first president of the Czech Slovak Club of Tucson. Clara was Treasurer of the Czech Slovak American Club of Tucson for many years.

Entrepreneurs

Anthony & Sophie Vomacka - Sophie Vomacka married Frank Novak after Tony's death. She purchased property at Craycroft and 22nd Street where they built small rental units and stores facing 22nd Street, one of which was a furniture resale shop. Sophie now resides at the Cascades in Tucson and she is 101 years old! Source: Clara Novy Best

Laddie & Hanna Kletecha opened the Mountain View Restaurant in 1985 featuring middle European Foods, and is a great place to eat in Tucson, located at 1220 Prince Road.

Jan & Agnes Machala, were early entrepreneurs. Jan was a mason and worked with Joe Urban, all members of the Czech Slovak American Club. Jan and Agnes marketed fruit, peaches, pears, apricots, quince and blue plums for three decades. They also sold, chickens, pigeons and rabbits. They lived on 22nd Street where John Dillinger, the famous outlaw had a home near their property. Source: Emily Machala

Eddie & Bonnie Jakimowich operates the A-1 TV Service and Rentals, located at 4528 East Broadway. Eddie is the grandson of Marie Masa an original member of the Czech Slovak Club of Tucson.

Joseph Prchal owns and operates Architectural Landscaping & Outdoor Concepts Co., located at 3751
East Fort Lowell Road. He is the grandson of Ann Prchal, early pioneer, who worked for the club for many years. Betty and Ken Prchal served in many offices and on the Board of the Club. In December 1974, five generations of Prchal's were honored and photographed at the Club.

Judi & Peter Pitr operates the restaurant A Great Location at 20 North Sarnoff Drive in Tucson. Peter is a native of the Czech Republic and Judi has served as President of the Club.

by: Georgia Rice

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