A Culture of Giving: The Herbergers

One of the luxuries of living in a new city is that everyone knows everyone. And yes, Phoenix is a new city. In terms of an American metropolis, we are toddlers learning how to navigate around bulky issues, grasping at the basics of infrastructure, while nourishing ourselves in anticipation of strong growth. We know that our teen years are just around the corner and if we don’t get it right, there’s going to be a bad case of acne to deal with.
Add to this the fact that in a burgeoning community you know each other’s sorrows, successes and stories. Such is the case with the Herberger family who ventured west in the late 1940s in search of a better climate for their young daughter Gail, afflicted with polio and asthma. Kax and Bob Herberger, pioneers of a luxury retail chain in the upper Midwest, were parents simply searching for a new home where their young boys Gary and Judd could also flourish.
“Mother was born the same year as Arizona became a state,” reflects Judd. As the youngest son, he grew up exploring the open deserts of Arizona. Riding horses, snacking on pomegranates and dates that grew lushly along his route to school, Judd lived through the Valley’s toddler and tween years. He now wears the mantle of carrying on the Herberger legacy with his effervescent wife Billie Jo.
“Mother and dad saw this place as not only an opportunity for their family, but for the community,” explains Judd. “Dad was analytical and drawn to process, while Mother saw the good in people and could see how investing in folks could grow the community.” With the heart of an artist, which included sculpting, painting and writing, Kax Herberger began quietly investing in those who needed support in order to explore creativity.
Billie Jo Herberger, who actually knew Kax well before she ever met Judd, recalls hearing her future mother-in-law determine that a new artist needed a better truck to move his art around. “She saw a need that once filled would allow a creative genius the opportunity to create and we would all be better for it.” It was determined that the investment in a new vehicle was the right thing to do. So it was done.
“For my mother and dad,” adds Judd, “It was not all about the glory and high profile praise associated with philanthropy. It was the investment in people, culture and society that mattered.” The Herbergers would go on to make strong and significant contributions to Arizona State University, children-focused issues and culture to name just a few avenues of impact. Amazingly, the Herbergers would quietly donate land for 31 public parks dotted across the Valley as well.
Bob Herberger was an amazing classical pianist and Kax loved visual arts. The two identified at the beginning that their new home of Phoenix needed a performing arts venue and without it, the city would have trouble attracting new families, business and investment. “It was really the vision of Dad and Mayor Margaret T. Hance who put it together,” explains Judd. “When Terry Goddard became mayor, he took it to the next level. From there downtown began its amazing transformation.”
As the new Herberger Theater began construction, so did other parts of downtown Phoenix. “I have always loved building and construction,” says Judd. “It seemed at the time as though we were the catalyst for other development. Every week or so there would be additional structures going up. I personally witnessed the rise of a new downtown. One where you were proud to walk around. One where you would bring out-of-town visitors. One where you could explore great dining and entertainment.”
All who attend live theater in downtown Phoenix are welcomed by the exquisite bronze dancers of John Waddell gracing the entrance to the Herberger Theater. “You have to remember how controversial they were originally,” says Judd. “First of all they were nudes, they were primarily female and they were in movement.” The life size sculptures were favorites of all the Herbergers and therefore another investment was made in public art.
“We really wanted to let the world see John Waddell’s masterpieces,” explains Judd. “Today they are still important and so vital. When you come upon the Herberger Theater plaza they are there with outstretched arms just welcoming you to come in and experience the transformation of performance,” adds Billie Jo. “I am still in awe of them each and every time they greet me!”
Riders of the Purple Sage is a new American opera based on the legendary Western novel by Zane Grey. The world premiere will be staged in Phoenix by Arizona Opera and is being produced by Billie Jo and Judd Herberger. The innovative work will also feature massive sets designed and painted by the world-renowned Arizona artist, Ed Mell. “We love live theater and performance art,” says Billie Jo. “When the opportunity came along to support such a major undertaking we made the investment.”
Telling an iconic tale of life in the West with Riders of the Purple Sage include the talents of Composer Craig Bohmler, Conductor Keitaro Harada, Director Fenlon Lamb, Librettist Steven Mark Kohn and Arizona Opera. “This is truly a once in a lifetime collaboration,” adds Billie Jo.
Celebrating Western culture and even Cowboy culture is a daunting task. The new opera makes its debut in a time where new works in English are rare, let alone set in the Wild West. “We love the idea of telling an old story in a new way, using opera,” explains Billie Jo. “And, what is even more amazing is the opportunity for this piece to travel to other parts of the world where opera is performed. Imagine, something that was created here, that reflects our culture, could be presented in some of the great opera halls of Europe.”
Both Herbergers have been working alongside Arizona Opera with an eye towards a state-wide celebration in advance of the world-premiere. Riders of the Purple Sage will debut in February 2017 and honored with several supporting events from a book club that discusses the Zane Grey novel and a coffee talk to a performance by Arizona’s Official Balladeer Dolan Ellis. The opera will be performed in both Phoenix and Tucson, with additional lectures, brown bag luncheon series and even a documentary by Kristin Atwell Ford. “This is such an enormous undertaking and such an important part of our history that we wanted it documented so that other big ideas might have a road map for their journey.”
Sitting with Billie Jo and Judd Herberger as they discuss culture and philanthropy in the Valley is natural, if not a bit surreal. This has been their lives. This is their life. They live their passion for the community and embrace the heartbeats of the city with exuberance and passion. “I love the arts, how it speaks to us, to each of us differently!” proclaims Billie Jo. It is evident in the way they talk about Arizona culture that the two philanthropists are fully present in the wonderment of it all. “We live in an amazing time, with so much going on,” says Billie Jo.
Echoing the thought, Judd Herberger gets to the point. “Now, all we need to do is cultivate new donors, bring more people to the table and build our philanthropic base even larger.”
Not unlike what a parent tells their teenager. Only, the teenager is us and the parents are someone like Billie Jo and Judd Herberger who have watched over the community and know us so well.