Del Webb - History (original) (raw)

Born in 1899 in a very young Fresno, California, Del Webb learned carpentry as a hobby and baseball as a passion at a very early age. Del's life started out on a somewhat privileged note. Before he finished his freshman year in high school, however, his father's company ran into financial problems, and Del was forced to quit school to become a carpenter's apprentice.Though he enjoyed carpentry, Del's love of baseball was still the driving force in his life. He would work only for companies that had a baseball team, always waiting for the call to come from the big leagues.

In 1927, when Del was 28, he contracted typhoid fever, an event which changed the course of his life. On the advice of a friend, Del and his wife, Hazel, moved to Phoenix to recuperate. It was while working in Phoenix that Del Webb finally gave up his dreams of playing baseball professionally and poured all his talents into carpentry.

Webb often claimed that much of his success came from applying the rules of baseball to business. He found that boldness, showmanship, teamwork and steady performance under pressure served him well in both arenas. In 1928 Webb decided to start his own company. As his business began to expand he hired his first employees, several of whom would continue to draw a paycheck from Del for over 20 years.

Del's company continued to grow even through the Depression years. By the late 1930's, his contracting business was one of the largest in Arizona and, as such, was offered numerous defense contracts to help the country prepare for war. Several contracts called for building entire cities, foreshadowing the kind of development work that would make Del Webb famous in the years to come.

Del Webb's innovative problem-solving during the war gave him a reputation which would launch him even further into the major leagues. Webb continued working on peace-time projects for the government after the war ended. These projects were not only lucrative, they also introduced Webb to some very influential people. One of the most interesting was Howard Hughes. Webb and Hughes became fast friends. Often Hughes would join Del and his golfing buddies, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and the Goldwater brothers, Barry and Robert, for a game. Webb and Hughes also shared a love of flying. So, when Hughes got a defense contract to build planes, he turned to Del to help him build the factory.

In addition to government projects, Webb's home-building reputation was growing. He had always been available to help homeowners "make-due" during the war. Now that the war had ended, people were anxious to build new, and they remembered Del.

In 1945 Del and a partner bought the New York Yankees. The purchase turned out to be a profitable investment as the Yankees won the World Series 10 times during the 20-year span in which Del owned them.

Webb's experience in building entire cities for the military paid off in a project in Tucson. In 1948, in response to the post-war demand for housing, Webb was hired to build Pueblo Gardens. The project called for 600 homes and an entire shopping complex to be built in the open desert.

On January 1st, 1960, the start of the new decade brought a new kind of eminence for the Del Webb Corporation. Sun City, an innovative community that was designed exclusively for retired people, was opened.

After working for over five months to convert a cotton field into a city, complete with a golf course, recreation center, shopping center, and five model homes, Del hoped that 10,000 visitors would attend the New Year's Day opening. Instead of 10,000, more than 100,000 people toured the property over the three-day weekend.

As a result of the success of Sun City, a Time magazine cover story and the gratitude of thousands of active adults, Del Webb, like his community, became a legend. Yet he never lost touch with the individual residents. They knew that if something wasn’t right, "Del Webb would fix it."

Hotel development would provide additional opportunities for the company's success. Webb had helped introduce the concept of "motor hotels" in the post-war years. What really brought Del Webb notoriety in hotel development, however, was the construction of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas for underworld figure Bugsy Siegel.

In the years to come, Del Webb himself would become involved in gaming with the Sahara-Nevada Hotel. Webb's entry into gaming was lauded by the Nevada Gaming Commission, which hoped his name would bring other reputable businessmen to Nevada. It did. Howard Hughes joined in, and the two were instrumental in polishing the image of Las Vegas.

On July 31, 2001, the merger of Pulte Homes, Inc. and Del Webb Corporation formally closed. The combined companies have become the nation's largest homebuilder, with a size, geographic presence and product portfolio unrivaled in the homebuilding industry. Whether you are a first-time home buyer, trading up or exploring a unique lifestyle in one of our active adult communities, Del Webb and Pulte Homes holds leading market positions throughout the United States. This $14.7 billion homebuilding powerhouse invites you to become a Homeowner for Life, so you, too, can experience the true customer satisfaction backed by decades of delivering quality homes and lifestyle amenities.