Kachinas history and photos of some the Kachinas members from the "Phoenix Rock" guidebook, by Jim Waugh.
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Kachinas patch
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Robert Brock - Kachinas
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AZ Republic - November 15, 1991
From: Tom Kreuser….founding member of the AMC
Dear Outdoor Friends and Fellow climbers…This was sent to me by a friend. I never met Eugene but sounds like a great man doing great things with kids and adults in the outdoors. The Kachina Mountaineers , I think started with either Boy Scouts or Eagle Scouts. Some one named Pedrick was also a Kachina , I believe, Pedrick’s chimney climb on Camelback Man. was named for him.
Another Kachina was the former president or vice president of Western savings Bank and he wrote a book about Camelback Mtn was a Kachina. Gary Driggs. …. I did meet him. The Kachinas werearly climbers in the valley BEFore the AMC. I know they were the first to climb , maybe , El Capitan the volcanic plug in Monument Valley …..I think it may have been written up in Arizona Highways.
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Eugene Davenport Lefebvre
Eugene Davenport Lefebvre was born in Phoenix, AZ, 6/25/1933, to William C. and Pauline D. Lefebvre. He passed away peacefully on 3/12/2024. As a teenager, Gene became part of one of the first formal mountain-climbing groups in Arizona, Kachina Mountaineers. After seminary, he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. Throughout his ministry, he was able to marry two of his passions--the outdoors and young people. Over many years, hundreds of young people (and adults) followed Gene rock climbing, rafting, spelunking, canoeing, camping, cross-country skiing, and other activities which they credit with building their self-confidence and leadership qualities that have motivated and sustained them in their adulthood. Gene involved both youth and adults in pursuing justice for Native Americans, Blacks, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, refugees and migrants. He marched with Caesar Chavez, and sheltered him near Tucson when there was a contract out on Chavez' life. One young person, now long since an adult, upon hearing about Gene's ill health, wrote, "You taught me to look inside my heart, trust my feelings, and care deeply about humanity and the beautiful earth we live on." Gene served several Presbyterian and United Church of Christ churches in Phoenix and California in a variety of roles from youth pastor to senior minister. At 90 years of age, he preached his last sermon on December 24, 2023, at Shadow Rock UCC. He served as moderator of the Presbytery of the Grand Canyon, president of the Phoenix Downtown YMCA board, as a member of the of Operations Industrialization Center (OIC) board, member of the clergy council for the North Phoenix Corporate Ministry, as a co-founder of both The Sanctuary Movement (and as president of the Arizona Sanctuary Defense Fund) and No More Deaths. He also helped start a group for gay clergy in Maricopa County called No Longer Silent. For fifteen years he and his friend John Fife led outdoor seminars called "Care for the Earth" at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. Recently, members of the 1970's Challenge program, which had grown out of Gene's high school wilderness program, held a reunion (40 years later) and decided to replicate the Challenge program in Prescott, Arizona. Gene was gratified that students at Prescott High are carrying on the tradition of learning to value the earth, and become confident, competent contributors to the lives of others. Gene is survived by his wife Carolyn Sue Anderson (Hamilton); children Cynthia Gail McWhorter (Eugene), Mark Alan Lefebvre, Marcia Lynne Lefebvre (aka Alli Waters), and Diane Louise Garcia (Steve), his grandchildren: Jeffrey McWhorter (Patricia), Karilynn McWhorter (Robert Fifield), Douglas McWhorter (Katelynn), Stephen McWhorter (Demetria), Cody Wilson, Taylor Wilson, and great-grandchildren: Gavin McWhorter, Wade McWhorter, Ryker McWhorter, Landon McWhorter, Kainalu Koa Wilson, Taliya Wilson, Kaylee Wilson, Emma Garcia (Wilson Hartsock), and Kate Garcia. A memorial service will be held at Shadow Rock UCC, at 12861 N. 8th Ave., Phoenix, AZ, 85029, on April 27th at 10 am, the Rev. Ken Heintzelman officiating, with reception to follow.
Dear Outdoor Friends and Fellow climbers…This was sent to me by a friend. I never met Eugene but sounds like a great man doing great things with kids and adults in the outdoors. The Kachina Mountaineers , I think started with either Boy Scouts or Eagle Scouts. Some one named Pedrick was also a Kachina , I believe, Pedrick’s chimney climb on Camelback Man. was named for him.
Another Kachina was the former president or vice president of Western savings Bank and he wrote a book about Camelback Mtn was a Kachina. Gary Driggs. …. I did meet him. The Kachinas werearly climbers in the valley BEFore the AMC. I know they were the first to climb , maybe , El Capitan the volcanic plug in Monument Valley …..I think it may have been written up in Arizona Highways.
........................................
Eugene Davenport Lefebvre
Eugene Davenport Lefebvre was born in Phoenix, AZ, 6/25/1933, to William C. and Pauline D. Lefebvre. He passed away peacefully on 3/12/2024. As a teenager, Gene became part of one of the first formal mountain-climbing groups in Arizona, Kachina Mountaineers. After seminary, he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. Throughout his ministry, he was able to marry two of his passions--the outdoors and young people. Over many years, hundreds of young people (and adults) followed Gene rock climbing, rafting, spelunking, canoeing, camping, cross-country skiing, and other activities which they credit with building their self-confidence and leadership qualities that have motivated and sustained them in their adulthood. Gene involved both youth and adults in pursuing justice for Native Americans, Blacks, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, refugees and migrants. He marched with Caesar Chavez, and sheltered him near Tucson when there was a contract out on Chavez' life. One young person, now long since an adult, upon hearing about Gene's ill health, wrote, "You taught me to look inside my heart, trust my feelings, and care deeply about humanity and the beautiful earth we live on." Gene served several Presbyterian and United Church of Christ churches in Phoenix and California in a variety of roles from youth pastor to senior minister. At 90 years of age, he preached his last sermon on December 24, 2023, at Shadow Rock UCC. He served as moderator of the Presbytery of the Grand Canyon, president of the Phoenix Downtown YMCA board, as a member of the of Operations Industrialization Center (OIC) board, member of the clergy council for the North Phoenix Corporate Ministry, as a co-founder of both The Sanctuary Movement (and as president of the Arizona Sanctuary Defense Fund) and No More Deaths. He also helped start a group for gay clergy in Maricopa County called No Longer Silent. For fifteen years he and his friend John Fife led outdoor seminars called "Care for the Earth" at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. Recently, members of the 1970's Challenge program, which had grown out of Gene's high school wilderness program, held a reunion (40 years later) and decided to replicate the Challenge program in Prescott, Arizona. Gene was gratified that students at Prescott High are carrying on the tradition of learning to value the earth, and become confident, competent contributors to the lives of others. Gene is survived by his wife Carolyn Sue Anderson (Hamilton); children Cynthia Gail McWhorter (Eugene), Mark Alan Lefebvre, Marcia Lynne Lefebvre (aka Alli Waters), and Diane Louise Garcia (Steve), his grandchildren: Jeffrey McWhorter (Patricia), Karilynn McWhorter (Robert Fifield), Douglas McWhorter (Katelynn), Stephen McWhorter (Demetria), Cody Wilson, Taylor Wilson, and great-grandchildren: Gavin McWhorter, Wade McWhorter, Ryker McWhorter, Landon McWhorter, Kainalu Koa Wilson, Taliya Wilson, Kaylee Wilson, Emma Garcia (Wilson Hartsock), and Kate Garcia. A memorial service will be held at Shadow Rock UCC, at 12861 N. 8th Ave., Phoenix, AZ, 85029, on April 27th at 10 am, the Rev. Ken Heintzelman officiating, with reception to follow.