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John Frederick Pilger Long
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AliasesJohn F. LongJohn Frederick LongJohn LongBirth 1920-05-17Death2008-02-29BirthplacePhoenixAffiliationsUnited States Air ForceMaryvaleJohn F. Long HomesOccupationsHomebuilderReal-estate DeveloperPhilanthropistPlace of ResidencePhoenixBiographical NoteBorn John Pilger, John took his stepfather's last name, Long, after his father's sudden death when he was young. During WWII, he worked as a mechanic on B-17s and B-24s for the 456th Bombardment Group of the United States Air Force. Upon returning home, he built a home for himself and his new wife and was offered double what it cost to build it before they even moved in. Thus a homebuilding empire was born.
John F. Long Homes became synonymous with the Maryvale area of Phoenix and was the first master-planned community in Arizona. The homes were built for working-class families all across Arizona and at its peak were selling 100 homes per day. John F. Long Homes sold its 12 millionth VA home in 1987.
Long was inducted into the National Housing Hall of Fame and was an inaugural inductee into the Arizona Business Hall of Fame. He was also awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from ASU and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Westmarc, now known as the John F. Long Award. He was also known as a philanthropist that supported numerous schools and local charities through the John F. Long Foundation. The John F. Long Elementary School in Phoenix was named for him. In 1996, he carried the Olympic Torch as it passed through Phoenix on its way to Atlanta.
Long passed away in 2008 and is buried in Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona.More InformationJohn F. Long- Arizona HistorymakersJohn F. Long obituary
John F. Long Homes became synonymous with the Maryvale area of Phoenix and was the first master-planned community in Arizona. The homes were built for working-class families all across Arizona and at its peak were selling 100 homes per day. John F. Long Homes sold its 12 millionth VA home in 1987.
Long was inducted into the National Housing Hall of Fame and was an inaugural inductee into the Arizona Business Hall of Fame. He was also awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from ASU and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Westmarc, now known as the John F. Long Award. He was also known as a philanthropist that supported numerous schools and local charities through the John F. Long Foundation. The John F. Long Elementary School in Phoenix was named for him. In 1996, he carried the Olympic Torch as it passed through Phoenix on its way to Atlanta.
Long passed away in 2008 and is buried in Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona.More InformationJohn F. Long- Arizona HistorymakersJohn F. Long obituary
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John Frederick Pilger Long. Arizona Memory Project, accessed 20/03/2025, https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/277548