First Ever Community and Collaboration Award

Published on September 19, 2025

Yavapai County, AZ, - On September 16, 2025, during the inaugural Yavapai County State of the County Event, Board of Supervisors Chair Mary Mallory presented the first-ever Community and Collaboration Award to Steve Rutherford and in loving memory of his recently passed wife, Sue. Over 400 people were in attendance to celebrate the couple’s lasting legacy.

A Legacy of Development

Steve and Sue Rutherford moved to Prescott Valley in 1981. After earning bachelor's and master's degrees from Northern Arizona University, Steve started a moving company before discovering his true passion: industrial real estate development. He developed several properties in the region, bringing essential water and infrastructure to key areas like Grapevine Industrial Park. His most notable achievement was developing the building for the Lockheed Martin Flight Service Station, which created over 200 high-paying jobs in the area.

Steve also helped found the Prescott Valley Economic Development Foundation and was a charter member of the Prescott Valley Early Bird Lions Club. There, he started the annual Christmas Tree sales fundraiser that continues to this day.

A Legacy of Compassion

While Steve was the "economic mind" of Prescott Valley, Sue was its heart and soul. As a registered nurse, she found her passion in helping people through traumatic times. She founded the Arizona Crisis Team on the belief that no one should ever be alone during a crisis. For her work, she received the Arizona Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award for Victims' Rights.

Sue passed away in 2022, but her legacy of compassion lives on. In her memory, Steve established the Sue Rutherford Memorial Nursing Scholarship at Yavapai College. The scholarship provides a full-ride scholarship to two nursing students each year, with a preference for single parents.

Setting a New Standard

Chair Mallory reflected on the couple's impact, stating, "Through their combined efforts, Steve and Sue Rutherford built more than a community; they built a legacy. Steve, for his vision and leadership in economic development, and Sue, for her compassion and unwavering support for those in crisis. Together, they have set a new standard for what it means to be a good neighbor and a true community leader.”