With $1.3 million committed by partners Del Webb and Jim Boswell and more than enough land, the stage was set for the birth of the nation’s first active-adult retirement community — one that had to be built from scratch. 

The first earth was moved in August 1959, and during the next five hectic months, a complete model community would emerge.

But what would be the name of that new community?

The Reuben Donnelly firm was hired to conduct a national contest, and a newspaper advertisement appeared in 27 of the largest Sunday newspapers, plus Life magazine and the Saturday Evening Post.

Top prize for the winning entry chosen was a two-bedroom home on a golf course lot. Second place was a fully improved golf course lot, while third place earned a two-week vacation at Del Webb’s Hiway House in Phoenix.

On Dec. 8 — less than a month before the grand opening — Donnelly executives brought their recommendations to the Webb Corp. They were presenting the best candidates when the door opened and in walked Del Webb. 

Looking at the names on display around the room, he pointed to “Sun City,” said, “I like that one,” and left. Webb executives began picking up their papers, but the Donnelly people protested. They claimed they’d been hired to not only run the contest, but also recommend the winning name. 

“You don’t understand,” they were told. “Mr. Webb has made the selection.”

Winners of the first-place prize were the E. A. Brittons of Eugene, Oregon. But when contacted, they were not at home. It seems they were RVers, and gone for the winter. Neighbors weren’t sure where they had gone, but reported the Brittons apparently liked to spend time in Palm Springs. 

The sheriff there was offered $1,000 for the county’s Benevolent Fund to find the Brittons. His men searched local RV parks and finally found the lucky winners.

They came to Sun City in March 1960 to accept the deed to their house, which would be completed in September. The house sits on the North Golf Course at 12801 Augusta Drive.

While the ad for the contest promised a “top quality, two-bedroom home with 1,600 square feet under roof,” the house is a Meadowgrove model and the same size as the model that today houses the Del Webb Sun Cities Museum. Evidently, the square footage included roof overhangs, car port and storage areas!

The Brittons moved into their new home in October — and promptly put the house up for sale the following March. 

The sale brought criticism to the Brittons, and they wrote a letter to the newspaper confirming that Sun City was a wonderful location – but they preferred the mobility of an RV for winter months, and their many friends in Eugene the rest of the year!

Sun City was the name of the nation’s first active-adult retirement community, but today shares its name with some 60 active adult communities nationwide.

Editor’s Note: Ed Allen is a former president of the Del Webb Sun Cities Museum. The museum is at 10801 W. Oakmont Drive in one of the first five model homes built in Sun City. Visit delwebbsuncitiesmuseum.org to schedule a tour of the facility.