Here is a look at Surprise history through the years on this week, compiled from archives of Independent Newsmedia, Newspapers.com and the city of Surprise historical records:

1951

A 15-year-old Wickenburg High School student and his father are killed when their car swerves to avoid hitting a dog on the Wickenburg Highway and crashes head-on with another vehicle. It happens around where is now Grand Avenue and Bell Road. Three other people are injured in the crash.

1966

Mayor Harold Yingling and councilmen Curtis Ashworth and Wade Malone are facing a recall effort for their actions that resulted in the firing of Town Clerk Doyle S. Moore. Mr. Moore collapsed and died of a heart attack minutes after the council fired him last month.

1987

Surprise honors its 50th year since founder Flora Mae Stateler bought land here with its Founder’s Day celebration. It includes a parade, Mexican rodeo, bullfight and fireworks. Most of the $12,000 it costs to put on the event comes from groups developing the town. With 4,300, estimates have the town tripling in population by 1990.

1997

Surprise annexes 320 acres of land along Bullard Avenue between Greenway and Waddell roads to make way for Ashton Ranch subdivision.