Charles H. Orme Jr.

Charles H. Orme, Jr. August 25, 1918 - May 4, 2007 Charles H. Orme, Jr. - Headmaster of The Orme School for 42 Years; One of Arizona and America's Most Prominent Leaders of Independent School Education Charles Henry Orme, Jr. of The Orme Ranch outside of Mayer, Ariz., passed away peacefully with his family at his side at 4:15 a.m. on May 4, 2007. Charlie, as he was affectionately known by all, was the Founding Headmaster of The Orme School; a position he held for 42 years from 1945 to 1987. Nationally recognized in independent school education, Mr. Orme was a prominent leader of the National Association of Independent Schools, The American Boarding Schools Association, the Western Boarding Schools Association, the Western Association of Independent Camps, and the Arizona Association of Independent Schools. Charlie was a well known historian and author of numerous articles on the philosophy of education and independent school education. He was the Past President of the Arizona Historical Foundation, a lifetime member of the Yavapai County and Arizona Cattlemen's Association, and Board member of the Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood, Ariz. for 32 years. Charles H. Orme, Jr. was the grandson of Arizona pioneers John P. and Ella Orme, and the oldest son of Arizona Senator Charles H. Orme, Sr. and Minna Vrang Orme. Charlie's grandfather, John Orme, arrived in Arizona via wagon train in 1873 where he quickly became one of Phoenix's most prominent citizens. John settled in central Phoenix and was a founding member of the Salt River Project, introducing President Theodore Roosevelt at the dedication of the Roosevelt Dam. He also served as SRP's second president. Charlie's father, Charles Sr., was raised in territorial Phoenix, graduated from Phoenix Union High School, and matriculated to Stanford University. At Stanford, the senior Orme met his future wife, Minna Vrang of San Rafael, Calif. After marrying, the senior Ormes moved back to Phoenix to take over the Orme Family farms. Charlie was born in Phoenix on August 25, 1918. His mother and father lived in central Phoenix not far from his pioneering grandparents, opposite from the present day site of Phoenix Country Club. By 1926, Chick and Minna Orme decided that they needed to get out of the Salt River Valley heat. The family, now with three children, moved to the cooler, more tolerable climate of California. Charlie's father entered the real estate business in the Los Angeles area, but soon became restless away from the life that he oved - that of the dawn-to-dusk work of a farmer. In 1929, Chick Orme was asked to sell a ranch north of Phoenix and, after inspecting it in person, decided to buy it, trading some of his farmland west of Phoenix as the down payment. Soon The Orme School would be born. On June 10, 1929, Charlie and his brother Mort, and sister Kathryn, arrived at the Orme Family's new home - the Quarter Circle V Bar Ranch - ninety miles up the unpaved old Black Canyon Highway. The decision was made to apply for a county extension school, and the senior Ormes hired a school teacher to come out to the Ranch. With the first classes taught in the old ranch house, The Orme School began. Charlie graduated from The Orme School in 1933 and matriculated to Phoenix Union High School where he graduated in 1937. During his high school years, Charlie lived with his grandfather, John P. Orme. Charlie was an "A" student all four years at Phoenix Union, and was awarded the Goldwater Cup given each year to the senior with the most well-rounded record. He was also an All-State Football player for three years, and was named the top player in the State of Arizona in 1936. Charlie followed in his father and mother's footsteps to their college alma mater Stanford University. At Stanford, Charlie continued to excel academically and athletically. Charlie graduated in 1941 after playing four years of football, earning three letters and playing on Stanford's famous "Wow Boys" team of 1940-41 which upset the nationally ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1941 Rose Bowl. With his brother Mort also at Stanford, Charlie returned home to Arizona to help his parents run the School and the Ranch during the war years. Charlie and his family continued to attract students and campers from around the country to their Ranch School and Camp, and Charlie began to dedicate himself to the building of a school. In early 1945, Charlie met Mimi Royce of Pasadena, who had come to Orme as a chaperone of her younger sisters and as Charlie's secretary. Later that year they would marry and soon Charlie would ask his parents' permission to take over the leadership of The Orme School. With his parents' decision to hand over the reins of the School, Charlie assumed the position of Headmaster, a role he would remain in for 42 years with Mimi standing sideby- side with him as they built one of the most prominent boarding schools and camps in the American West, the United States, and the world. After retiring in 1987, and until just last year, Charlie remained active with the day-to-day operations of The Orme School and Camp. As an ambassador of the School; as an active member of the Board of Trustees; as a confidant and counselor to five successive Headmasters; and as an advisor to countless administrators and coaches, Charlie remained a vibrant and important member of The Orme School community. Charlie never lost his love for his Ranch and farm and, on tours of his beloved rangeland and irrigated fields, he would continue to teach the history of The Orme Ranch and its geographic and historical wonders. The Orme Family remains highly involved with the School as Charlie's son, Paul, was recently named President of the School, and his daughter- in-law, Shawn, is the School's Director of College Guidance. Charlie is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years Mimi Royce Orme; son Charles "Chip" H. Orme III of New York and his children Charles H. Orme IV and Alexandra; son Paul R. Orme and daughter-in-law Shawn and their children, Kathryn, Lauren, and Mallory of Orme, Ariz.; and numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by both his parents, Charles H. Orme, Sr. and Minna Vrang Orme; his brother Morton Vrang Orme, and his sister Kathryn Minna Orme. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 11 at Trinity Cathedral on the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix, Ariz. A reception will follow at Phoenix Country Club. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in honor of Charles H. Orme, Jr. to The Orme School Endowment.

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