Published in The Sierra Vista Herald (July 19, 2017):
SIERRA VISTA — Thomas "Mike" Dennis, 76, longtime resident of Sierra Vista, passed away on June 23, 2017.
Mike was born on April 10, 1941, in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in Anaheim, California.
In 1961 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent two decades as an electronics and communications specialist, proudly serving his country in locations around the world, including Japan, Ethiopia, and Germany. He retired at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, with the rank of master sergeant.
Mike started his real estate career at Fort Realty, went on to become a real estate broker and owner of Realty World as well as I Sell Arizona! Mike Dennis Realty, and closed his career as an associate broker with Keller Williams. For over 30 years he provided hands-on supervision, guidance, and motivation to hundreds of real estate professionals and closed thousands of transactions. For many years, Mike was the author of two popular newspaper columns, "Real Estate Notebook" and "Real Estate Today."
From 1986 to 2011, he was a member of the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce, served on the Board of Directors from 1987 to 1995, and regularly performed in the Ambassador's Annual Celebrity Revue. In 1988 he founded the Military Affairs Committee to support the symbiotic relationship between Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca. He served ten consecutive terms as Chairman and founded the MAC Ball, which was attended by civilian and military leadership, including the Secretary of the Army, Governor Jack Williams, and cowboy icon Rex Allen, Sr. The MAC also welcomed the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, Mission STS-44, upon their visit to Fort Huachuca. Mike implemented the popular Adopt-A-Soldier program, which matched civilian host families with soldiers who would otherwise be alone for the holidays. He authored the local newspaper column "Military Affairs Division" and founded and served on the Board of Directors of the Fort Huachuca 50, an organization dedicated to keeping Fort Huachuca off the federal base-closures list.
After graduating from the pilot class of the Citizen's Police Academy in 1998, he went on to fulfill his personal commitment to provide volunteer law-enforcement support to local agencies and the community at large by joining the Arizona Rangers. In 2004, he also graduated from the Cochise County Sheriff's Office Volunteer Academy.
Following his enlistment in 1999, Mike had an extensive career with the Sierra Vista Company of the Arizona Rangers. He served as a six-term Company Commander, as well as public relations officer, law enforcement liaison officer, and state adjutant, achieving the permanent rank of lieutenant colonel. From 2000 to 2005, he dedicated over 10,000 hours, at which point he quit counting, all while continuing to operate his full-time real estate company. During his tenure, Mike established four new Arizona Rangers companies, recruited more than 100 Arizona Rangers, and received "lifetime member" designation in 2012. Over a period of years, he successfully pursued country music legend Willie Nelson to perform a concert in Sierra Vista, and the Arizona Rangers provided security at the event. Mike presented his music idol with the Arizona Rangers badge featured prominently in the "Beer For My Horses" music video with Toby Keith.
In 1993 Mike suffered a massive heart attack. After a long road to recovery, he conducted a three-year lecture series on behalf of the American Heart Association. He had over 200 engagements and over 100 radio ads and went on to serve on their Board of Directors. After fighting prostate cancer in 2001 and again in 2007, he conducted a two-year lecture series promoting early detection and became the voice for awareness and screening through numerous radio public service announcements. For many years he served Ranger duty at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, and in 2008 he walked the survivor lap in uniform.
During the 80s, he created award-winning "Best in Show" silver and malachite jewelry. In 1987 he was a committed Pageant Dad and became a long-term volunteer and sponsor of the Miss Sierra Vista Scholarship Pageant. He went on to serve as co-executive director with his wife Jackie beginning in 1999.
In his younger years, Mike was a champion bowler, avid drag racer, and expert pool and chess player. He enjoyed writing humorous fiction, watching NASCAR, and restoring his '58 Chevy Biscayne. Mike was a talented boxer, a devoted student of Haganah, and an expert shot.
Mike was loved, honored, and adored by his wife Jackie; son Tom Dennis and his wife Jodi; daughter Tammy Brown and her husband Todd; daughter Tracy Cook and her husband Terry; five beautiful grandchildren, Randi, Hayley, Makenna, Sierra, and Tommy; honorary son Antonio and his wife Yoli; brother Chuck Dennis and his wife Mary; sister Patti Baker and her husband Walter; and sisters Linda Dennis and Leslie McDermott.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, July 22, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at the Move City Church, located at 200 North Ave. in Sierra Vista.
SIERRA VISTA — Thomas "Mike" Dennis, 76, longtime resident of Sierra Vista, passed away on June 23, 2017.
Mike was born on April 10, 1941, in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in Anaheim, California.
In 1961 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent two decades as an electronics and communications specialist, proudly serving his country in locations around the world, including Japan, Ethiopia, and Germany. He retired at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, with the rank of master sergeant.
Mike started his real estate career at Fort Realty, went on to become a real estate broker and owner of Realty World as well as I Sell Arizona! Mike Dennis Realty, and closed his career as an associate broker with Keller Williams. For over 30 years he provided hands-on supervision, guidance, and motivation to hundreds of real estate professionals and closed thousands of transactions. For many years, Mike was the author of two popular newspaper columns, "Real Estate Notebook" and "Real Estate Today."
From 1986 to 2011, he was a member of the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce, served on the Board of Directors from 1987 to 1995, and regularly performed in the Ambassador's Annual Celebrity Revue. In 1988 he founded the Military Affairs Committee to support the symbiotic relationship between Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca. He served ten consecutive terms as Chairman and founded the MAC Ball, which was attended by civilian and military leadership, including the Secretary of the Army, Governor Jack Williams, and cowboy icon Rex Allen, Sr. The MAC also welcomed the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, Mission STS-44, upon their visit to Fort Huachuca. Mike implemented the popular Adopt-A-Soldier program, which matched civilian host families with soldiers who would otherwise be alone for the holidays. He authored the local newspaper column "Military Affairs Division" and founded and served on the Board of Directors of the Fort Huachuca 50, an organization dedicated to keeping Fort Huachuca off the federal base-closures list.
After graduating from the pilot class of the Citizen's Police Academy in 1998, he went on to fulfill his personal commitment to provide volunteer law-enforcement support to local agencies and the community at large by joining the Arizona Rangers. In 2004, he also graduated from the Cochise County Sheriff's Office Volunteer Academy.
Following his enlistment in 1999, Mike had an extensive career with the Sierra Vista Company of the Arizona Rangers. He served as a six-term Company Commander, as well as public relations officer, law enforcement liaison officer, and state adjutant, achieving the permanent rank of lieutenant colonel. From 2000 to 2005, he dedicated over 10,000 hours, at which point he quit counting, all while continuing to operate his full-time real estate company. During his tenure, Mike established four new Arizona Rangers companies, recruited more than 100 Arizona Rangers, and received "lifetime member" designation in 2012. Over a period of years, he successfully pursued country music legend Willie Nelson to perform a concert in Sierra Vista, and the Arizona Rangers provided security at the event. Mike presented his music idol with the Arizona Rangers badge featured prominently in the "Beer For My Horses" music video with Toby Keith.
In 1993 Mike suffered a massive heart attack. After a long road to recovery, he conducted a three-year lecture series on behalf of the American Heart Association. He had over 200 engagements and over 100 radio ads and went on to serve on their Board of Directors. After fighting prostate cancer in 2001 and again in 2007, he conducted a two-year lecture series promoting early detection and became the voice for awareness and screening through numerous radio public service announcements. For many years he served Ranger duty at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, and in 2008 he walked the survivor lap in uniform.
During the 80s, he created award-winning "Best in Show" silver and malachite jewelry. In 1987 he was a committed Pageant Dad and became a long-term volunteer and sponsor of the Miss Sierra Vista Scholarship Pageant. He went on to serve as co-executive director with his wife Jackie beginning in 1999.
In his younger years, Mike was a champion bowler, avid drag racer, and expert pool and chess player. He enjoyed writing humorous fiction, watching NASCAR, and restoring his '58 Chevy Biscayne. Mike was a talented boxer, a devoted student of Haganah, and an expert shot.
Mike was loved, honored, and adored by his wife Jackie; son Tom Dennis and his wife Jodi; daughter Tammy Brown and her husband Todd; daughter Tracy Cook and her husband Terry; five beautiful grandchildren, Randi, Hayley, Makenna, Sierra, and Tommy; honorary son Antonio and his wife Yoli; brother Chuck Dennis and his wife Mary; sister Patti Baker and her husband Walter; and sisters Linda Dennis and Leslie McDermott.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, July 22, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at the Move City Church, located at 200 North Ave. in Sierra Vista.
Published in The Sierra Vista Herald (July 19, 2017):
SIERRA VISTA — Thomas "Mike" Dennis, 76, longtime resident of Sierra Vista, passed away on June 23, 2017.
Mike was born on April 10, 1941, in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in Anaheim, California.
In 1961 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent two decades as an electronics and communications specialist, proudly serving his country in locations around the world, including Japan, Ethiopia, and Germany. He retired at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, with the rank of master sergeant.
Mike started his real estate career at Fort Realty, went on to become a real estate broker and owner of Realty World as well as I Sell Arizona! Mike Dennis Realty, and closed his career as an associate broker with Keller Williams. For over 30 years he provided hands-on supervision, guidance, and motivation to hundreds of real estate professionals and closed thousands of transactions. For many years, Mike was the author of two popular newspaper columns, "Real Estate Notebook" and "Real Estate Today."
From 1986 to 2011, he was a member of the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce, served on the Board of Directors from 1987 to 1995, and regularly performed in the Ambassador's Annual Celebrity Revue. In 1988 he founded the Military Affairs Committee to support the symbiotic relationship between Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca. He served ten consecutive terms as Chairman and founded the MAC Ball, which was attended by civilian and military leadership, including the Secretary of the Army, Governor Jack Williams, and cowboy icon Rex Allen, Sr. The MAC also welcomed the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, Mission STS-44, upon their visit to Fort Huachuca. Mike implemented the popular Adopt-A-Soldier program, which matched civilian host families with soldiers who would otherwise be alone for the holidays. He authored the local newspaper column "Military Affairs Division" and founded and served on the Board of Directors of the Fort Huachuca 50, an organization dedicated to keeping Fort Huachuca off the federal base-closures list.
After graduating from the pilot class of the Citizen's Police Academy in 1998, he went on to fulfill his personal commitment to provide volunteer law-enforcement support to local agencies and the community at large by joining the Arizona Rangers. In 2004, he also graduated from the Cochise County Sheriff's Office Volunteer Academy.
Following his enlistment in 1999, Mike had an extensive career with the Sierra Vista Company of the Arizona Rangers. He served as a six-term Company Commander, as well as public relations officer, law enforcement liaison officer, and state adjutant, achieving the permanent rank of lieutenant colonel. From 2000 to 2005, he dedicated over 10,000 hours, at which point he quit counting, all while continuing to operate his full-time real estate company. During his tenure, Mike established four new Arizona Rangers companies, recruited more than 100 Arizona Rangers, and received "lifetime member" designation in 2012. Over a period of years, he successfully pursued country music legend Willie Nelson to perform a concert in Sierra Vista, and the Arizona Rangers provided security at the event. Mike presented his music idol with the Arizona Rangers badge featured prominently in the "Beer For My Horses" music video with Toby Keith.
In 1993 Mike suffered a massive heart attack. After a long road to recovery, he conducted a three-year lecture series on behalf of the American Heart Association. He had over 200 engagements and over 100 radio ads and went on to serve on their Board of Directors. After fighting prostate cancer in 2001 and again in 2007, he conducted a two-year lecture series promoting early detection and became the voice for awareness and screening through numerous radio public service announcements. For many years he served Ranger duty at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, and in 2008 he walked the survivor lap in uniform.
During the 80s, he created award-winning "Best in Show" silver and malachite jewelry. In 1987 he was a committed Pageant Dad and became a long-term volunteer and sponsor of the Miss Sierra Vista Scholarship Pageant. He went on to serve as co-executive director with his wife Jackie beginning in 1999.
In his younger years, Mike was a champion bowler, avid drag racer, and expert pool and chess player. He enjoyed writing humorous fiction, watching NASCAR, and restoring his '58 Chevy Biscayne. Mike was a talented boxer, a devoted student of Haganah, and an expert shot.
Mike was loved, honored, and adored by his wife Jackie; son Tom Dennis and his wife Jodi; daughter Tammy Brown and her husband Todd; daughter Tracy Cook and her husband Terry; five beautiful grandchildren, Randi, Hayley, Makenna, Sierra, and Tommy; honorary son Antonio and his wife Yoli; brother Chuck Dennis and his wife Mary; sister Patti Baker and her husband Walter; and sisters Linda Dennis and Leslie McDermott.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, July 22, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at the Move City Church, located at 200 North Ave. in Sierra Vista.
SIERRA VISTA — Thomas "Mike" Dennis, 76, longtime resident of Sierra Vista, passed away on June 23, 2017.
Mike was born on April 10, 1941, in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in Anaheim, California.
In 1961 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent two decades as an electronics and communications specialist, proudly serving his country in locations around the world, including Japan, Ethiopia, and Germany. He retired at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, with the rank of master sergeant.
Mike started his real estate career at Fort Realty, went on to become a real estate broker and owner of Realty World as well as I Sell Arizona! Mike Dennis Realty, and closed his career as an associate broker with Keller Williams. For over 30 years he provided hands-on supervision, guidance, and motivation to hundreds of real estate professionals and closed thousands of transactions. For many years, Mike was the author of two popular newspaper columns, "Real Estate Notebook" and "Real Estate Today."
From 1986 to 2011, he was a member of the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce, served on the Board of Directors from 1987 to 1995, and regularly performed in the Ambassador's Annual Celebrity Revue. In 1988 he founded the Military Affairs Committee to support the symbiotic relationship between Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca. He served ten consecutive terms as Chairman and founded the MAC Ball, which was attended by civilian and military leadership, including the Secretary of the Army, Governor Jack Williams, and cowboy icon Rex Allen, Sr. The MAC also welcomed the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, Mission STS-44, upon their visit to Fort Huachuca. Mike implemented the popular Adopt-A-Soldier program, which matched civilian host families with soldiers who would otherwise be alone for the holidays. He authored the local newspaper column "Military Affairs Division" and founded and served on the Board of Directors of the Fort Huachuca 50, an organization dedicated to keeping Fort Huachuca off the federal base-closures list.
After graduating from the pilot class of the Citizen's Police Academy in 1998, he went on to fulfill his personal commitment to provide volunteer law-enforcement support to local agencies and the community at large by joining the Arizona Rangers. In 2004, he also graduated from the Cochise County Sheriff's Office Volunteer Academy.
Following his enlistment in 1999, Mike had an extensive career with the Sierra Vista Company of the Arizona Rangers. He served as a six-term Company Commander, as well as public relations officer, law enforcement liaison officer, and state adjutant, achieving the permanent rank of lieutenant colonel. From 2000 to 2005, he dedicated over 10,000 hours, at which point he quit counting, all while continuing to operate his full-time real estate company. During his tenure, Mike established four new Arizona Rangers companies, recruited more than 100 Arizona Rangers, and received "lifetime member" designation in 2012. Over a period of years, he successfully pursued country music legend Willie Nelson to perform a concert in Sierra Vista, and the Arizona Rangers provided security at the event. Mike presented his music idol with the Arizona Rangers badge featured prominently in the "Beer For My Horses" music video with Toby Keith.
In 1993 Mike suffered a massive heart attack. After a long road to recovery, he conducted a three-year lecture series on behalf of the American Heart Association. He had over 200 engagements and over 100 radio ads and went on to serve on their Board of Directors. After fighting prostate cancer in 2001 and again in 2007, he conducted a two-year lecture series promoting early detection and became the voice for awareness and screening through numerous radio public service announcements. For many years he served Ranger duty at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, and in 2008 he walked the survivor lap in uniform.
During the 80s, he created award-winning "Best in Show" silver and malachite jewelry. In 1987 he was a committed Pageant Dad and became a long-term volunteer and sponsor of the Miss Sierra Vista Scholarship Pageant. He went on to serve as co-executive director with his wife Jackie beginning in 1999.
In his younger years, Mike was a champion bowler, avid drag racer, and expert pool and chess player. He enjoyed writing humorous fiction, watching NASCAR, and restoring his '58 Chevy Biscayne. Mike was a talented boxer, a devoted student of Haganah, and an expert shot.
Mike was loved, honored, and adored by his wife Jackie; son Tom Dennis and his wife Jodi; daughter Tammy Brown and her husband Todd; daughter Tracy Cook and her husband Terry; five beautiful grandchildren, Randi, Hayley, Makenna, Sierra, and Tommy; honorary son Antonio and his wife Yoli; brother Chuck Dennis and his wife Mary; sister Patti Baker and her husband Walter; and sisters Linda Dennis and Leslie McDermott.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, July 22, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at the Move City Church, located at 200 North Ave. in Sierra Vista.
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