Prominent Tucson developer Estes dies after long illness

In addition to being a well-known home builder, Estes also was well regarded for his work in the community, especially when it came to education.

"He was a true citizen of Tucson," said his wife, Shirley Estes. "He would always say that we needed to do everything we could for the city — that we owed it to Tucson."

Estes' spirit never faltered despite being in and out of hospitals and in very poor health for the last three years, his wife said. Unable to speak, swallow or stand, Estes handled his incapacitation with grace, she said Sunday night.

"He communicated with us through a computer, and whenever we asked how he was doing, he always pressed happy," Shirley said. "It had sad, mad and other things but he always pressed happy — it was astounding to us."

Estes was born in Everett, Wash., in 1938 and moved to Tucson with his parents at the age of 5. A graduate of the Tucson High School class of 1956, Estes went to the University of Arizona, where he met his future wife. They married in 1960.

After graduating from the UA, Estes served in the military in Germany.

After serving two years, Estes, his wife and young son returned to Tucson, where he began work with his father, W.A. "Bill" Estes Sr., who began a company in 1947 that later became Estes Homes.

The company has built more that 40,000 homes in Phoenix, Tucson and Sierra Vista, Shirley Estes said.

The elder Estes retired and turned the company over to his son in 1973. In 1998, the business was sold to what is now KB Home for $47 million.

Custom-home builder John Wesley Miller had known Estes since their days as students at Tucson High School.

"Some of us still called him Billy because Bill was his dad. There are only a few of us left old enough to do that," said Miller, whose family and career path had much in common with those of Estes.

Both were the sons of carpenters who went into the family business. Like Miller, Estes was active in the Tucson Home Builders Association — now Southern Arizona Home Builders Association — and was a past president.

The men shared an enthusiasm for University of Arizona men's basketball, though Estes had slightly better seats and he wasn't shy about commenting on the game when he thought the Wildcats were getting a raw deal on the court.

Estes was equally passionate about his business, Miller said.

"He was a hard worker, smart. He surrounded himself with very astute people, men and women who really knew what they were doing," Miller said.

Estes was involved in numerous projects — large and small — in the Tucson area.

He built the Ventana Canyon Resort, and was involved in the controversial Rocking K Ranch project to build thousands of homes in the Rincon Valley area, east of Tucson.

The original project in the late 1980s and early 1990s sparked years of lawsuits, numerous disputes with the government officials and residents and raucous public hearings. He eventually sold his stake in the ranch to co-owner/developer Don Diamond.

Estes supported the University of Arizona, helped start a private school in South Tucson, was active in his church and donated to many charities, Miller said, but it wasn't just his money he shared. Estes also invested his time, his interest and his vocal support in local causes.

"There's a lot that can be said about Bill Estes, but the bottom line is Bill was a good man. He was a huge community contributor and an extremely successful home builder," Miller said.

The Estes family bought the Tucson Toros minor-league baseball team in 1973. Estes Sr. sold the team to his son in 1975.

A longtime backer of education, Estes was named by then-Gov. Janet Napolitano to the state Board of Education in 2005.

He was active within the Tucson Unified School District.

In addition to his wife, Estes is survived by his sons William Estes III and Joel Estes, daughter Leah Estes and five grandchildren.

Services are to be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.