John Cutillo, 2004 Inductee

The honor of serving as Fountain Hills’ first mayor will always belong to John Cutillo. He chaired the successful attempt to incorporate the community. The County Board of Supervisors appointed him to the interim council and his peers elected him as mayor. He was elected to the first council in 1990 and again selected as mayor. He successfully pushed for legislation to directly elect the Mayor and was directly elected as mayor in 1994. He oversaw a frugal budget and helped build a healthy surplus while implementing capital improvements such as Golden Eagle Park and miles of paved streets. John negotiated an agreement that moved the community center property to a more central downtown location and obtained the first parcel of land for the McDowell Mountain Preserve. He is a longtime member of the Chamber of Commerce, Civic Association and Noon Rotary. He served as treasurer of the Maricopa Association of Governments. The civic plaza area containing the Town Hall, Centennial Circle, Library and Museum was named the John Cutillo Civic Plaza in 2013.