Alan Chesser, Class of 1965

Police Officer/Law Enforcement, Community Leader

During his time at Tucson High School, Alan participated in baseball, the rifle team (lettered senior year), stage crew (Stage Manager), Senior Council and founded the ski club. Since graduating in 1965, Alan has overseen class reunions and keeping the classmates informed of happenings in classmates’ lives.

Alan served 24 years in the Tucson Police Department. In 1972 he helped establish the Tucson Police Air Support Unit as an officer and helicopter pilot. He was an instructor at the Tucson Police Academy for several years, sergeant in Field Operations, and Technical Support Supervisor, specializing in Procurement, Resource Management, Occupational Health and Safety, Capitol Projects, and Fleet Control.

As a commissioned officer he was awarded the Medal of Service, the Medal of Merit, and City of Tucson Copper Letter for Outstanding Service.

Alan has served the community through the Catalina (Tucson) Rotary Club from 1987 until the present. He has been a member of the Board of Directors and Foundation Chair for 30 years, President in 1994-1995. He has also been a member of the Rotary District of Southern Arizona and served in many capacities including secretary, Youth Programs Director, Foundation Chair, Grants Chair, Outbound Youth Exchange Director for 5 years, Assistant Governor (3 terms), District Governor 2002-2003. He has received numerous service awards.

Over the years, Alan has given so much back to the community including organizing the first ever all Indigenous professional exchange between Arizona and Western Australia. Other illustrations of his contributions to the community include Leader of Girl Scout Troop (4 years) with an annual project of making camp sites handicapped accessible on Mt Lemmon, board member Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT), chair of the Tucson High Site-Based Leadership Council (5 years), Board Member/Operations Director of Southern AZ Science & Engineering Fair (SARSEF) – 12 years, and hosted 9 exchange students from several continents who lived with the Chessers for 6-12 months during high school.

Alan and Sharyn have been married for 49 years, have 2 married daughters, 4 grandchildren and 2 Aussie Doodles.