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Guy Monthan Jr., 81, the son of Guy Monthan Sr. and Jessie Rae Monthan of Tucson, AZ, passed away in Albuquerque on May 19, 2006. Guy Monthan Sr., his mother, and four brothers left their birthplace in Dewsbury, England, in 1899, relocated shortly in Canada and then settled in Tucson in 1901. They ranched in Vail at their family ranch "Rancho De Lago." Guy Monthan Sr. and one other brother later went into the nursery business in Tucson. Two other brothers enlisted in the armed forces, one of whom, Oscar Monthan, was the namesake for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. Guy Monthan Jr. was born in Tucson and graduated from Tucson High School in 1942. He attended University of Arizona for one year before he enlisted in the Navy's V-12 Officer Training program which brought him to Albuquerque, NM, for a short period in 1943. He became a commissioned officer in 1944 and was deployed as an engineering officer on an LCI in the South Pacific during WWII. After the war he attended Syracuse University on the G.I. Bill and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. He then attended Arizona School of Photography in Tucson. From 1950 to 1968 he worked as a commercial artist in a series of retail stores from May Company to Robinson's Department Stores, ending with a nine-year stint as Advertising Manager at C.H. Baker Shoes in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, CA. While in Los Angeles he received a Masters of Arts Degree at Cal-State University. In 1968 he accepted a teaching position in charge of the Advertising Program at Shoreline Community College in Seattle, WA. In 1970, Guy accepted a teaching position in Advertising Art and Design at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. He later established photography as a fine arts course at NAU. In the early 1970s he teamed up with his wife, Doris Born Monthan, an established writer and editor, to publish three books and numerous articles for the American Indian Art Magazine. All three books received various awards for excellence in photographic design and innovative approach to the contemporary contributions of American Indian art and artists. In 1975, their book "Art and Indian Individualist" received the Rounce and Coffin Club Award of Los Angeles as well as the Border Regional Library Association Award for one of the best southwest books of the year. The "Art and Indian Individualist" was considered a landmark book that identified a breakthrough movement in contemporary Indian art. The book explored 17 Indian artists who have since become household names such as R.C. Gorman, Fritz Scholder, Allan Houser, Michael Naranjo, and Hellen Cordero. In 1986, their book "The Pueblo Storytellers" received the Arizona Daily Star Award as well as the Border Regional Library Association Award for one of the 10 best Southwest books of the year. His art and photography was represented in many shows throughout the United States as well as in publications such as Arizona Highways, American Indian Art and the National Geographic Magazines. In 1996 he had a one-man show at the Northern Arizona University Art Gallery. A number of his photography, paintings, and other media are in permanent collections around the country. Over a 20-year period, 1961 to 1981, Guy was a juror of major art shows throughout the western United States from Pasadena, Los Angeles, and Yuma to Tucson and Dallas. In November 2005, Doris and Guy Monthan were presented an award at the National Meeting of the Friends of the Creche for their groundbreaking book "Nacimientos" on Nativity Scenes by American Indian Artists. Guy Monthan is survived by: his beloved wife of 54 years, Doris Born Monthan of Corrales NM; son, William Monthan; daughter-in-law, Veronica Herrera Monthan of Albuquerque, NM; three grandsons, Chad and his wife, Brandi Monthan of Placitas NM, Michael and Gabriel Monthan of Albuquerque; brother, George Monthan and his wife, Donna of Tucson, AZ; and nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Presbyterian Hospice, 8300 Constitution Ave., Albuquerque, NM 87110, or a donation to a fine arts foundation or museum of your choice in memory of Guy Monthan. Arrangements by Vista Verde Memorial Park and Mortuary 4310 Sara Rd., Rio Rancho 892-9920
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