James Wirth

After graduating 41 years ago in 1967 from the University of Arizona with a BA degree in Economics and a Minor in Mathematics . My honors thesis was on the beneficial effects of inflation in Brazil which guided me successfully later in life in real estate investment. Thanks to a Mellon Fellowship I earned my MBA at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur so following work experience at LTV Corporation in Dallas and Ramada Inns corporate headquarters in Phoenix, I founded two companies in hotels and land – Rare Earth Financial and InnSuites Hospitality Trust (AMEX: IHT).

Rare Earth Financial (rareearthdev.com) invested in starting in 1972 in suburban land around Phoenix, Arizona during the inflationary growth years. In 1980 I founded the InnSuites Hotels chain with 6 suite hotels in Arizona, one in New Mexico, one in Texas and one in Southern California. (innsuites.com and innsuitestrust.com)

I am married to my first love (from ASU). We have four children ( a U of A /Carnegie MBA graduate and 3 ASU students) and two grandchildren. We live in Paradise Valley, Arizona and look forward to taking life a little bit easier.

I am pleased with the UA Honors program and the continued growth and success of the University of Arizona. Keep up the good work.