The Cochise County Historical Society appointed William Pakinkis as its president a few weeks ago. Pakinkis, a Tombstone local, has been involved with various historical societies and committees and is also the published author of numerous articles and books about the western U.S. and Arizona. The Tombstone Epitaph’s Tiffany Acton caught up with Pakinkis and discussed his future plans for Cochise County, his love of western history and his relationship with Western film star John Wayne.  

Tombstone Epitaph: Tell me a little bit about yourself and how you came to Tombstone.

William Pakinkis: I came to Tombstone back in the later part of 2002. I used to live in Yuma. In Yuma, I was very active in the community. I was a member of the Arizona Historical Society, which I am now in my 27th year...I transferred out here working for the government to Fort Huachuca back in latter part of 2002, and less then a month after I was in town I was appointed to Tombstone’s Historic District Commission. I served on the commission for six years, and out of those six years I was the chairman for two. I’m also a published historian. I have writings all over the state of Arizona and also for the country. In October, I was unanimously elected to be the first president from Tombstone for the Cochise County Historical Society. I intend to make a lot of changes for the better because we have been so strapped for getting the information out about Cochise County. There’s so much history in the county. We’ve got to keep our Western heritage alive, because if we lose it here — the most Western town in the West — what’s going to happen? We want to portray that the West was romantic, but yet it was rough.

TE: So, as president, what would you like to see happen for Cochise County?

WP: Sometimes, we’re the forgotten area of the state. You’re always hearing about county of Maricopa, county of this, county of that.  Look at us. We try to be as Western as possible...We’re trying to maintain the heritage of the West.  I mean, kids used to look up to the Western heroes. Who do they have to look up to today?

TE: You say you’d like to get the word out and reach more people as president of the Cochise Historical Society, what specifically are you planning to do to accomplish this?

WP: I’d like to contact various societies and consult with them, give them some guidance. I’ll be available to help people, give my input. Historical societies are there to help people with their expertise.

TE: In your opinion, why is the preservation of history so important?

WP: We cannot lose the history of the territorial period. It’s paramount that we keep it. We have to show what the West really was like.

TE: Having been involved and having experience in various historical societies, what have you found most challenging?

WP: The preservation of history. There are a lot of communities throughout Cochise County and the state of Arizona that aren’t keeping the historical value of buildings.

TE: How did you get into the Old West and all its history?

WP: I was stationed with the Marine Corps in Yuma in 1978. I got involved with a gun-fighting group in town as my sideline when I had the time. I started to do a lot more research on the history of the west, then eventually I went to Arizona Western College and took about two semesters on the history of Arizona and I took another course on the guns that won the West where I could fire every gun known. And so from then on I started to learn more about Western wardrobe and gun collections and I got into doing a lot of research. I started publishing articles in various print media. I tried to learn as much as I could about the West.

TE: Why do you dress up in the apparel of the Old West?

WP: I dress up because every once in a while I like to walk the boardwalk. I like to ask people where they’re from and where they heard about Tombstone. I don’t work with the chamber — I’m a retired U.S. Marine — but I like to walk around. When I dress up, it’s strictly period. I mean, even to the collar stud. People want to see the way you’re dressed. I’m carrying a gun of the period. I’m carrying an 1875 Schofield — same size gun Virgil Earp carried at the O.K. Corral.

TE: What do you like so much about history?

WP: It’s interesting to find out the stories of people. I mean look at Doc Holliday. He was a prominent dentist, why did he turn to killing people? … People of the west were very interesting. I bet right now you couldn’t put on your page how many people since the territorial people have been really interesting, especially in the southern Arizona area. Not that many. So southeast Arizona people haven’t received that much information, and when taking over presidency I intend to get that information out to the rest of the state because they should know about (it). Sure it’s going to help tourism in Tombstone, but its also going help tourism in Sierra Vista, Benson, Bisbee and all the other towns out there.

TE: Do you have a favorite place here on Allen Street?

WP: I visit every place here. I try to utilize every business in this town. I mean the whole thing is when you live here you spend your money here. Every building in Tombstone here is or has a historic detail…Cochise County has got a lot of history and we want to get it out there to the people.

TE: What’s your favorite Western movie?

WP: The best one that was ever made was, in my opinion, The Searchers with John Wayne. It shows John Wayne at his finest and it shows the hate and anger a person could have when his relatives are captured.

TE: So was John Wayne your favorite western movie star?

WP: Oh yes. I had the chance of meeting him twice. Once was in New York City and the other time was in France. He was a nice guy, the most personable person you could meet. The second time he remembered my first name. When I asked him how he remembered, he said, “I remember my friends.”