Samuel “Sammy” B. Muñoz, long-time educator in Tempe. He made a difference as an elementary school teacher for the Tempe Public Schools for more than 30 years, teaching 5th and 6th and middle-school grades. Growing up in Miami, Arizona, and upon graduating from Miami High School as an all-star player on the famed Miami Vandals’ basketball team, he moved to Tempe to attend Arizona State University, graduating with his bachelor’s degree in 1957, going on to earn his master’s degree from ASU at the age of 26. Highlights of his career as an innovative teacher in the Tempe District schools — he was already producing and writing in the school curriculum many musical plays as part of his classroom literature and arts curriculum. He is still remembered with genuine respect by his former students for his musical plays–including Mark Mitchell, former Tempe Mayor — and the son of Arizona Congressman, Harry Mitchell, also the former Tempe mayor! During his retirement years, Sammy returned to his love of basketball by joining the Senior Olympics Basketball team with his colleagues in Tempe, where he continued to be a standout. Sammy also wrote and authored the book, The Summer of 53: The Bullion Plaza Story, which was published in 2005; and its Second Edition was also in great demand. Sammy produced a short documentary film, So Dear to the Miners in 2013 recounting the history of Miami Arizona. He enjoyed being active in his community of Tempe, and he volunteered his teaching talents in both the Tempe and Phoenix area schools over the years. As a teacher, father of two daughters, grandfather to seven grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren, he was truly a renaissance man, filled with artistic,athletic, and musical talents.
2026 Tempe Legend – Samuel “Sammy” B. Muñoz (1935-2024)
