KINGMAN, Ariz. – Pat Ferrell retired June 17, 2026, because he said his health was failing him. His wife also retired to take care of him. Born in Brownsville, PA, Dorn “Pat” Ferrell himself is a veteran and has spent a major part of his life helping homeless veterans.
He was the Director for the Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council (JAVC). He said JAVC bought the building they’re still in on Oak Street in downtown Kingman. He was there through all the renovations. He, with the help of many others, made JAVC what it is today.
He said he initiated transportation for veterans to take them to doctor’s appointments and other places they needed to go.
Ferrell fought to bring the Veterans Treatment Court to Kingman, run by Judge Jerry A. Singer, it’s one and only judge thus far. “It’s a way to keep veterans from getting in trouble with the law,” Ferrell said.
“Judge Singer has a 95% success rate. I’m proud I helped get it started. It takes everyone working together,” Ferrell continued. “It takes the city, the county, the federal government and volunteers.”
He hopes everyone in the community and Mohave County continue to support JAVC. Although he’s retired, his heart is still in it, he said.
“I had a liver transplant 11 years ago,” Ferrell said. “It’s doing okay, but everything else is falling apart.”
He also had COVID in 2020 and couldn’t drive for a couple of years.
“It’s time for younger blood,” Ferrell stated, speaking of JAVC. A lot of people pitched in to help and Lonnie Wills stepped up as Director for JAVC when Pat retired. Wills had been a volunteer and community organizer prior to taking the helm.
JAVC helps find homeless veterans a permanent home, gives them cars from donated vehicles and provides transportation to others who do not have cars.
“It takes a village to do that type of work,” Ferrell said. “It takes over 50 organizations and agencies working together to make it all possible.”
“In 2018-2019, we started building tiny homes. We got grants for the first seven, bought the material and the inmates of the Prison Work Force designed, built and put them on trailers.”
Before getting involved with the StandDowns and later JAVC, Ferrell enlisted in the Navy from 1968-1971 as an Aviation Electronics Technician. He also worked for the U. S. Postal Service and served as a Coordinator with Corrections.
Ferrell organized, procured funds and material, recruited volunteers and oversaw a three-day tri-state veterans StandDown in Bullhead City, assisting 750 homeless or at risk veterans in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
The 2013 StandDown was so effective, Pat received a $10,000 grant to organize the 2014 StandDown.
Those StandDowns were so successful, the state if Arizona took notice and inducted him into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame.
Ferrell has also volunteered with the HUD and VA Supportive Housing Project and several veterans’ homeless programs.
He strongly supported and worked toward the construction of the VA Community Outpatient Clinic in Kingman.
Additionally, he has worked with incarcerated veterans at the Adult Corrections Facility in Kingman; working with and helping veterans is his passion, his heart. He’s very thankful for all who have helped and asks that all continue to help.
“I appreciate the contributions from the city, county, state, residents and all the different organizations that made that dream come true,” Ferrell stated.
