gistfile1.php

#!/usr/bin/php
<?php

function find_person($array, $key, $search_term)
{
    // We are given 1 element
    if (isset($array['name']) {
         return find_person_helper($array, $key, $search_term);
    }

    // We are given multiple elements
    foreach ($array as $key2 => $value) {
        // walk through elements
        if (($result = find_person_helper($value, $key, $search) !== false) {
            return $result;
        }
    }

    // none found
    return false;
}

// Stuff for later, ignore this for now
function find_person_helper($array, $key, $search_term)
{
    if ($value == $search_term) {
         print "Found $search_term in $key\n";
         return $the_person_id_in_the_same_array_as_this_term;
    }

    return find_person($value['children'], $key, $search);
}

$AoH = array( 
    'name'      => 'beavis',
    'person_id' => 'bvs',
    'children'  => array(
        array(
             'name'      => 'cornholio',
             'person_id' => 'bth',
        ),
    ),
);

$the_person_id_i_want = array_walk_recursive($AoH, 'find_person', 'cornholio');