Alumni Association News
"Linking you with the U"

www.alumni.utah.edu

UTE-COUGAR RIVALRY HARVESTS FOOD AND FUNDS

The 2004 competition between Utah and BYU to see which school could raise the most food and funds for needy Utahns could be called a draw: The rival team scooped the U in total poundage of food gathered— 30,000 to 14,000 pounds—while the Utes succeeded at “creaming the Cougars” in terms of dollars collected.

The designated dropoff locations at Del Taco restaurants and television station KPNZ Z24 collected $5,652 from Ute fans to BYU’s $2,334. The Student Alumni Board and ASUU Community Service Board also gathered food and cash donations from locations outside grocery stores, and the Utes raised more than $4,500 at the Rice-Eccles Stadium gate before the Utah-BYU game on Nov. 20. The U’s grand total was over $12,000 to BYU’s $10,000. (In 2003, the U raised $8,000 overall, which makes 2004 a banner year.)

“Every dollar donated to the food bank results in $13 of foodstuffs,” notes John Fackler BS’89 BS’94 MprA’95, the Association’s director of business relations, who oversaw this year’s food drive campaign.

Comments Grant Foster BSMG’86, chair of the Association’s Community Service committee, “When we arrived an hour and a half early for the game, droves of people clad in red were already making their way to the stadium. As you might expect, Ute fans took the time to stop and make contributions for the Food Bank, and donations large and small came in. Even Shelley Meyer and one of Urban’s sisters stopped to donate.”

The food and cash donations benefit thousands of needy Utahns through the Utah Food Bank and the United Way. So, regardless of who “wins” in the competition to collect the most food and funds, it is the local food banks—and those who rely on them—who come out the big winners every year.

FIESTA FRENZY
On Jan. 1, Alumni Association communications manager Terri Winkler and her family—husband Jerry ex’95; daughter Shelby, 20; and son Scott, 17—joined the throngs heading south to the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. Like many other dedicated Ute fans, she came away with vivid memories—and some memorable photos. Following is Terri’s tale:

“Any time we’d pass fans on the road with some Ute gear in their window, we’d all honk and yell, ‘Hey! Alright! Yay!’ So we stuffed all our gear—sweatshirts and signs— in the back window. We saw a lot of RVs with signage on the back, heading down to do the traditional tailgate.

“When we stopped in Dodge City, just before Hoover Dam, every fast food area was a sea of people in red. From what I understand, some McDonald’s there and by the game hotels in Phoenix ran out of Chicken McNuggets and even things as basic as buns.

“When we got to Phoenix, it was too late for the pep rally, but we went by the hotel and ran into [Alumni Association Director] John Fackler BS’89 BS’94 MprA’95, his wife and their two sons—still on a high from the pep rally—handing out buttons.

“At the pregame tailgate party, we ran into some neighbors, members of the MUSS, and coworkers from the U. Everybody was in their red gear and there were lots of guys in full body paint.

“Heading toward the stadium, we saw red everywhere—long lines of red winding way back down the road. We decided we still didn’t have enough red gear—we were wearing more white than red— so we stopped at places on the road leading to the stadium to buy even more red clothing. We made sure that we were covered. It didn’t matter how much it cost, we were going to have the right gear on.

“When we finally got seated, helicopters were flying overhead, and the teams were running the flags in. When the American flag appeared, there was a huge roar from the crowd.

“We had really good seats—right at the Utah goal post—and saw a number of people we knew. I looked over and there was [Alumni Association Executive Director] John Ashton BS’66 JD’69 and Linda Briggs. But we were all the way at the other end from the Utah marching band, and I really missed hearing them. It was clear though that the band had really worked hard on designing a lot of new field maneuvers, and it really got the crowd going. “We saw former Gov. Olene Walker PhD’87 sitting about two rows in front of us. At halftime, KSL Channel 5 came over and started interviewing her. After finishing, she turned around and did a thumbs-up in my direction. I said, ‘Hold on, Olene, I’ll get a picture of you and we’ll get it on the Alumni Association Web site,’ and she said, ‘Yeah!’ It was just the perfect pose. “At one point, the crowd started a wave, which was pretty impressive with so many people participating. When the wave hit the Pittsburgh fans it was just dead air—they wouldn’t stand, wouldn’t participate—but the red fans on the other side picked it right up and continued the wave. It was so cool.

“Another cool thing was, even though there was a tall chain link fence all around the stands, the ‘superfans’ managed to run out onto the fi eld during commercial breaks. One guy ran from our end all the way across to the other side. When he got there, he was so panicked about trying to get over the fence and back into the stands that he took the wrong stairs and ended up smack in the middle of a bunch of Pittsburgh fans. Of course they took him down and were all pointing to security, screaming ‘He’s right here!’ But the poor guy was just one section over from the Ute fans, who were waving him over, ‘Come over, come over, we’ll hide you!’ but it was too late.

“After the game, all the pubs along the road to the stadium were overflowing.The Pittsburgh fans started to weed out before the game was over—since they were getting whomped!—but the red fans
stayed, even after the game was long over.

“And, of course, we won. It was just such a great ending to a fabulous season. I’m really glad I got to be a part of such an unforgettable experience.”

— as told to Marcia C. Dibble

“The University of Utah Alumni Association congratulates our 2005 Founders Day recipients. These awards are the highest honors given by the Association.”

Jeff Hilton, President of the Alumni Association

Founders Day, the Alumni Association’s most celebrated annual event, commemorates the founding of the University in February 1850 by recognizing outstanding alumni and supporters who have contributed to the betterment of the community and the University. The honorees for 2005 are:

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

Anne Cullimore Decker BS’57 MFA’82, perhaps best known as a professional actress in theater, opera, television and film, has also devoted much of her time to the U as a participant in the U’s Mentor Program, a visiting professor to the Honors Program and in the Department of Theatre’s Actor Training Program. She is also an active member of the U’s National Advisory Council and has served as past vice president of the Alumni Association.

Rhoda Worley Ramsey BS’47, a pioneer in woman-owned business, is founding partner and past president of the real estate fi rm The Ramsey Group. She has served as past director of the Alumni Annual Fund Drive and on numerous U of U boards. During the 2002 Olympic Winter Games’ opening and closing ceremonies, she was involved in “everything from fund-raising to getting frostbite” while acting as a stand-in during rehearsals.

Cecil O. Samuelson Jr. BS’66 MS’70 MD’70, who received his education and his professional experience at the U, became the 12th president of Brigham Young University in 2003. At the U, he was a professor of medicine, dean of the School of Medicine and vice president of health sciences. He was also senior vice president at Intermountain Health Care. Samuelson is the author or co-author of 48 original publications, eight books or chapters of books and 13 abstracts.

Alonzo “Lon” W. Watson Jr. BA’43 JD’51, the former president of Ray Quinney & Nebeker, is a director or trustee of several foundations — including the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation — through which he has directed gifts to the University of more than $127 million.

HONORARY ALUMNUS AWARD

Larry H. Miller, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group—which includes the Utah Jazz, Jordan Commons, KJZZ-TV, the Delta Center and over 40 auto dealerships—has generously supported the University through a scholarship endowment, funding of athletics facilities, and a $10 million donation to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Bill Marcroft BFA’52 ex’57 has spent the past 36 years as the “Voice of the Utes.” He received his early training in the Air Force working with the legendary broadcaster Edward R. Murrow. Back in Utah, he called approximately 1,500 games on KALL Radio. Since starting in 1969, he has offered color commentary at every Utah football game and missed fewer than 10 Utah basketball games, and those only due to unavoidable circumstances.

THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WISHES TO EXPRESS ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THE SPONSORS OF FOUNDERS DAY 2005:

Bonneville Intermountain Radio Group Deseret Morning News O.C. Tanner Company Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah Zions Bank George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation

Fred Maxwell Babcock BFA’60 BA’62—architect, planner, and designer—is principal/ president of Babcock Design Group in Salt Lake City. Babcock received his MArch. in 1963 from the University of California, Berkeley. He has designed 40 major buildings and shopping malls throughout Utah, including the Chamber of Commerce and Brigham Apartments, as well as major projects outside of Utah, such as the Hillel at Tufts University, which upon its completion was named one of the top five Hillels in the country. A number of his buildings grace the campus of the University of Utah, including the Eccles Broadcast Center and the Burbidge Learning Center. His work has been featured in publications including House Beautiful and Architectural Digest.

Carolyn “Mitzi” Hansen Brady BS’57 MEd’97 has been recognized by business, arts, education and health organizations in Los Angeles, Ogden and Salt Lake City for her service to the community. Brady was a founding member of the University of Utah’s Society for the Advancement of Genetic Exploration and has served the U’s Health Sciences Council, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, College of Education and School of Music. Through the Rodney H. Brady and Carolyn H. Brady Charitable Foundation, she and her husband, Rod BS’57 MBA’57, endowed the Brady Superior Teaching award in the David Eccles School of Business, among other major contributions to the U.

Ronald Q. “Ron” Frederickson BS’59 MA’65 PhD’78—theater educator, actor, and director—has played the lead role in more than 50 major stage productions and directed more than 80 others. In 1999 he received a Kennedy Center Medallion of Excellence. A professor of theater at Emporia State University in Kansas for 27 years, retiring in 1998, Frederickson was honored with the dedication of a theater in his name on the Emporia State campus in 2002. He is currently adjunct instructor in the University of Utah Department of Theatre. Most recently, Frederickson has performed in productions including an episode of Everwood, in the USA-TV movie The Darkling, and in Stephen Williams’ award-winning fi lm Blessing.

Charles M. “Tiny” Grant BS’54 MS’68 PhD’75, as an undergraduate at the U, was an imposing fi gure on the football and wrestling teams. He was 1953 Conference Heavyweight Wrestling champion and played on the 1951, ’52 and ’53 Skyline Conference Championship football teams before being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1954. In 1965, Grant joined Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho), where during his 33 years he served as football coach, athletic director, assistant to the president and dean of the College of Education. He was recognized at Ricks with honors including the Outstanding Professor of the Year Award, as selected by the students. A member of the University’s Beehive Honor Society, Grant holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Idaho.

C. Reuel Ware BS’54, founder and owner of Reuel’s Art & Frame in Salt Lake City, has been an infl uential force in business-enhancement programs for the downtown area. A past president of the Downtown Retail Merchant’s Association and chairman of the Central Business Improvement District, Ware also served on the Downtown Advisory Committee, the Downtown Alliance Board and the Chamber of Commerce Salt Shakers. He received the annual service award from the Salt Lake Downtown Retail Merchants Association in 2002. Ware and his wife, Dorothy ex’57, introduced to the Alumni Association the National Assistance League’s Operation School Bell program, which provides clothing to needy children, earning the Association recognition from the League in 2003 “for outstanding service to the children of Salt Lake City.”