Contact:
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Rick Pike |
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Snow College |
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(435) 283-7062 |
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Fax: (435) 283-7064 |
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EPHRAIM, Utah—October 27, 2003—Snow College today announced the 2003 distinguished alumni and service recipients. Richard Ray “Dick” and Norma Stubbs Olson are the Distinguished Alumni recipients and Cary and Ranee Peterson are the Distinguished Service recipients. The couples will receive their awards and respond at Snow Convocation held at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 6 in the Concert Hall of the Eccles Performing Arts Center. There is no charge for the event. The Snow Alumni Council, led by President Doug Barton, selected this year’s recipients.
Dick and Norma Olson graduated from Snow College in 1952 and 1956 respectively. Both continued their educations at Utah State – Dick earned a bachelor’s in Agriculture and a teaching certificate; Norma earned a bachelor’s and a teaching certificate in home and family living.
“Looking back some 50 years I conclude that my time attending Snow College set the stage from which I could focus on the decisions which I faced as an adult,” Dick said. “I can also conclude that had I not lived in Ephraim and had open access to Snow I probably would not have chosen to seek advanced education. That thought, frightens me.”
Norma immersed herself in student life at Snow College. “I was given many opportunities to play solos, accompany soloists and choirs and participate in The Messiah and other musicals,” said Norma. “My sophomore year I served as student body secretary and was recognized as Efficiency Student at graduation.”
After graduating from Snow, Dick was drafted and spent 13 months of 2 years in the service stationed in Korean where he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained during an enemy attack. He then served a mission for the LDS Church in South Africa before attending Utah State.
Dick and Norma were married in 1958 and returned to Ephraim where Dick worked with his father and brother on the family farm – a partnership operation that involved irrigated crops, sheep, cattle and turkeys. Dick retired in 2001 after developing the farm into a successful livestock and turkey operation with his brother (Douglas). Dick and Doug have sold what is now O.R. Olson and Son’s Inc. to two of their sons.
During his career, Dick served on a number of local, state and national boards including Snow’s Board of Trustees and as president of Snow’s Alumni Council. He was awarded the Utah Poultryman of the year in 1997.
While Dick was establishing the family business, Norma raised 7 children and the two of them now have 36 grand children. All seven children attended Snow College. Besides family life, Norma immersed herself in community and church service. She accompanied many soloists, church choirs and community productions of The Messiah from 1954 into the 1990’s. Norma was awarded the Yule Candle for Service in 1973. Both have served and continue to serve in a number of leadership positions for the LDS Church.
Snow College will award the Peterson’s with the Distinguished Service Award because of their commitment to political, community and church service at state and local levels.
For the past 11 years Cary has served as the commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture. During that time, as chairman of the Western Agriculture Trade Association, he has helped introduce Utah products into Mexico, China, Japan, Hong Kong and Canada. Cary served in the Utah State Legislature for 20 years – 4 terms in the House and 12 years in the Senate where he was majority leader for 8 years.
Ranee shares her husband’s commitment to public service. She was a Federated Women’s Club member for 35 years, served in the Republican Women’s Club, PTA, 4 H Club and volunteered for Nephi schools and the library reading program. Both find time for community involvement while serving in a variety of positions for the LDS Church.
Cary and Ranee have 3 children and 14 grandchildren to whom they devote much of their spare time.
Snow College
Snow College, founded in
1888, serves approximately 3,000 students at its Ephraim campus. The college
provides general education and applied technology programs leading to Associate
of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science and Associate of
Pre-Engineering degrees, and certificates of completion in a number of
occupational areas. Once owned by The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Snow College became a state
college in 1932.
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