By Becky Ginos

July 2006



When the weary pioneers pulled their wagons into the dusty Salt Lake Valley, the view was not of a lush, fertile Zion, but rather a sun baked desert. Brigham Young declared it to be the place they would settle and after many hard years of labor, it became a bustling city. To honor those pioneers who gave their all, Utah has set aside July 24 to remember the sacrifices. As part of the festivities, the Days of '47 parade has become a long-standing tradition. In 1995, the Days of '47 board members started a new tradition of honoring modern-day Utah pioneers through an award called Pioneers of Progress.



The Pioneers of Progress recognizes Utahns who have continued the pioneer spirit of industry and integrity to benefit generations to come. Recipients were nominated by citizens then carefully considered by the Pioneers of Progress Awards Committee. Categories include: Science and Technology Development; Education, Health and Humanitarian Assistance; Historic and Creative Arts; Sportsmanship and Athletics; Business and Enterprise; and Posthumous Legacy.



Here are the 2006 honorees who will be riding in the Days of '47 parade:



Mark A. Kendell

Science and Technology Development



Ranked 15th among the annual ACE (Venture Magazine) "Top 100 Young Entrepreneurs," Kendell is on the move. He founded Kendell & Associates, a merchant banking firm that specializes in the creation, financing, and operation of investments and companies. Royal Pharmaceutical Company, Great Western Aviation, a leading aviation and charter company in the inter-mountain area, and Intelisys, a research engine, are some of the companies generated by the firm. Kendell currently serves as co-chairman and CEO of WhiteLight Entertainment, a leading content developer for video games and motion pictures and EcoNova, which holds several patents for innovations in cleaning polluted water. The company was actively involved in clean-up efforts after hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast.



Dr Ray H. Barton, Jr.

Education, Health, and Welfare



Barton is a graduate of the University of Utah and received his medical degree from Temple University. A veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, Barton returned to Utah and served the community as a general practitioner for 30 years. In that time, Barton delivered more than 2,000 babies. Barton is credited with developing a weight-reduction clinic that proved very successful. "It started early in my practice when I had several overweight patients," says Barton. "I read how South African patients rarely developed colon cancer and it was believed to be due to the large amount of roughage they ate. I decided to incorporate the program. The diet worked because the body used up calories to digest the roughage." As a member of the American Medical Association, Barton recognized the growing problem of tobacco and alcohol abuse among young people. He organized a group of physicians to talk in schools about the hazards of substance abuse. "We got going and eventually made little movies too," Barton says. "At first we mostly went to the high schools, then we realized we needed to start in grade schools." Through his efforts the video "Straight Talk" was developed to help teach children the dangers of smoking and drinking. Barton also served as President of the National Sons of Utah Pioneers in 2000.



W. Boyd and Jean Christensen

Historic and Creative Arts



The Christensens exemplify the pioneering spirit through their years of service to the state. Boyd has served on the board of directors for the Utah Opera, Salt Lake City Visitor's Bureau and AMICUS (LDS Hospital--Deseret Foundations). Jean has been involved with the Utah Sate University "Festival of the American West" advisory board and helped organize the Inter-Faith Council and Utah Quilt Guild. The couple was also responsible for the creation of the Old Deseret Hospital replica at This is The Place Heritage Park. "My wife collected quilts over the years and was looking for a place to donate them for others to enjoy," says Christensen. "We thought the hospital would be the perfect place. First we had to convince the Quilt Guild and those doing the medical re-creation. It started in 2000 and was dedicated in 2003. We wanted it to be a living museum where people could participate in quilt making. It also houses the finest collection of lace in the West." The couple was also responsible for starting some 15 new ventures for tourists such as the concerts in the park and garden tours. "Wherever we live, our goal is to make friends."



C. Arnold (Arnie) Ferrin, Jr.

Sportsmanship and Athletics



Ferrin is truly a pioneer in Utah sports boasting a long and distinguished career that includes playing for the 1944 University of Utah National Championship team, as well as the NIT and NBA championship teams. "When our team won the 1944 NCAA championship we had nine guys who weren't even on scholarship," says Ferrin. "There was no recruiting. We just saw a flier posted on the board for tryouts. We had all played each other in high school, so it was very special to win the championship together." Ferrin also played for the Lakers when they were still in Minnesota. "That's were they got their name," Ferrin says. "I was getting the third highest salary at the time -- $10,000 a year." Ferrin was the general manager of the Utah Stars and instrumental in negotiating one of the first TV contracts with CBS. Almost 81, Ferrin's great pleasure now is watching his grandchildren participate in sports. "When I told my grandkids I was going to ride on a float in the parade, they said 'Don't fall off.'"



Robert H. Garff

Business Enterprise



Garff is Chairman and CEO of Garff Enterprises, Inc. and has been involved in the automobile industry from a young age. His businesses span from Ogden to St. George with some 1,500 employees and $686 million in annual sales. Garff served as a member of the 2002 Olympic Organizing Committee and in the Utah House of Representatives. He has also served on the American Cancer Society Foundation Executive Committee and on the board of directors for Deseret Book and Intermountain Healthcare. Recently he was called as a Regional Representative for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.



Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Posthumous Legacy



A true pioneer of family values, Hinckley had unshakable faith in the face of a changing world. She quietly raised her children using humor to sooth life's challenges. Marjorie provided the strength and steadfastness needed to support her husband, Gordon B. Hinckley, in his role as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout the years she traveled extensively. From her humble beginnings as a child in Nephi, Utah, to conversing with royalty, Hinckley was an example to women throughout the world.



The public is invited to attend a gala banquet to honor the Pioneers of Progress July 20 at 7 p.m. in the Little America Hotel. Recipients will be honored at a reception prior to the dinner at 6:30 p.m. For tickets and information call 572-5249.