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Show "Thanksgiving" above the Pleasant Grove city limits. On his way from Provo to Pleasant Grove, he and a son herded two cows while his wife, Dora, drove the wagon with the rest of the family and all their earthly possessions in it. On the way to Pleasant Grove, David had to sell one of the cows so they would have some money. The Gourley's built a home on what is now 1400 East in Pleasant Grove and there he and his wife reared 1 1 children. John Gourley, who later became principal of Pleasant Grove High, was the 11th child and caboose. After serving for some 15 years as the superintendent of the Alpine District, David was made an assistant superintendant of public instruction for six years. Following this he was asked to serve as the Superintendent of the Granite School District in 1944. The man who had made such a difference in Pleasant Grove was wooed by Kennecott Copper. They wanted him to run the largest open pit copper mine in the world. David declined. It wasn't always roses for this prominent educator. He had to drop out of the Y because he ran out of money. He did the most menial tasks to earn enough money so he could start again and finish his degree. He hauled bricks for the construction of the Karl G. Maeser Memorial building. He also worked in the Mercur mine and Provo Ice Plant. During his college years he was a top pole k vaulter for BY Academy and held the state record. He also played on their basketball team. His son, John, would later be a record holding high jumper and other children would also excel. Prior to finishing college, David Gourley served a mission for the LDS church in the southern states. David's stepfather passed away when he was just 16 and his widowed mother was left without her oldest son to help run the four farms. David went without "purse or script". On two separate occasions, mobs would seek to take his life. Only a courageous friend held back the mob who came with axes, tar and feathers. On another occasion the young elder was history of the "G" was a walk down memory lane into the archives of Pleasant Grove. My mind kept going back to the high school yearbook the year they put the block "G" on Little Mountain. That was a monumental accomplishment for so few, with such limited resources. David Gourley was in his first year as the principal of Pleasant Grove High. He would serve for four years in that capacity before being made the superintendent of the Alpine School District. Prior to being named principal of Pleasant Grove High, David Gourley was the Agriculture teacher for a year. He lived in Provo and would peddle his bicycle from Provo to Pleasant Grove so he could supervise his students. When he was named as principal of Pleasant Grove High, David and his wife, Dora Louise West, decided to move to Pleasant Grove. It was then that he. bought a farm on the east bench by Mark Bezzant Last Thursday millions of Americans from sea to shining sea paused to give thanks, including thousands in our own community. Even in these difficult economic times, with American forces at war on foreign soil, it is difficult not to make a very, very long list of things to be grateful for. As mentioned in an earlier article, my research on the prompted to move from a chair. He heeded the prompting before an assassin's bullet pierced the back of the chair he had been sitting in. Malaria almost claimed his life. After serving the people of Utah for some 45 years as a distinguished educator, David Gourley would retire in July of 1957. He described them as 45 glorious years. He was one of the most respected educators in Utah. One month after retiring he was dead and his mortal remains would be buried in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery. A number of the fruit trees David planted are still alive. The beauty of the pear trees he planted were exquisite this Fall. "Thanks" continued on Page 3 "Thanks" continued from Page 2 The cherry trees still produce some beautiful bing cherries. His old , horse drawn disc is ,. covered with rust but his legacy lives on in the thousands of people he touched. 'The G that was placed on Little Mountain still stands as a tribute to his leadership and vision. David Gourley never lost faith in the future as he served the people of Utah through World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Cold War. Fie and Dora Louise West were examples of faith, hard work and courage. He learned it from his pioneer ancestors who arrived in Salt Lake with frozen feet after being in the Martin Handcart Company. |