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Show -? Y - J : . . .. A . i J ". - ' ' . " , , - . ' Walter O. Peterson Business Profile By Gwen Barney Walter O. Peterson makes no claim to greatness. In fact if ' he did he would be out of character, because here is a man who is Unassuming and mindful of prominence. He has no ambition to gain great wealth or fame; his ambition is his own integrity. In speaking of Mr. Peterson one is tempted to use superlatives in describing his character. Whether making a business deal or associating with his neighbors he is straightforward straight-forward and honest. His personality person-ality has that enduring quality of withstanding adversity without with-out collapsing and success without with-out becoming pompous. He is slow to anger as he is generous in his judgement of men. Impulsiveness is a quality which is foreign to Walt Peterson Walt nas accepted responsibility respon-sibility all of his life. During his childhood his parents, Charles and Mary Alice Peterson, had a farm in Milicreek. When he was only six years old Walt's job was to take the cows to pasture every day. All in all there were from fifteen to twenty cows for the child to handle, but it is indicative of the man today that he was able to manage whatever difficulties beset his (Contnued on page 6) (Continued from page 1) Peterson task. the farm he learned to v.oxk iuud ana not uiinu it. it may have been that this vigorous c-ficioo iicipcd mm to win many racing and jumping cntesu it school. It was during the depression that Walt Peterson was getting his university training. He attended at-tended Utan State University for one year and went to the University of Utah for two years. Then he took a bookkeeping book-keeping course from Henager School of Business. After graduating grad-uating from this course he worked as bookkeeper for an awning company. Eventually Mr. Peterson decided to go into business for himself. He and Verd Edwards started the Verd and Walt Co. eighteen years ago. The reason for establishing themselves in Sugar House, he explains, la that this was the center of the homo population. There was a friendly attitude here, a community com-munity spirit that was not so apparent downtown. At first they dealt only in awnings and canvas goods. Then when Mr. Peterson bought out his partner he added paints and changed the name to Sugar House Awning and Paint Co. and employs eight to fourteen employees depending on the season. Mr. Peterson sells and installs awnings thoughout the city and in towns up and down the entire state. The company does a-lot of wholesale selling of tarpaulins, covers, wrestling mats, and blocking dummies used for football practice by the schools etc. Two salesmen are busy all the time selling canvas goods as far as Wyoming, Idaho and Nevada. Mr. Peterson not only manages Sugar House Awning and Paint Co. but he also directs all of the manufacturing of his products. pro-ducts. Besides those pieces already al-ready mentioned he makes tents, ore bags, canvas aprons, and boat covers an item which is increasing rapidly In volume. The factory is set up so as to be able to make anything ov of crmvas that is practical. Walt Peterson is a former v,'r, rrs'dent fnd Unn Tamer of the Sugar House Lions Club. He also belongs to the RuTar House Chamber of Commerce. He i3 nren!-" srrHnor on the TT?Th Cmpil of the H'Mnc! FpVe of the Church of Jf's CT-rs of LnttT Dw iHts. Hf is a former stake mir'on prps-iet prps-iet pnd h?s preped ovr priesthood auorums and worked in the Cottonwood Stake M.T.A. presidency as well as teaching various classes. Family ties are very important to Walt and he is genuinely devoted to his children: he and his wife, Auline have six. They are Donna Mae, Carol. Eldn. Kathayn. Walter and Marian. It is his family that gives Walt Peterson his greatest pleasure. He is a man loved bv his family, honored by his associates and respected by his business colleagues. |