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Show " , V . ' -Si i - . . - yTAH HOTEL-MOTEL "Tourism Award" was presented to Kenneth Ken-neth Sowards March 17, in St. George. Picture is showing Sowards receiving the Outstanding Public Service Award from the Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 3, 1978. With Sowards is his wife, Marge. Tourism Award' given Vernal businessman He Utah Hotel-Motel Association rjred Kenneth H. Sowards with the al "Tourism Award." This is in paiition of outstanding activities in ('promotion of travel and the tourist (Ktry in the state of Utah. The award presented at the annual convention ie Association in St. George last eek. hmaking the award to Mr. Sowards, t Utah Hotel-Motel Association tojnized the 28 years of unselfish, tiring service given the state as a tuber and chairman of the Utah iwl Council. In accepting the award, Mr. towards id tribute to Dinosaurland and call County as a model for the state setting up the nine travel regions and iating the matching funds concept Wide. ' Se also commended the Utah Hotel-. Hotel-. el Association for their production lit Utah Travel Guide, a major tool . the promotion of tourism, '. (rikited in state by the Utah Hotel- el Association and out of state by Utah Travel Council. ictivities of Sowards in the tourist - tmotion industry over a 34 year ;. iod is as follows: ' M6-1972 Ken was very active in the lay 40 Association, a tourist notion group extending along U.S. . .pay W from Kansas City to San H'fiQPrt Ho cpivpH rri rVio RnarH rf organization for the Vernal area. This organization is probably the first tourist promotion group in the state that derived its funding solely from membership dues, and which were used exclusively for the promotion of tourism in the local area. Ken served on the original Board of Directors of Dinosaurland Advertising, Inc., and for several terms thereafter. During Ken's affiliation with the Utah Travel Council, the council organized the nine tourist promotion regions of the state. Ken was the "father" of the matching funds program between the Travel Council and the regions as we know it today. Ken made numerous trips to Heber City, Park City, Logan, and Richfield at his own time and expense in assisting in organizing the travel regions of Bridgerland, Mountainland, and Panoramaland. This assistance was requested of him because of the key role he played in organizing Dinosaurland. Attending the St. George convention from the Vernal area were Mr. and Mrs. Royal Henderson, Mr. and Mrs. Gary "Red" Hatch and Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Smuin, besides Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Sowards. Mrs. Henderson was elected secretary-treasurer of the Utah Hotel-Motel Hotel-Motel Association at the convention. , -it-uw. lib ItU Jli til V LfUUlU W ".' titers for several terms in this ..' Jfiiation. , MM9S7 During these years Ken ! actively engaged in promoting rem through the Vernal Jaycees ilheUtah State Jaycees, of which he vd as president in 1950. Bl-1979 Mr. Sowards served on the Travel Council continously for 28 He served under four governors: I Bracken Lee. George W. Clyde, hin Rampton, and Scott Matheson. "served as chairman of the council H of these years. SM974-Mr. Sowards was nt of the Vernal Area Chamber Commerce in 1957, and during his 11 initiated a strong and agressive "Mion committee. He subtly sub-tly served as chairman of the -mittee for a number of years after presidency of the Chamber, and he committee were responsible for g numerous conventions to Bat. '9B0 Mr. Sowards was one of organizers of Dinosaurland trsig, Inc., a tourist promotion |