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Show Wednesday, March 30, 2005 D1 Expressions Basin Life Community Calendar March 31 The Prevention Advisory Coalition meeting is scheduled sched-uled for March 31 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held in Roosevelt at the North Eastern Counseling Center. Anyone interested in participating partici-pating in the fight to prevent substance abuse is welcome to attend. - lrtn rfUWA adntfM i Albert Neff's multiple awards for his Ev3aoD ff mainiv By Carissa Magee Express Writer Albert Neff just happens to be one of those men you look at, talk to and are in so much admiration of his wonderful accomplishments. Born in 1943 in Salt Lake City to Julian and Nina Neff, Albert lived in the Millcreek area for a significant amount of his childhood. He graduated gradu-ated from Granite High School in 1943, attended University of Utah for two years and then went on to LDS Business College for nearly a year. Albert's father raised sheep ior many years ana AiDert spent a lot of time as a child and young adult in sheep camps. At, times he was even designated cook for such large occasions as Thanksgiving dinner while in the camps. In his younger years sheep ranching brought Albert to the town of Manila with his father where they purchased a ranch to run their herds. Upon first sight the ranch was at most a piece of property with a lot of dirt and animal feed. After years of hard work and dedication dedica-tion fences were installed, trees were planted, wind breaks were built and a house was constructed. con-structed. After leaving college Albert headed up to the Manila area once again to help his father with the sheep business. During the same time period Albert met his wife Gloria who was also born and raised in Salt Lake City. Gloria herself had never spent any time on a ranch let alone in such a small town as Manila. : Their first days on the ranch were filled with new experiences experi-ences with little power and a coal cooking stove. "It was quite a readjustment," says Gloria Neff. Just as they were planning to move back to the Salt Lake area Albert's father passed away and they ended up taking on the responsibility of Governor Scott Matheson (left) and Albert Neff (right) assist in the dedication dedi-cation of Long Park Dam 1981. years of service. continuing the family business by staying in Manila. The rest is history... :r Albert began to get involved in many aspects of the community commu-nity of Manila throughout the years. He spent twenty years on the organization of the Sorrel Conservation District, four years on the Farmers Home Administration, six years on School Board including two as president, six years as a charter char-ter member of the Lions Club, a total of eighteen years on the Daggett County Commission with a new courthouse built during his time of service, twelve years on the Tri-State Development Committee including eight as Chairman, eight years on the Council of Governments with six years in community affairs and was involved with the Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce for many years. Albert is a dedicated member of his church with eight years as counselor and Bishop for nine years. After that he was member of the High Council for many years and while in service a new church was built in the Manila area. Albert was involved with the construction and dedication of Cart Creek Bridge which runs across a bay of Flaming Gorge just before crossing the Dam. He was a cornerstone in the creation of the business of Union Telephone where he has if. 11 1 I J .... Albert Neff f .HTir'-; ' ie6iiiplDSlliiiiini(ioii1i 1 M I I Albert had a lot to do with the rehabilitation process for Long Park Reservoir to be as ft is today. worked for a total of 49 years to date and is still on the Board of Directors. Albert worked full time for Union Telephone servicing Manila, Lone Tree, Greendale, Dutch John, McKinnon, Brown's Park, Utah and Colorado and Lodore, Colorado. He was beneficial to the reconstruction of the roadway road-way through the Brown's Park area and pushed the effort to pave County Road 318. Albert's work for Union brought him much joy with his love of flying and photographing photo-graphing as part of the job. His daughter Margery Hullinger recalls traveling to distant places with him often to fulfill his duties for Union. "I remember one time dad had been working on the power poles in Brown's Park for quite a long time in one day. When he finished and came down from one of the poles he realized he had left some of his equipment and tools up on the pole. He was just too tired to go back up once again and get it so there I was harnessed up and heading up the pole to get his tools! It was quite the experience," says Margery. She also remembers running sheep through Evanston, raising rais-ing cattle from yearlings and delivering Lambs right through the downtown of Ogden, Utah. The Neffs still sell their sheep each fall that they have ranged through the summer months. Albert credits his many accomplishments to friends, family and acquaintances that have helped him throughout through-out the years. "All of the different dif-ferent organizations, boards and committees I have been a member of consisted of at least five people making decisions. It really took all of us to make things happen," says Albert "I learned early on that you have to get to know many people to get things done." He has been acquainted on a first name basis with some of the most powerful people in Utah including includ-ing many Governors and other politicians throughout his life. Recently Albert received a letter from David M. Webster, National Environmental Quality Program Specialist from Washington D.C. The letter let-ter states: "I wish to recognize the invaluable contribution of 5 .r; .......... if2ir for Albert still works with his sheep. Albert Neff and the support of his wife Gloria over many decades to the protection and utilization of th natural resources of Daggett County. Albert has worked with many State Conservationists, Area Conservationists, other federal, fed-eral, state and local agencies to develop and protect the resources in the county by seeking technical assistance, funding and project implementation. implemen-tation. "Albert has provided years of leadership to obtain millions of dollars of cost share support and technical assistance for local projects. Albert has been able to build local support and provide the leadership needed to complete these projects and thereby improve the quality of life in Daggett County. "I have worked with Albert for over 13 years and in that time he has been instrumental in the rehabilitation of Long Park Dam and the canal and pipeline systems associated with getting water into and out of the dam. Albert was able to build a coalition of the Canal Company, local stockholders, local, state and federal agencies to design and fund the rehabilitation rehabili-tation of the dam. This conservatively conser-vatively is valued as a $20 million mil-lion project This is only his latest lat-est contribution after years of developing water supply infrastructure infra-structure in Daggett County. "Albert and Gloria have been very good to me. I have had wonderful meals with them. I consider them valuable friends. I take great pleasure in recognizing them for their years of contribution to the area. David M. Webster." Albert kept himself unbelievably unbe-lievably busy with his many activities but another important impor-tant accomplishment for Albert was that he and wife Gloria still managed to have a wonderful family life. They have a total of five children together with two boys and three girls. Daughter Margery lives in Manila not far from her mother and father and the same for their daughter daugh-ter Louise. Daughter Jane lives in Vernal and their two sons, Albert and Steve, live on the Wasatch Front Gloria and Albert are looking forward to the celebration of their 57th wedding anniversary August 17 of this year. The Neff ranch still runs today with their five children, 27 grandchildren and 17 greatgrandchildren great-grandchildren helping grandpa with haying and sprinkler setting set-ting throughout the summer months. It has been said that the highest high-est reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it Albert Neff has had one busy life with a lot of wonderful accomplishments. accomplish-ments. Over the years he has helped with the construction of all kinds of buildings, organizations, organi-zations, committees, clubs and regular life in the small town of Manila. His rewards are count- April 1 Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West 8-10 p.m. every Friday night Kay's Band pro vides the music. April 4 There will be an open forum discussion to form a museum "Friends" group for those who are interested in promoting pro-moting and assisting at the Utah Field House of Natural History. Anyone interested in attending this meeting is welcome wel-come to attend at 9 a.m. in the Field House conference room. April 5 Prime Time 4 Kids will host lap time for children at the Uintah County Library at 10:30 a.m. Book Club will be at the Uintah County Library at 4 p.m. April 6 Ashley Valley Medical Center Diabetes Support group. In AVMC medical office conference room. First Wednesday of every month. The topic of this month's meeting is Diabetes foot problems prob-lems and foot care. Guest speaker will be Kim Jones, Podiatrist. Questions, Vicki Berg, 789-3342, ext 194. Share your time and talents in making a positive differ ence in your library and com munity by becoming a member mem-ber of "Friends of the Uintah County Library." The first meeting will be held April 6 at 7 p.m. upstairs in the Uintah County Library multipurpose room. For more information contact Melody 781-8860 or Becky 7894091. Story Time for kids at the Uintah County Library 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. April 8 Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West, 8-10 p.m. every Friday night Kay's Band provides pro-vides the music. Adult singles 31 and older are welcome to join in fun of line dancing at the 2nd and 4th Ward Chapel, 235 East 600 South at 7 p.m. The annual Home and Garden Show will be held April 8 and 9 at the Western Park Convention Center. April 9 The American Diabetes Expo will be held April 9 at the South Towne Expo Center. There will be healthy cooking demonstrations, free screenings, screen-ings, presentations, one-on-one sessions with dietitians and dozens of exhibits featuring featur-ing the latest products and services for treating and preventing pre-venting diabetes. The diabetes expo runs from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The MS Walk will start at 9:30 a.m. at the Searle Pavilion. Pre-registration is available or you can register the day of the race. For more information contact the Utah State MS Chapter at 801-493-0113. Adult singles car rally and tailgate picnic will be at 4 p.m. Meet at the Roosevelt 1st and 4th Ward Building for instructions. instruc-tions. Bring a potluck dish for the picnic April 10 Break the Fast at 5 p.m. at the 2nd and 4th Ward build ing, 235 E. 600 S. Children wel come. To place items of public interest on the Community Calendar, mail to the Vernal Express, P.O. Box 1000, E-maiL E-maiL editorvernal.com, or call the Vernal Express at 789-3511 |