OCR Text |
Show Cmmmpmw Page 2 Orcm-Gcneva Times Wednesday, March 22, 1995 Editorial reiii loses great community supporter with death of ELD. "Jack" SuiiiHer ' By Reva Bowen, City Editor With the passing March 15, 1995, of Harold B. "Jack" Sumner, Orem has lost one of its great community supporters. Mr. Sumner would probably have balked at being called a "legend", but he was one of a handful of people whose names come to mind when you think of "Orem". Long-time Orem residents resi-dents knew the name, even if they did not know the man personally. As his son, Brent Sumner, noted during funeral services at the Hillcrest Stake Center on Saturday, March 18, Jack Sumner purchased the Orem-Geneva Times in 1953 and came here when the newspaper building was one of the few businesses in the city. During more than three decades of building the business, Jack also made vast contributions con-tributions to building the community. The list of his civic accomplishments accomplish-ments and service is lengthy and remarkable: two terms as president of the Orem Chamber of Commerce; recipient of the ProvoOrem Chamber's Arthur V. Watkins Award; member and president of the Lions Club; a supporter of Boy Scouts of America (and Girl Scouts as well; once named an "Honorary Girl Scout" for a year); booster of Orem and Mountain View High School athletics and academics; leader of a fund drive to obtain lighting for Softball fields; sponsor of the Sub-for-Santa drive; member of the United Fund Board and Alpine School District Vocational Education Committee; representative of Utah in a State of the Community meeting in Washington, D.C., with President John F. Kennedy; Orem J aycees honoree ("Jack Sumner Day"); a president and member of the Utah Press Association Board of Directors; and the recipient of the Master Editor Publisher Award from the Utah Press Association. Delance Squire, former mayor of Orem and a long-time friend of Jack Sumner, also spoke at the funeral and said it was amazing to see how many places Sumner could be as he attended numerous church and community activities. ac-tivities. Family members --- children and grandchildren fondly remem bered his unwavering support as he appeared at their athletic competitions competi-tions and other important personal events. As publisher of the paper, Mr. Sumner felt a particular responsibility respon-sibility to the community. Squire said that Jack stayed with the issues, avoided personal attacks, and did not try to create problems or controversy. Brent observed that his father didn't hesitate to use his column in the paper to make needed points in the community on occasion. Brent also said that in his Chamber of Commerce work, Jack took pride in setting up ribbon-cuttings for new businesses, and ran pictures and articles free of charge in the paper, because, as a businessman himself, he understood how difficult it was for the ventures to get established. Jack's daughter, Sandi Sumner Speechly, and granddaughter, Sherry Sumner Heaps, both commented at the funeral services that it was important impor-tant to Sumner to put articles in the paper highlighting and recognizing the youth of the community, a tradition tradi-tion which continues today. Harold B. Sumner's legacy of hard work, integrity, responsibility, family unity, and dedication to church and community will continue, but with the end of his life there comes the end of an era, and he will be missed in the city that he loved. - & & i?.::? :Wts 7:'a' ' --- Ode Eo ILB. 'Jo'ch' Sumner -191 1-1 5 Within the bounds of lovely Orem City Was one who often earned a round of praise: , , , - a fellow, rare, and often very witty; --v I A man who had some awfully winning Ways. I His greatest joy, the reason for his living, Was helping those who constitute our town. ; His life was crowned with Service and with Giving, ; And helping worthy people win renown. I Jack Sumner was a miracle, unloosed. I He never failed to give a friend a boost! How fortunate are those who were his friends: Who sought his help in championing a cause. On such, the progress of our town depends I To praise the good and remedy the flaws. 4 : His family, with him, was Number One: : The loving wife who labored by his side; : The children who he taught that work was fun; : The grandchildren in whom he took such pride! : Jack Sumner knew the challenges of sports : On playing fields, and even tennis courts! With family he loved to fish and hunt . On rolling hills and hidden valley lakes. With eager children, forging to the front, He often let them make their own mistakes. A trip or outing with their Grandpa Jack Would be the children's everlasting prize. He seemed to have a rare and precious knack For making each adventure a surprise! In helping make his town a thing of beauty, Jack Sumner knew and did his civic duty! The Fourth Estate had need for such a man, Devoted to the careful search for right, Who held the Golden Journalistic Plan To make the cause of truth a shining light. But now, he meets the deadline of his time. His presses make that last, and final, roll. And so, for Jack we pen this royal rhyme, And wish Godspeed to his immortal soul! Jack Sumner, what a legacy he left To those who knew and loved him, now bereft! Letters to the Editor Legislature fails state employees Dear Editor: During the past legislative session, it was reported that state workers received a four percent compensation package. This representation rep-resentation is a farce. Over 2,500 state workers will receive no pay increase from this package because they are in longevity lon-gevity a station designating senior, experienced status, but without benefit of enhanced compensation. com-pensation. These people are just like every citizen of Utah. They have families. They are diligent, dedicated workers and they have been neglected. -In fact, other state workers have only been granted a 2.75 percent increase in pay if their performance is satisfactory to their supervisors. If you have a family member or a neighbor who is a state employee, ask him or her directly: "How much of a pay increase will you see from the four percent compensation package?" You will be amazed at the answer. The Legislature failed its own employees. Good managers don't let their employees down during good times. I hope all state employees will contact their legislators legis-lators and share their feelings. Sincerely, Nancy Sechrest Executive Director Utah Public Employees' Association Volunteers needed to serve as children's advocates Help speak up for the rights of abused and neglected children in our community! The Office of the Guardian Ad Litem Office for the Fourth District Dis-trict Juvenile Court is in desperate need of concerned volunteers (Court Appointed Spe-' rial Advocates - CASAs) to assist attorneys who represent children who have suffered abuse andor neglect. CASAs have a real opportunity oppor-tunity to improve the life and well-being of a child. The next training session will begin in early April. If you are interested, please contact Lisa Miller, CASA coordinator at the Guardian Ad Litem Office, 32 West Center Street, Suite 205, Provo, Utah 84604, 344-8516. Children are waiting. "I Can Cope" cancer education course offered This April, the Americn Cancer Can-cer Society will be offering a cancer can-cer education course called "I Can Cope" in Utah County. The course is designed to educate cancer victims vic-tims and their families on issues relating to cancer. If you would like more information about "I Can Cope", please call 1-800-ACS-2345. Berdean Jarman was Jborn and raised in this home in north Orem. His upbringing was somewhat unconventional, as two separate families lived in a household headed by Jarman's grandparents.'' :r--- - Jarman retires . (Continued from Front Page) decided that the two babies should be named as twins Berdean Ber-dean and Nadine. Farm work The dairy farm afforded plenty plen-ty of work for everyone in the family. Hay and grain were grown, and corn for sileage. Vegetables such as corn, peas, and tomatoes were raised commercially com-mercially and sold to the local cannery in Pleasant Grove. Fruit harvested from the orchards was hauled to outlying areas and sold. Of course, there were not a lot of houses in the area as there are today. "We were all alone," Jarman said. "It was great! There were maybe three or four homes on the whole road. The whole north end of Orem went to the Windsor Ward." As a child, Jarman remembers remem-bers doing chores. There were the morning and evening milkings at first by hand, then by electric milker, "which we thought was the greatest thingever invented." Besides hard work, there were opportunities for fun. "Everyone in the Windsor Ward" would get together on weekends to play Indian ball" in the pasture. pas-ture. The game was similar to baseball, with hitting, fielding, and catching. Football games also went on. Berdean attended school at Lindon Elementary because 1000-1100 North was then the school dividing line between Orem and LindonPleasant Grove. He went on to become an all-state football player at Pleasant Grove High School. After graduation, he attended Snow College and Utah State University. Into coaching and education Berdean followed his father's footsteps into coaching, working at Snow for a year in the basketball basket-ball and baseball programs. He then began coaching at Lincoln and worked there and at Orem High School for 34 years. He coached basketball, baseball, and other sports, and taught U.S. history his-tory and health. He served as assistant as-sistant principal, then principal at Orem High School for 1 3 vearg, following Clifton M. Pyne in the position. "Orem High was a great place to be because of the clientele," Jarman said. "They were super kids coming from great families." Controversy Berdean served on Orem's Planning Commission for six years altogether - two 3-year terms and was chairman twice. Of the commission's work, he said, "It is quite controversial, with lots of new people and more development coming in. There is a conflict between the old and the new. Whenever you have a commercial com-mercial request or a request for high density housing, people are opposed," he explained. "But the open land is going to be filled in it's just a matter of what is best for the community." Berdean's wife, Sydney Young Jarman, once jokingly accused him of enjoying the controversy. "Even though it has been controversial, con-troversial, I've enjoyed it," he acknowledged. ac-knowledged. "It's kind of like being a principal nothing is ever easy. You have to hear both sides and do your best as far as land management." Memorable controversies for Jarman included the Rick Warner situation on 1300 South which was going on right at the time he joined the commission. "I experienced the frustrations of that," he said. Other projects Jarman remembers as being controversial controver-sial include the North Abby Condominiums Con-dominiums across the street from Allen's Supermarket in north Orem, and two ventures approved ap-proved for his own neighborhood condominiums and the full-service hospital. He said he feels the hospital will be a "welcome addition, addi-tion, probably a good thin? for Orem." The Fred Meyer controversy was his 'last exciting one" before stepping down from the commission. commis-sion. Jarman said he voted against the rezone, but with "real reservations". As it turned out, the Orem City Council voted the opposite way and approved the rezone in February. Service on the Planning Commission Com-mission involved about one full day's work per week, Jarman said, with meetings and driving around town to research proposals. But he said he enjoyed the work with his fellow commission commis-sion members and city staff. Orem's future In the future, Jarman said, Orem will need to look at how to manage increasing traffic. "Orem could double in population. If we think we have traffic problems ' now, we could really have a prob- lem with 140,000 (people)." He noted that there are many cul-de-sacs and deadends in the ; city, so it is difficult for traffic to move. Another issue will be the height of buildings. There is cur-rently cur-rently a 48-foot limit on building height, but the city "will soon ' have to have some taller build- 1 ings," he said, if population growth and development continue. con-tinue. Berdean and Sydney are the parents of two sons and a daughter. Thomas is a graduate in forestry and range management manage-ment and lives in Richfield. Paul lives in Logan and manages a Minit-Lube franchise. Laurel lives in Orem, where she is a . . financial secretary at Mountain . View High School. When he was asked what makes Orem a good place to be, Jarman responded that it is the "caliber of the people, in executive positions, and the rank and file. They are top-notch." Despite the development the , years have brought around his home, Jarman still has a panoramic view of snow-capped Mt. Timpanogos from his living room window. "There's no more beautiful place to be," he said. Group meetings set for parents of special needs children There will be a Mom's Group Meeting for mothers of special needs children Thursday, March , 23, at Kids On the Move, 475 : West 260 North, Orem. Speaker Terrie Wiederhold will discuss "Achieving Balance in Life". Free child care will be provided'. Call 221-9930 for more information. The Father's Network for fathers of special needs children will meet Wednesday, April 5, at Kids On the Move, 475 West 2S0 . North, Orem, at 7:30 p.m. Call 221-9930 for more information. |