OCR Text |
Show Times Newspaper, Millennium Edition Milestones of the Twentieth Century Wednesday Jan. 5, 2000 paqe 4 Arthur Vivian Watkins Citizen o entury two C Continued from page 3 where he also raised turkeys. In 1925 the Watkins family, the turkey business and the law practice which had begun again, part-time, in American Fork, were all moved to a 35-acre fruit farm in Orem, Utah. Shortly after that move, he opened a legal practice in Provo and, with two other attorneys, formed the legal partnership of Christensen. Watkins and Dunford. OREM TOWN ATTORNEY Arthur V. Watkins took an active interest in the community, which had been incorporated as the Town of Orem in 1919. On May 1, 1926, he was appointed attorney for the Town of Orem, which he would consider, as his home town, for the rest of his life. In the general election of 1928, Watkins ran as a Republican for the office of Judge of the Fourth Judicial District Court. There was a Republican sweep, and he was elected to a four-year term. On September 15, 1929, the Sharon L.D.S. Stake was organized on the division of the Utah Stake with a membership of 3,022 members. Arthur V. Watkins was named stake president. The Voice of Sharon was established then, as the Stake newspaper, and for a number of years Watkins was its chief editorial writer, eventually acquiring ownership of the publication, and changing its name to the Orem-Ceneva Times. STRAWBERRY FARMING In 1929 Watkins phased out his turkey business, and got into strawberry farming in a big way. At one time, he had 70 acres of "It is a fllC 6 place Especially when "There is something to do all of the time and it is a nice place to live, especially irheuyon are alone likt I am. Everyone is joyful. I am happy I am here. This will be my home for the rest of my Life. " rT (W Prestige -JJ Assisted Living Courtyard at Jamestown Proudly Sening Senon for Over 50 years strawberries on two farms under cultivation. During the peak harvest in June, he hired 400 pickers from all over Utah County, and as far south as Mesquite, Nevada. When the local berry market proved too small for the large harvest, he organized the Utah Cold-Pack Fruit Corporation in Orem. At the new plant the berries were washed, sugared and frozen in 60-gallon barrels, and shipped to eastern markets. Meanwhile, Arthur V. Watkins had made a study of the Cooperative movement in the United States, and had concluded that a community cooperative in Orem could well provide entertainment and recreation for local residents, which was otherwise unavailable. ORGANIZING SCERA Under Watkins' direction Sharon's Community Educational & Recreational Association, better known as SCERA, was organized in 1933, becoming one of America's unique adventures in community cooperation. In 1938 Arthur V. Watkins became a critical facilitator in Orem Mayor B. Manning Jolley's efforts to purchase the foreclosed James G. Stratton property for use as Orem's first town hall. Watkins was also a leader in the successful effort for SCERA to build the SCERA Auditorium. The building, which was begun March 23, 1940, was completed and dedicated on September I, 1941, at a cost of 5125,000, financed by the sale of bonds, purchased by over 1,000 families in the community, as well as leading businesses. Involved with state-wide projects, as well as local ones, Watkins helped to draft the you are alone like lam Ray Our residents love it at Prestige Assisted Living. And why shouldn't they? They get to enjoy activities an outings with friends and neighbors, or just Metropolitan Water District Law of Utah, and was instrumental in organizing water use in Utah. He was also an outspoken advocate of the construction of the Deer Creek Dam in Provo Canyon. Released as Sharon Stake President on January 20, 1946, with over' 16 years of service, Arthur V. Watkins was seen 'as one, who had constantly worked to ' help the members in his stake. CONCERN FOR MEMBERS Sharon Stake Clerk Henry D. Taylor recalled that he was awakened at 4:30 a.m. one morning by a ringing telephone. "As I answered. President Watkins was on the line and said," 'Henry, we have an emergency. Can you meet me in my office in an hour?' I answered him that I would. As we met, he advised tne that a widow in our stake was having the mortgage on her home and farm foreclosed that morning. In order that she would have a place in which to live, he proposed that, if I were agreeable, he would go into court that morning and redeem the mortgage and place title to the property in my name, as trustee. He would give the widow a life estate, so that she would always have a place in which to live; and he would have the responsibility for the indebtedness. . The procedure was carried out, much to the.blessing of the good widow." UNITED STATES SENATE Following his release as stake president, Watkins felt inspired to seek the office of United States Senator from Utah. He won the primary election, as well as. the final election on November 5, 1946. During his 12-year tenure in the to live ( Neibaur , J the privacy of their own apartment. Our dedicated, caring staff provides assistance with daily living activities from a plan designed to fit each individual's needs. This creates an enriching, independent lifestyle with the security of knowing someone is nearby when you need them. And with Expressions, our nationally recognized Alzheimer's and Dementia care program, you'll have the added benefit of aging in place with dignity. Call today for more information or to schedule a personal tour. Then discover the difference Prestige Assisted Living - Courtyard at Jamestown can make. relax in U.S. Senate, a fierce public debate erupted, when Senator Joseph R. McCarthy ot Wisconsin made charges that "communist traitors and their sympathizers were numerous and deeply entrenched in places of responsibility and authority in the United States Government. When a resolution was offered in the Senate to condemn Senator McCarthy for his conduct, Senator Watkins was named to a six-member six-member committee to study the censure charges against Senator McCarthy. COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN As the senior Republican with a legal and judicial background, Watkins was named Chairman of the Select Committee by vote of the committee. Two months later, the Committee's report was issued and the Senate found , that McCarthy had "acted contrary to Senatorial ethics and tended to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute, to obstruct the constitutional processes of the Senate, and to impair its dignity; and such conduct is hereby condemned." After the Senate vote had been registered. President Dwight D. Eisenhower invited Senator Watkins to the White House, where he thanked the Senator for the fair and orderly hearing he had conducted, and for the way the censure resolution had been presented to the Senate. INDIAN COMMISSION Seven months after Watkins' second term in the U.S. Senate had expired. President Eisenhower appointed him to the Indian Claims Commission. After serving as a ; K - Y , it -n f. member of the Indian Claims Commission for two years, Senatoi Watkins was named Chief! Commissioner of the Commission He retired on November 1, 1967 At 80 years of age, Watkiiu wrote a book about his service in the Senate, including the McCarthy affair. It was published under the title Enough Rope in 1969, when he was 83 years old. On September 1, 1973, on the 32nd anniversary of the dedication of his beloved SCERA Auditorium Arthur V. Watkins died at his home in Orem. Throughout his nearly 87 years, Senator Arthur V. Watkins accomplished much good and reached great heights. He was one of the sponsors and champions of the Upper Colorado River Project. He carried out with skill and honor the many assignments which were given to him, and he was recognized for such achievements by the numerous awards and honorary degrees which he received. A. V. WATKINS AWARD In 1979 the Orem Chamber of Commerce instituted an annual award, to be known as the ARTHUR V. WATKINS OUTSTANDING AWARD. The award is made in Watkins name, because "he is regarded as one of Orem's most famrmt rifiVpnc " In 1989 the Congress of the United States designated the Orem Post Office building as the "Senator Arthur V. Watkins Building." Senator Arthur V. Watkins is hereby recognized by the Orem-Geneva Orem-Geneva Times, as the outstanding Orem Citizen of the Twentieth Century. (m situs i o agu njm |