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Show Until 1955, Orem's business development had been concentrated on State Street from 20"' North to 20 South. On March 21 of that year, representatives of the Orem Chamber of Commerce met with the Orem City Council to seek approval for re-zoning an area adjacent to Center Street and State Street for a shopping center. Complicating the proposal was the fact that Center Street was not opened west of State Street, preventing ready access to the planned shopping center development. Mayor Jarman's administration was characterized by the continued growth of Orem City, along with the necessary improvements and developments to make that growth possible. On November 8, 1955, a $2,450,000 bond election was approved, enabling the city to proceed with plans for a new sewage treatment plant. In 1956 the city's water supply was doubled with the addition of the water from a new well at 1500 South 800 East. In 1957 the Utah State Banking Commission announced that it had received applications for three new banks in Orem. During those exciting years of growth and development in Orem, I became well acquainted with LeGrand Jarman, during those years he served as Orem's Mayor, as well as for many years, when we served, together, on the Board of Directors of SCERA. A seasoned public servant, having also served in the Utah State Legislature and as a Director of the Utah Municipal League, LeGrand could always be counted on for sage advice in complicated deliberations. Throughout his life, he received many honors, attesting to his yeoman services to countless organizations, but he always remained a man of the soil, where he found much joy and satisfaction. A newspaper tribute at the time of his death tells how genuinely he was regarded by all who knew him: "A man dedicated to the good of the community is gone. The death of former Mayor LeGrand Jarman leaves a vacancy in Orem, for he was a man who backed his words with his deeds, and was instrumental in laying the ground work for several major improvements to the city, during his administration. He will be sorely missed. LeGrand stepped forward to run for Mayor at a time, when the post was not sought by many. In fact, in the fall of 1953 not one other candidate appeared. Perhaps the low salary offered little incentive, but for a man willing to offer his penchant for work to see good things were accomplished, there was reward enough in the position. During LeGrand's four-year administration, the disposal system site was purchased in Vineyard, and water and sewer improvements were made. The city 's water supply was doubled with a new well at 1500 South and 8G0 East. The open Alta Ditch was piped, so the water could run cleaner and more efficiently, directly into the Orem system, saving both water and money. Plans were made for a disposal plant, when a plan was presented that could be expanded for double the population. LeGrand died, as he lived, hard at work and doing what he loved: farming. Agriculture not only was his personal joy, it was his expertise, and it served as a springboard to serve on numerous agricultural organizations, including the Utah County Farm Bureau, the American Dairy Association of Utah, the Utah Farm Bureau, and most recently, the Utah County Fair Board. Orem is a better place today, because LeGrand Jarman made his home here, and made it his responsibility to improve the place he loved. - -. r a i -i hi Washburn Motors opens showroom in south Orem. Page 42 |