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Show Feature SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2001 11 Gardner has made Kanab a better place By Dixie Brunner munity development. When we were building the Uke Gardner first joined the . Gardner has become known as Dutch Oven Chef Extraordinaire to those who have enjoyed his cooking at Lion Club picnics and other community outings. He has also taken his turn at Easter egg hunts, cooking breakfast and flipping burgers at the annual 4th of July celebration. Perhaps Ukes proudest Lions Club accomplishment is the Kanab City Park. Esther Judd and Lester Little started the park, which we later took on as a project, explained Gardner. Under the direction of county agent Carl Hatch and with the help of numerous Kanab citizens over a two year period, the park grounds, trees and shelters began to take shape. Its stone fence at the cemetery, Wayne Wonderland Lions Club recalled Lions Club member Uke in 1953, later transferring memGardner with a mischievious bership to the Kanab Lions Club. twinkle in his eyes, Jack Ive always liked the Lions, its Hamblin, an older resident of a good club for civic involveKanab, came by. He watched ment, explained Gardner, Liwhat we were doing for a few ons stand for Liberty, Intelliminutes and shook his head and gence, Our Nations Safety. It wouldnt be much ofa stretch said, I dont see why your building such a pretty fence, they to say that many of the things couldnt have gotten out of the we enjoy in Kanab today were a old barbed wire one! benefit of Uke and the Kanab serLions Club. He has been a tireFriendships, laughter and vice are things Ulysses S. less worker on dozens of projects Gardner has come to be known the club has undertaken to benfor through the years. He is a efit the community. Among the friend to everyone he meets , and major projects are: the Kanab always has a ready joke or car- Creek Ranchos baseball field, toon. But its the community the brick fence at the Kanab service hes been involved in Cemetery, Kaneplex concession through the Kanab Lions Club stand, and many other commu- been quite an asset, said which has left an indelible mark. nity facilities. Gardner, who humbly declined a movement to name the city park the U.S. Gardner Park. Uke Gardner didnt confine all of his public service to the Lions Club. Gardner also served time . x i on the Kane County School t. Board, as well as several terms on the Kanab City Council. While he isnt one to boast of 4 "Oij' ii - t L K, Vl, V' 3 s j f- I f The beautiful fence around the Kanab City Cemetery was one of Uke Gardners projects. accomplisments, others have recognized and honored Gardner for his hard work. He received the Kanab Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award in 1980, and in 1998 received the prestigious Friend of Rural Utah award. Gardner was father recognized for his years of dedication to the Lions Club in March of 2000, for his loyalty, devotion and furtherance of the Lions Club and the community. Gardner feels that Kanabs future is looking bright. Ive 4 i Lion Uke Gardner has done many service projects around Kanab, including the city park, stone fence around the cemetery, just to name a few. seen so many good things hap- - not sit still, and it cant go back--pe- n here, commented Uke. The wards, it must go forward. Senior Citizens programs, hos- Uke Gardner and the Kanab schools-they Lions Club are working to make pital, library and are all new. A community can- - that happen. We deliver your love If Only Cupid could do it better! Upon first meeting the spry yeay-olyou are confused 87 d, about what exactly to call him. .. Ulysses. ..U.S... .Uke? I became known as Uke when I was just a young boy, explained Gardner, because most of my friends couldnt even pronounce V Ulysses. Uke Gardner moved to Kanab with his wife Hortense on February 11, 1957. A U.S. Grazing Service (later the Bureau ofLand Management) job transfer-brough- presents a VALENTINE'S DAYV PRIME RIB SPECIAL t them to the red hills of southern Utah from Richfield. We loved it, said Gardner of Kanab, where his family, which eventually grew to include a son and two daughters, thrived. We your sweetheart you love her--i, v Valerrlim'sDayis Wednesday, Feb. 14 Long Stem Roses. Roses & more Rosfe v Fresh Floral Bouquets Balloons v Boxed Chocolates Candle Live Plants Remember: Ifonrd rose .soys "I Love You", v-Sh- ow Imagine what adozen will fell her! $ never made enough money to move away! He added good-- , naturedly. This was our home. Place yoitroder by Feb. lOi'iA get a FREE VALENTINE BALLOON! As Improvement Foreman Uke worked on public land reseeding, and road and trail reconstruction. He worked 43 years for the government before his retirement. But the long hours of physical labor he put in on his job werent enough for Gardner, he wanted to get involved in civic projects and com- - service with a smile, Code to KANAB FLORAL! (With (IcUnmw- Cede - each purchase of $25 or more Kanab Floral Kanab choose the design I 226 South 100 East 644-299- 198 South 100 East - we'H 1 v Remember we deliver your "Love" wiwriwrnif ww |