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Show Church Ends 21 years as Utah Transportation Commissioner Commissioner Clem Chruch of Panguitch has submitted hjs resignation from the Utah Transportation Tran-sportation Commission to Governor Norman Bangerter. Commissioner Church cited health problems as the reason for his request to step down and offered to serve until the governor can name a replacement. The Commissioner's current appointment ap-pointment runs to April 1, 1989. The retiring commissioner was appointed to the Road Commission by Governor Calvin Rampton on April 1, 1965, and has amassed more than 21 consecutive years of service under three governors. He was An eighteen wheel rig belonging to Hutchinson Inc. qf Manchester, Iowa, jack-knifed on the lower end of the "Dump" Thursday, July 10 when a chairman of the Road Commission for more than five years, from May 16, 1969 to September 13, 1974, and has by far the longest service of any commission member in the history of the Road Commission and the Transportation Commission. Commisioner Church represents Commission District 4, which is comprised of Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, Washington and Wayne counties. He is well known throughout that huge geographic area and knows most mayors and county commissioners in his district on a first-name basis. His lengthy service spanned the careers of three State Directors, Henry Helland, Blaine Kay and William Hurley. In addition, - he worked with many District Directors, Direc-tors, including John Homer, C. V. Anderson, Alex Mansour, Gene Sturzenegger, Stephen Noble, W. "Wally" Stevenson, William Hurley, Howard Richardson, Sterling Davis and Dean Smith. During his terms on the commission, com-mission, Church saw the Interstate Program move from its infancy, with just a few bridge structures and (See CHURCH Page 7) ; lJ . I -tf- ; ! CD. s iZZTTi' -r- . !'Ut a : -J. : ; r r : ; 1 'J ' V m HllT- : fH-' "H' -4 r ; .iiii ----- . , rj I . - i ' . .. . . -.. - . '"T -" ---- ' " - , , - , - ,.- ..w 1 . 4 :: - ... - . - - v'- - ,' -- . . '.". 't . - y - : - . .. ..' . , v.. ; - . driveline gave way. Driver Ray Helnick of Denver, Colo, needed help from Fosters Towing to he rig to the top and send for help. Clem Church-CliEEElO short routes completed, to the completion of the North-South Interstate In-terstate 15, the announced completion com-pletion of 1-80 later this year and with most of 1-70 completed or under contract. Commissioner Church conducted the dedication ceremonies when the final section of 1-15 was put into service near Nephi and Governor Bangerter, speaking at the dedication, paid tribute to the commissioner for his long, faithful service. Throughout his career, and especially when he was chairman, Commissioner Church has shown a great interest in the development and improvement of the state's Primary and Secondary roads which mean so much to his district. He also worked hard to secure for the state meaningful portions of available Public Lands Funds, which were applied to forest routes such as the Mirror Lake road and more recently the Boulder-Grover road dedicated last summer. Commissioner Church is known for his unselfish devotion of time and talent to the commission, for his almost perfect attendance record at commission meetings and for his great sense of fair play in apportioning ap-portioning available state funds for projects throughout the state. In commenting on the commissioner's com-missioner's proposed retirement, Commission Chairman Samuel Taylor of Moab voiced his regrets at losing such a dedicated member of the group. He said Church has given leadership and stability to the commission for many years and had won a host of friends in the process. The 21 years saw Church serve with a dozen other commissioners, inclding Ernest Balch, Ross Plant, Charles Ward, Charles Claybaugh, Todd Weston, Elias Strong, LaVaun Cox, Wayne Winters, Weston Hamilton, Ames Bagley, Francis Feltch and Samuel Taylor. Commissioner Church is married to Mary Ann Henrie. They make their summer home in Panguitch and their winter home in St. George. They have two sons, Gary of Bountiful and Mark of Panguitch and have two grandchildren. Church is a veteran of military service, having been with the airborne air-borne infantry. For years he was involved in the lodging and service station business in Panguitch. In recent years he has been involved in real estate development in Panguitch and at Panguitch Lake. He has been a prominent member of his community with service in many capacities, including Chairman of the School Board. In his letter of resignation submitted sub-mitted to Governor Bangerter, Commissioner Church said, "I leave knowing that you have one of the best Department of Transportation organizations in the United States, and I am proud to have been a small , part of it." This is typical of his modesty, for he has been a major part of the Utah transportation scene for well over two decades. |