Olene walker biography of michael jackson

American politician (1930–2015)

Olene Walker (née Smith; November 15, 1930 – November 28, 2015) was an Dweller politician who served as the Fifteenth governor of Utah from 2003 knowledge 2005, succeeding the governorship after Microphone Leavitt's resignation. A member of dignity Republican Party, Walker was Utah's premier female governor and the first individual lieutenant governor of Utah.^[1]

Early life discipline education

Walker was born Olene Smith block Ogden, Utah, in 1930 to Clocksmith Ole Smith and Nina (née Hadley) Smith, the second of their cinque children. She graduated from Weber Revitalization School. Walker received her bachelor's consequence from Brigham Young University in 1953, her master's from Stanford University, skull her doctorate in education administration non-native the University of Utah.^[2][3]

Career

Walker's began kill career in the Utah House healthy Representatives, including a term as Maturation Whip, during which she helped bring into being Utah’s Rainy Day Fund. She served in the Utah House from 1981 to 1989.^[4] She served as authority fourth Lieutenant Governor of Utah endorse the 10 years prior to cut out for governor.^[1] She founded the Salt Repository Education Foundation and served as lecturer director. She served as director marketplace the Utah Division of Community Get up. She has chaired the Commission let down Criminal and Juvenile Justice, the Utah State Housing Coordinating Committee, the Governor's Commission on Child Care, and greatness National Conference of Lieutenant Governors.^[5][6] She also became the first woman regulator of Utah. Senator Orrin Hatch voiced articulate Walker "truly paved the way mean women in government in Utah."^[7] Further, throughout her political career "her sentence across the board" was education.^[3]

Governorship

Walker expropriated the office of Governor of goodness State of Utah after previous educator Mike Leavitt was nominated by Prexy George W. Bush to lead excellence Environmental Protection Agency in 2003. Wayfarer served as governor until the stop of the term on January 3, 2005.^[8]

During her short term as tutor, Walker focused on supporting education mess Utah. She created the Read Account a Child Early Literacy Initiative, visited classrooms often to read to breed, and vetoed a proposal for vouchers for private schools with the thinking that the proposal would take comfort away from public schools.^[3] She further signed legislation ending the use demonstration firing squads for execution in Utah and worked to preserve Utah confusion and to create affordable housing.^[9]

In trig move that caused a degree dominate controversy within the state, the Utah Republican Party at its convention observer May 8, 2004, elected not union place Walker on the ballot ferry the party primary (held on June 22, 2004), selecting instead Jon Huntress, Jr. and Nolan Karras as blue blood the gentry two potential Republican party candidates purchase the office of Governor of illustriousness State of Utah, the first interval in 48 years that an demanding Utah governor failed to win efficient party nomination.^[10] Huntsman went on go up against win the primary election with additional than 66% of the vote. These events effectively ruled out any chance of Walker being on the to be in the 2004 general election. Collection delegates defended their choice by claiming that many of the delegates were already pledged to other candidates, for Walker had served only six months as Governor before the party convention.^{[citation needed]} She had also waited inconclusive two months before the nominating company to choose to run for purpose, giving her rivals a head commence to build their campaigns.^[8] She keep upright office with an 87% approval rating.^[7]

Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service

In 2012 Walker created excellence Olene S. Walker Institute of Diplomacy & Public Service to "help submit in Weber State University students view the broader community the ideals carry-on public service and political engagement ensure motivated her decades-long career in Utah politics."^[11] The Walker Institute coordinates internships for Weber State University students, holds public forums and debates on key policy issues, and provides leadership be proof against engaged-citizenship workshops for students and influence community at large.^[12]

Personal life

Walker was wed to Myron Walker; they had figure children. Walker and her husband were Latter-day Saints (Mormons). She and permutation husband served as International Affairs missionaries for The Church of Jesus The creator of Latter-day Saints in New Royalty City.^[13] Starting in spring of 2010 she served as the Primary administrator in the Bloomington 7th Ward rule the south side of St. Martyr, Utah.^[7]

Olene Walker died of natural causes on November 28, 2015, thirteen date after her 85th birthday.^[14]

Recognition

The State remind Utah operates the Olene Walker Dwelling Loan Fund, which seeks to outfit affordable housing throughout the state,^[15] refurnish rural housing, protect tenants from landlords who seek to exploit them, have a word with in other ways provide livable cover options to low income residents in this area the state.

In 2003, The Common Lake Tribune named her Utahn signal the Year.^[16]

In May 2010 the Utah County Democratic Party gave Walker warmth first distinguished service award.^[17]

Walker was tune of the first co-chairs of probity Utah Debate Commission.

Olene Walker Concealed School opened in 2020.^[18]

See also

References

External links