Utah's first female governor dies Saturday


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SALT LAKE CITY — Olene Walker, the only woman to serve as Utah's governor, died Saturday due to natural causes. She was 85.

Friends and colleagues remembered the former governor, who served from Nov. 5, 2003 to Jan. 3, 2005, as approachable and kind and possessed of limitless energy, despite assuming the office of governor in her mid-70s — the oldest governor in the nation at the time.

In her eight years as a legislator, 11 years as the state's second-in-command and 426 days as governor, Walker developed a reputation as a trailblazing lawmaker who led with grit and charisma.

"I honestly don't know of a single person who does not have a high regard for her," said former Gov. Mike Leavitt, who recruited her as his running mate in 1992. "That's a tribute to the tone of her personality, the genuineness of her concern — she was a friend to everybody, but especially the downtrodden."

Flags will be flown at half-mast until sunset Thursday in honor of Walker.

Gov. Gary Herbert and First Lady Jeanette expressed condolences to Walker's family in a statement.

"On behalf of all Utahns, we express our gratitude for the sacrifice and leadership of one of Utah's finest public servants," Herbert said.

Senator Orrin Hatch said of Walker, "Elaine and I were very saddened to hear about the passing of Governor Olene Walker, a tremendous lady who truly paved the way for women in government in Utah.

"Throughout her life, she displayed great integrity, determination, strength and wisdom. She had a sincere desire to serve our state and its people, was very humble by nature and was kind and compassionate to all. We will miss her dearly and send our love and prayers to her family and her many friends."

Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, said through a statement, "Olene Walker will be remembered and revered for generations to come — not because of the many "firsts" she pioneered in politics — but for her commitment to leave a legacy of public and private service that would truly last."

Former Lt. Gov. Gayle McKeachnie said via a statement, "​Few people have contributed so long and so substantially to the State of Utah and it's people as has Olene Walker.

"Although a busy mother and wife, and involved in her family's business, for the almost 40 years that I have known her, she has been a leader in this State. Her energetic service in the legislature, as Lt. Governor, as Governor, in public and higher education, in community and church has left a lasting legacy like few people can claim. Her time as Utah's first woman governor was neither the beginning nor the end of the good things we enjoy as the fruits of her vision, passion and hard work. I will miss her as a good friend."

As a member of the Utah House of Representatives, from 1981 until 1989, where she also served as majority whip, Walker considered the creation of Utah's "rainy day" fund her crowning legislative achievement. That fund is credited with later protecting state programs during the recession in 2008.

She served as lieutenant governor for a decade, assuming the role of governor after Leavitt resigned to head the Environmental Protection agency in 2003.

While in office, she led a renewed effort to teach Utah children to read.

She wasn't afraid to stir up the Legislature to do so. Walker gained the wrath of some conservatives when she vetoed an early effort at tuition tax credits for those attending private schools.

As much as she was known as a formidable politician, Walker was equally well-known for her self-effacing sense of humor and way with people.

"It's amazing to me, because when I interact with leaders from across the state and the Legislature it doesn't matter to what party they belong, they admire Gov. Walker," said Carol McNamara, the director of the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service at Weber State University.

So sorry about the passing of Gov Olene Walker. Always filled with optimism. She blazed new trails and inspired many. We will miss her. — Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) November 28, 2015

Walker had a rural charm that led some colleagues in the Legislature to refer to her as "Aunt Bea," a reference to a motherly character in the 1960s "Andy Griffith" TV show. Raised in western Weber County on a farm, the girl who grew up milking cows, thinning sugar beets and hauling hay went on to earn a master's degree from Stanford University in political science and a doctorate from the University of Utah in educational administration.

She left office with an 87 percent approval rating.

"We had a joke, she and I," said McNamara. "She would tell me about someone, and she would say, 'She's a good friend of mine,' and then she would realize that she says that all the time. And my response was always that I think it's true. She had more good friends and she inspired so much admiration and respect across the political spectrum in Utah."

Before her career in politics, Walker was a homemaker, a mother of seven children and a partner in her husband, Myron's successful food business.

Even back then Walker was known for being a tireless worker. As a public servant, colleagues said she went to bed late and woke up early, and often joked about drying her hair by sticking her head out of the car window on her way to work.

Despite her popularity with the public, she didn't win enough votes at the Utah Republican Convention in 2004 for her reelection bid, passed over in favor of Jon Huntsman Jr. and Nolan Karras.

"Gov. Walker broke barriers & shattered stereotypes for the benefit of all Utahns. Her indomitable spirit lives on" pic.twitter.com/yY9daUsRtk — Jon Huntsman (@JonHuntsman) November 28, 2015

Some believed her tough stances on education and moderate politics as governor hurt her chances to advance to the primaries.

As her political career ended, she told the Deseret News, "I'll just be a grandmother, go down to St. George and play some golf."

The former governor did more than that.

She seemed to have more energy than her children — serving on a dozen boards and continuing to advocate for causes such as education, affordable housing and public lands.

She served a mission with her husband to New York City for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years. At 80 years old, she was also serving as Primary president in the Bloomington 7th Ward in Utah.

In her final years, Walker turned her attention to encouraging students and women to get engaged in politics, creating the institute at Weber State University that bears her name: The Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service.

McNamara, the director of the institute, called Walker "among the most impressive human beings with whom I have been associated."

"She's larger than life in so many ways," said McNamara, who said Walker was her inspiration for getting involved in the institution. "I think she's often the smartest person in the room."

Leavitt said that was just like Walker: To look forward, not back.

"She was a person of great stature," said Leavitt, "whose feet did not leave the ground."

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