Recently the news has been besieged by false notifications of many celebrity deaths. As people have rushed to learn more about these star passings, more and more they are finding conflicting information and outright untruths. What a waste of time and money and resources! On July 1, 2009 John Sutter of CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/07/01/celebrity.death.pranks/index.html) wrote:

“The situation is calling attention to the changing state of the news media: As information online moves faster and comes from more sources, it's more difficult to verify what's true and what may be shockingly false.

Some have downplayed the situation, saying the rumors are not harmful. Others find the situation offensive in light of the actual deaths last week.

Internet-savvy readers can tell the difference between fake news and real information that has been verified by a trusted blogger or mainstream news reporter, said Gabriel Snyder, managing editor at Gawker, a celebrity news and gossip blog not associated with the rumors.”

This sounds a lot like the current day situation in genealogy found on the Internet. Because we live in a day of self-styled professionalism for genealogy research, education, information, technology and materials, and citizen genealogy blogging, the consumer is having a very tough time finding trustworthy sites in their quest for accurate and trustworthy results and advice. And with the plethoration of Internet sources and resources, and lack of true professional authority, it is becoming even more difficult for the truth to be distinguished from all that is there, and even to find trusted professionals. There is a lot of fake genealogy to wade through online to find real genealogical information and qualified competent professional help. The consumer needs to have authoritative credentialed sources for genealogy results, data, information, technology, instruction, speaking, writing, and blogging. Such professionalism would enhance the credibility of both public and private domain family trees, blogs and genealogical materials and information now found on the Internet and in turn, benefit the consumer, the practitioner, and the emerging profession in Professional Genealogy Research Services.

We here at www.Heirlines.com support the establishment of such a profession in Professional Genealogy Research Services, with autonomous regulation by a professional organization composed of qualified members-only practitioners who can do professional genealogical research. and teach, write, and mentor for clients, students, professionals, governments, and private and public organizations on and off the Internet about professional genealogy. Here consumers will find qualified professionals with profession-regulated and recognized credentials capable of producing trusted verifiable professional genealogy research and authenticated information in all formats in research results, education, technology, and advice. Professionalization will help the savvy consumer find trustworthy practitioners and trusted results, sources, technology, blogging, teaching, writing, speaking, and all things genealogical.

Submitted by

Mary E. Petty, B.A. (History), B.A. (Genealogy)
==============================================================
Ancestors are the People of History. Do you know who yours are?
Let the Professionals at HEIRLINES FAMILY HISTORY & GENEALOGY find your ancestry!
1-800-570-4049 ▪ www.heirlines.com ▪ PO Box 893 ▪ Salt Lake City, UT 84110

© 2009, Heirlines Family History & Genealogy, Inc. All rights reserved.

"The Need for Professional Standard of Quality Control in Professional Genealogy Research Services"

You are absolutely right about the need for a professional standard of quality control and entities that live by those professional standards in genealogy. Unfortunately, in 2009 there are no such animals because there is no formally established sovereign profession for the profession of professional genealogy research services. We have an umbrella approach right now that says "everyone can play and have a say" - even if they do not do genealogy as a profession, but just as a hobby or as a supplier of information - be it through talking, writing, speaking, publishing, researching, development of technology, Internet sharing and so on. It is a real hodge-podge of people putting out and storing family tree information and driving the technology, the science, the production by hobbyists, and the practice by professionals - be they real professionals or not. There is no one professional body of practitioners with standards, like in golf or medicine that sets the definition of terms, the ethics, the best practices, education, methodologies and other hallmarks of professionalism. As has been said before, it is what it is in 2009.

The Genealogy Industry is not professionally based, and revolves around the hobbyist production of family trees, "citizen genealogy", that has no standards or regulations. Like Golf, this amateur player is never going to change in genealogy. Hobbyists (most of them) in genealogy game want the truth and accuracy about THEIR family tree and are always searching for the next new wave in genealogy that will take them there quickly and cheaply. But like the professions of Medicine and Golf, there is a great need and a desire for professionalism. People want to play and get hole-in-ones and they want to live and be healthy.

Family tree production today is composed of a myriad of entities, mainly hobbyists and societies, and a very small group of professional genealogy providers, and practitioners who are all served by the umbrella of businesses within the industry. There is little or no standardization, except where these entities intersect with other professions ("in my real job I learned...). Most who proclaim professional status, do not want a sovereign profession or even at bare minimum, earned credentials. They want to do their own thing and make their own cheese, their own way. Hence, we have a real lack of quality control in genealogy in any single entity except on an in-house basis.

Lots of volunteer work is done in this environment by all of these groups, resulting in an enormous amount of time, efforts and results that have few if any shared or recognizable consistent standards, ethics or best practices. No one has to live by any rules, not even the practitioner titled "professional genealogist, who if he were in a profession that was real, would be the highest on the pyramid. Not so in Genealogy.

Self appointment as a professional is the rule today in Professional Genealogy. Few practitioners seek to earn professional designation and adhere to the hallmarks of professionalism. Everybody wants to be on top of the pyramid, and king of the castle, a professional genealogist. Anyone with the time, money, and/or just desire can proclaim professional status and research, report, produce, teach, write, speak, publish, share, put out on the Internet, create a database or world-recognized publication, or start a business all by self-appointment and charge money or do it for free. All with no professional quality control.

And if it sells, it must be good. If it is used, it must be accurate. If it is documented, it must be right. If the producer is popular, what they say and do is correct and based on professional work experience. If they are under the umbrella, they must be a real professionally qualified researcher - a "professional genealogist".

In such an environment, entities in genealogy do in-house quality control that may or may not meet the long term quality control needs that would be best for creating an accurate family tree. There is no recognized verifier, just a scramble of entities calling out to the consumer, come buy my wares or use my website for free information. The consumer is responsible for determining whether or not the information is accurate and trustworthy. There is no profession that has established quality control standards that benefit the profession, the practitioner and the consumer.

How do we get quality control in Genealogy? First and foremost - a profession needs to be established for the minority of producers - the willing and actual practitioners who agree upon qualifying membership standards or hallmarks of professionalism such as education, best practices, production standards and ethics. Such professionalism and professionals would be qualified to set the quality control standards for the production of accurate family trees for those databases, publications, websites, educational programs, and genealogical entities that want professional level verifiable accuracy. Unless we professionals do it for ourselves, outside groups or entities under the umbrella, by the sheer force of the massive non-standardized production of family trees by hobbyists and non professional business interests, will continue to keep the standards at the current level that allows the most to participate for the cheapest amount of money with non-verified quality.

A member's only body can be an influence for good on the vast production of genealogical materials by the majority, the citizen genealogists. Look at Golf or Medicine as examples. The professional body must come first, in-order to influence the development of entities that support professional standards. Through quality control on the profession level, standards have not hurt Medicine. We are healthier today than in any other generation. In golf - more hobbyists play today than ever before. They all know what they are aiming for. Let's give the hobbyist this in Genealogy.

Copyright March 23, 2009 © 2009, Heirlines Family History & Genealogy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Honoring the 1st Genealogist I ever knew - Wilda Wimmer McRae - On her 100th Birthday Celebration September 30, 2008

To Honor the first "genealogist" I ever knew, Wilda Wimmer McRae, on the occasion of her 100th B-Day Celebration, September 30, 1908 -2008, Heirlines re-issues this Meridian Magazine Article written by professional genealogist, James W. Petty, AG, CG,. While she passed on in 1998, in the true spirit of family history, the family gathered together and we held a wonderful party for her on Sunday September 28, 2008. We served her favorite recipes including "G'Ma Wilda's Carrot Cake" in her very own handmade welded aluminum cake pan. She was a professional lead welder for McDonald Douglas Aircraft and made a mean weld and to die for cake! Enjoy!

GRANDMA WILDA'S CARROT CAKE

By James W. Petty

It's that time of the year, Family Reunion Time! Families get together at a favorite camp or picnic site. Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, and of course Grandpa and Grandma. We start off greeting people we haven't seen in, possibly...years, and reminisce about the last time we saw each other. A family picnic is laid out, with salads and casseroles set in pot luck formation. Soda pop is available in a big cooler full of ice. Potato chips scatter everywhere, and the kids are eyeing the array of chocolate cakes and apple pies sitting on the dessert table. Those will be served with melty ice cream after the family ball game. Later in the day, while the kids are off playing with all of their new found cousin friends, the adults kick back and rest; and talk about old times.

"Do you remember going to Great Grampa Willie's home in Ogden Canyon? He was a Dentist, but he always wanted to be a sheep rancher. Great Grandma used to fix a Hash that was out of this world!" "Did you ever get to try her special Roast Beef? It just melted in your mouth." "Do you remember Uncle Darrell? We'd go to his house for New Year's and at midnight he'd get his rifles out, and we'd fire them at the mountains! What a great noise they'd make!" "His wife Verda made wonderful Jello salads!" "When I was a kid, I remember Grandma Winter serving chicken gizzards. Every other time that I've tried gizzards, they were tough and rubbery, and quite unappetizing. But hers were so tender you could cut them with a feather, and they were so savory and delicious. I've never had anything like them." "Cousin Jim cooks the best steaks I've ever tasted. He loves to cook, and I'll let him cook any time he comes to visit." "Yeah, I've had his Pepper Steak. Wow, was it good. He said it was a recipe handed down from his Mother."

The talk would get around to Lewis's amazing skill as a Fly-Fisherman, and a disgusting thing he would do with cherry pits. Or stories about Grandpa Jerry and Uncle Paris and their adventures during the Depression. But in the end the high point was always Grandma Wilda's Carrot Cake. It was a bit of heaven in the memory of every person in the family.

Eventually, a family meeting is held, where the family genealogy is discussed. Genealogy is often the "old maid aunt" of the family. Everyone loves her, but no one wants to go out with her. Most of the family didn't realize that while reminiscing about the "good old times", and Aunt Mary's fabulous Pumpkin Pie (made with Banana Squash), they were doing genealogy. Ellen recalled eating "Battered Rabbit" at the home of Great Grandma Emma Melissa. It sounded like a case of abuse, which is just what it was in reality. Great Grandpa Rob raised rabbits because they multiplied so rapidly and were a good source of meat. He would "batter" a few in the barn, and Great Grandma would "batter" them in the kitchen, and drop them in a deep fryer. The family would then enjoy a delicious meal of Bunny and Broccoli.
Someone then recalled seeing an entry in Great Grandma Wilda's diary that she kept when she was a young girl, which stated that Wilda had found a recipe for carrot cake, something like "Mrs. Carlisle's Carrot Cake." Alarmed family members recognized heresy when they heard it. Grandma Wilda may have learned off of someone else's recipe, but her carrot cake was unique. No one else made anything like it. No dime store recipe had the taste, the texture, or the love in it like Grandma Wilda's Carrot Cake. No, we wouldn't discuss this blasphemy any further. It was alright to gossip about that thing Uncle Richard did with fish, or Aunt Deborah's dark little secret; but casting doubt on the origins of the ultimate family treasure was forbidden.

Herein lies the key. Almost every favorite family recipe was found in someone-else's cookbook in a previous life, but delicious dishes aren't remembered for the recipe; they are remembered for the love put into the meal by the cook, and the love returned by the family for the cook.

These wonderful stories and memories, along with the recipes can be preserved in a Favorite Family Recipes Book (create your own title). This can be a delightful experience for the whole family at a reunion, or any family get together. Each recipe should be included with a picture of the person associated with the given recipe, and a brief biographical sketch, and a personal story about that person. For each recipe pertaining to that person, a different personal story should be included. This way those favorite memories and recipes are passed on in a unique flavorful telling of family history. If the recipes are put into a three ring binder, new recipes, as they are prepared, can be added. There can be a section for "Murphy's Law"- "If something can go wrong, it will." This can include the recipe for "Uncle John's Flaming Franks" (put 18 hot dogs on a barbecue and set them on fire). No one will care about the recipe, but Uncle John will be remembered forever. Or the time Wilda prepared four large trays of carrot cake for a wedding, only to discover she had used salt instead of sugar.

With a Favorite Family Recipe Book, future family reunions will add new recipes and forgotten stories to the family history. A loved granddaughter may develop her own select version of a favored old recipe, and get a page with her picture overlaying that of Grandma Marion, a special honor. But in the end we always remember Grandma Wilda's Carrot Cake.

G'ma Wilda's 14 (Kt.) Carrot Cake

2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
} Sift flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon together.

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups salad oil
} Add sugar, oil, eggs and mix well.

2 cups finely grated carrots
1 can 8 1/2 oz. crushed pineapple drained
1 cup chopped nuts (walnut or pecan)
} Stir in carrots, pineapple and nuts.

Put batter into 3 - nine inch layer cake pans,
or 1 - thirteen by nine inch pan greased and floured.

Cook 35 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees till top springs back.
(Check at 20 25 minutes, until you know your oven)

Frost with cream cheese frosting when cake is cooled.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 8 oz pack Philadelphia cream cheese softened
1 tsp vanilla (up to 1 Tb)
} Combine butter, cream cheese, vanilla.

Beat until well blended.

1 lb. (about 4 cups) confectioner's sugar sifted
} Add sugar gradually, beating in thoroughly.

If frosting is too thick, thin with a very small amount of
milk until it is your desired spreading consistency.

Submitted by Mary E. Petty, BA (History), BA (Genealogy)
Family Health History Specialist

THE TRUTH ABOUT HIRING A PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGIST

WHO CAN CALL THEMSELVES A PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGIST?

A professional genealogist is some one who is paid to do genealogical research. In the United States there are no licenses or special schooling required to provide professional genealogy research services. Anyone may call or self appoint himself or herself a “Professional Genealogist.” But consumers need to know that professional genealogy college degrees are available for the serious commercial career-minded practitioner and most states do require business licenses. However, there are two organizations, The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen (www.icapgen.org) and The Board for the Certification of Genealogists (BCG (www.bcgcertification.org) that grant credentials to those individuals who demonstrate they are qualified to do professional genealogical research -AG (®) and CG (SM) and a membership organization for professional genealogists does exist, The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG).

With this in mind, the consumer should choose a practitioner who has earned a college degree in Genealogy as well as these credentials. For the best expert, your professional genealogist should be someone who works full-time in professional genealogy research services and has made their commercial career as a professional genealogist. The practitioner should be a member in good standing with both his local chapter and national APG organizations.

WHAT DO AG (®) and CG (SM) STAND FOR?

There are two credentialing bodies that require their applicants to prove they are qualified to do professional research. ICAPGen (www.icapgen.org) is the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists, the organization that supplies the Accredited Genealogist - AG credential through testing. The Board for Certification of Genealogists (www.bcgcertification.org) or BCG, provides the Certified Genealogist - CG credential through peer-reviewed portfolio. Both credentialing bodies have a code of ethics and production standards. It is important to look for one of these credentials to assure you are getting an experienced and qualified researcher who has agreed to uphold standards and observe ethical practices.

WHAT IS APG ?

The Association of Professional Genealogists (www.apgen.org) or APG, is the only professional membership body in the US. Although, it is not a professional practitioners-only organization, it does require its members to observe a code of ethics. Additionally, all these organizations (ICAPGen, BCG, and APG) offer arbitration services should a disagreement arise between a client and a professional researcher.

WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSIDER HIRING A PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGIST?

Certainly, doing your own family history research is an exciting and rewarding pursuit. Although some information is available on the Internet, there is much more information in original records and other resources. You may want to consider hiring a Professional Genealogist if:

1. You don’t have the time or research skills necessary to do it yourself.
2. You need research done in an unfamiliar locality, foreign language, or ethnic group.
3. You need help with a difficult research problem or a “brick wall.”
4. You don’t know what record sources might be available.

WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU ASK BEFORE HIRING A PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGIST?

1. Do you have at least a 4 year degree in Professional Genealogy Research?
2. Do you have either an AG or CG credential or both?
3. Are you a member in good standing of APG nationally and in your local chapter?
4. How long have you been doing professional genealogy research?
5. What is your area of research expertise?
6. Do you perform all of the research yourself, or do you have research assistants who work with you?
7. How do you qualify your sub-contractors to work for you?
8. What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?
9. Do you provide copies of all relevant documents found during your research, with complete source citations?
10. Do you provide pedigree charts and family group sheets containing the new information found during your research?
11. Do you provide data inputting of any new family information into a GEDcom format?
12. What resources and repositories do you use to perform your research?

How long should a research project take?

Remember that no one can predict how long it will take to find the answer to your family history problem nor what that answer will be in advance of doing the actual research. Professional Genealogy research is an extremely time-consuming process. You are paying for the researcher’s time, experience and expertise, and a negative search takes the same amount of time as a successful search. The research results must then be analyzed, compiled, and a report written. That being said, you have paid for a certain amount of time, and an ethical researcher will honor that agreement and keep you informed of any delays that might occur, such as on-site research that must be done, or documents that must be ordered.

CAN YOU EXPECT A GUARANTEE OF RESEARCH RESULTS?

No ethical Professional Genealogist would ever guarantee the results of a research project in advance to doing the work. There is no guarantee that your ancestor created the record being sought, or that the record is still in existence. Although many family traditions and legends have a basis in fact, often the truth discovered through careful research may be very different than the accepted family history.

The only guarantee you can – and should – expect is that the research will be done by a qualified, experienced researcher who will accurately document the research done during the allotted research time and what is, or is not, found. Negative results of any search are still useful results that indicate a family or individual were not where they were assumed to be at a given point in time. Both negative and positive findings are the clues that will focus additional research efforts.

ISN'T EVERYTHING ALREADY AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET?

The Internet has definitely affected the way family history research is done. Every day. more information becomes available - both good information and bad information. Good information includes scanned or digitized copies of original documents, accurately extracted vital records and indexes, properly researched and documented family trees, and resources that provide access to records that were previously unavailable to researchers due to distance. Bad information includes undocumented research and family trees and other publications that perpetuate misleading or incorrect lineages.

A qualified professional genealogist is able to evaluate the validity of information obtained on the Internet, and consult original record sources when necessary to confirm, clarify, or disprove that information. While the Internet is a valuable tool in tracing family history, it is only one of several sources that a professional genealogist uses to provide accurate, solid, and thorough research. And it often requires high-level skills and methodology to accurately utilize.

What about DNA testing and research – is it real, or just a gimmick? WHAT ABOUT DNA TESTING AND RESEARCH - IS IT REAL, OR JUST A GIMMICK?

The ability to analyze DNA is one of the most important advances in molecular science. Used in conjunction with traditional genealogy research, DNA studies can uncover previously unknown family relationships, verify or disprove an ancestry, and provide answers to research roadblocks that have existed for years. The successful genealogical use of any DNA test and analysis is dependent upon matching the results with another contributor. Therefore, the more individuals who submit DNA samples to any of the several companies who receive them, the greater the chances that a specific match will be made. For more information on DNA testing and its value to genealogy research, visit www.relativegenetics.com.<br />

WHAT MAKES HEIRLINES FAMILY HISTORY & GENEALOGY DIFFERNET FROM OTHER RESEARCH COMPANIES?

Our philosophy - we believe that our clients are entitled to professional, thorough research conducted by qualified professionals. We support and encourage the professional genealogy career path for practitioners including a 4 year professional genealogy college degree, membership in National APG and the local chaper, professional genealogy research services training and experience, AG and CG credentials earned from ICAPGen and BCG, business licensing, ethical codes of conduct and behavior and standards of performance.

Reflections on a Grandmother’s Lifetime of Service
* Olene Smith Walker *
First Woman Governor of Utah 2003-2004

Early this past spring we gathered with our family and dozens of other families under a cheery pavilion at Deseret Pioneer Village. Adults mingled with one another and served food to the large and bustling crowd. Huge pieces of fried chicken, plates of scrumptious potato salad, drippy slices of sweet watermelon, chilled cans of soda pop and tasty cakes adorned this perfect picnic. Local community dignitaries and happy children alike joined the festivities. On the front row of a series of benches adults and children alike enveloped a small woman; parents greeting her with handshakes and hugs and children even calling her grandma. This celebration had all the trappings of a grand family reunion. But just beyond the fringes of the arbor, greeters met the crowd with name tags, banners and placards, and it became apparent that the little woman we had all come to greet was not simply a grandmother, but rather, she was Olene Smith Walker, the first woman Governor of the State of Utah.

When Governor Walker was a little girl, she may have had aspirations to be a cheerleader or student body officer. She may have thought about being a leader for the people in her community. But she probably never imagined the day when she would be the 15th Governor of the State of Utah and be one of the most influential women in the United States of America. As students of professional genealogy research at Heritage Gene@logy College, we had had the opportunity to study this remarkable woman’s ancestry and interview her and her staff this past year (April-May 2004 Interviews - OSWI) in our effort to discover through family history research some answers to the age-old questions everyone asks, “Who am I? and Where did I come?” Olene Walker’s family history reveals how her heritage influenced this rise to power, and yet, made her the caring grandmother that she is; complete with her favorite cookie recipe that she is always so willing to share.

Olene Smith Walker’s roots run deep in the soils of England and Norway and the LDS culture of her pioneer immigrant ancestors as converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thomas Marston Smith and his wife, Eliza Ann Wright of England and Norwegians Ole Olsen and Aletta Josephine Christiansen were her father’s family. Her mother’s great- grandparents, Wheatley Gibson and his wife, Selena England, and William Hadley and his wife Ann Welch all emigrated from England. Governor Walker’s ancestry came to America with hearts and hands and minds ready and willing to build a new life in a wilderness where they could live their religion. They brought this heritage to Zion, the Territory of Utah in the 1870’s and 1880’s and forged out a full life in the Weber Valley during the tumultuous political era that ran counter to their newly embraced religious faith. Olene learned from these courageous ancestors, their love of God and freedom; their experience with woman’s suffrage, legal, and property rights; and saw the example of leadership, education, community service, tenacity and hard work. One must understand this history and culture to appreciate the drive that our first woman governor has had. She moved within the realms of the teachings of her faith, embracing first her duty to God and family and then to her career. We learned as we studied her family and her life, that Olene Walker embodies the rich description of Latter-day Saint life and culture found in the following quotes from Carol Cornwall Madsen’s Battle for the Ballot, a Collection of Essays on Woman Suffrage in Utah 1870-1896 -BB- and the Encyclopedia of Mormonism (EM).

“Why, if the ideology and the organizational energy for woman suffrage came out of the East, did the actuality of woman suffrage emerge in the West? And why Utah? Why woman suffrage among the Mormons?” (BB p. viii) “Historians have long theorized the reasons why the West in general and Utah in particular extended the vote to women so far in advance of the eastern states, which had cradled the quest for equal rights since 1848….Mormon women, however, had from the earliest times, enjoyed the religious franchise and had voted on civic matters as well for a brief period before Utah became a territory. Thus, extending the vote to the political arena was not as inexplicable as it might have seemed. Utah experienced other unique circumstances as well, all of which played a part in moving its all-Mormon territorial legislature to grant the vote to women in 1870.” (BB p. 6) Frederick Jackson Turner theorized in explaining woman suffrage in the West “that an indigenous strain of Western democracy engendered it.” (BB p. ix) “Utah claimed other distinctions relating to women’s rights besides the early franchise for women. Utah women, and especially Latter-day Saint women, had access to legal rights and judicial remedy unavailable to many American women in the nineteenth century…including the rejection of common law in Utah…giving married women property rights.” (BB p. 9)

“Latter-day Saints teachings emphasize many aspects of civil duty, including responsible self government; an informed public spirited citizenry; and obedience to law. LDS scriptures and leaders also encourage activity in organizations that build and maintain community life, making oneself available for public and military service, and avoidance of government welfare dependency. LDS teaching stresses education and a healthy lifestyle, both of which contribute a strong citizenry.” (EM Vol. 1, p. 285)

“Latter-day Saint women were involved in public life long before women in the other parts of the United States. They have always voted in church congregations (1830). The University of Deseret, founded in Salt Lake City in 1850, was the first co-educational university West of the Mississippi. H. H. Bancroft’s History of Utah reported that women voted in the provisional government before territorial status in 1850….The first documented women voters in modern times were in Salt Lake City on February 14, 1870…” (EM Vol. 1, p. 285)

“The Church has encouraged its members to make themselves available for public office and many have responded.”…. From the first woman state senator elected in the United States, Dr. Mattie Hughes Paul Cannon of Utah in 1896 to today where we have many municipal, state and federal leaders who are LDS women. (EM Vol. 1, p 286)

“Church members are encouraged to help their communities through volunteerism…. ” (EM Vol. 1, p. 286)

“In times of increasing dependence on government programs and assistance, Latter-day Saints as a group consciously try to live in such a way as to reduce their burden on the government. Their lifestyle teachings and youth programs are often cited as explanations for low rates of crime, drug abuse, alcoholism, illness and unemployment in “the areas where they live. Through these and other means, they invest in, and promote, education, moral behavior, and leadership….” (EM Vol. 1. p. 286)

Olene Smith Walker is a living reflection of this heritage.

She was born on 15 November 1930, in Ogden, Utah to Thomas Ole Smith and Nina Hadley Smith. She was the second of their five children. Her father, T. O. Smith, a prominent educator and religious leader, had a big influence on his children’s lives, teaching his family that they all had an obligation to make their community a better place. Olene grew up on her parents’ 140-acre farm. “We all learned to work. The farm was his golf game and we all played,” she said.(OSWI) During her childhood and formative years, T. O. served as a lay leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for over 25 years; first as Bishop of the Wilson (Ogden) Ward and later as the North Ogden Stake President from 1942-1965. All the while, he pursued his career as an educator in the Ogden School District where he served as the Superintendent from 1948-1969. Ever community minded, he even brought the symphony to Ogden. He was, in her words, “a workaholic.” (OSWI)

Nina Hadley Smith, Olene’s mother, was also a tremendous influence on her daughter. Education and community service were very important to Nina as well. She went into teaching during WWII while serving as a 4-H leader in the Extension Service, and as Relief Society President. “She fed the whole neighborhood on her 1 ½ acre garden,” Governor Walker recalled. (OSWI)

Olene’s parents instilled within their only daughter a strong appreciation for education and encouraged the development of a well-rounded life. “I was very active in school; into Debate, Pep Club at Weber High School. I was President of the student body at Wilson Jr. High School and Attendant to Miss Weber. I played the violin – remarkably bad. I can’t believe what kept my parents giving me lessons!” She joked. (OSWI) Continuing, she said, “I played football with my brothers – all kinds of sports. I had a horse and a bike. I read a lot. Mother was my 4-H leader and I won an award for sewing a suit. I got to go to Chicago where Kraft Foods held a forum and asked me to moderate it.” (OSWI) Olene continued to be involved with school government from high school on though college. “I was always very involved in student government and the year book in high school. I served as a BYU student body Vice-President at a time when there were only five people in student government at the Y. I was first Attendant to the BYU Homecoming Queen in 1948 during my Junior Year.” (OSWI)

“It was always assumed that I would go to College. I got interested in politics. When my dad heard my plans, he asked, ‘what are you going to do with a political science degree?’ So, I got my teaching credential on the side and eventually taught for about six weeks. I thought that I would like to be a Professor and teach college so I decided to get a Master’s Degree.” (OSWI) She earned multiple degrees from world-renowned institutions of higher learning; a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (Brigham Young University); Master’s in Political Theory (Stanford); and a Doctorate in Education Administration (University of Utah.)

She had the typical Utah fairy tale romance, marrying her college sweetheart, Myron Jesse Walker between the “Winter and Spring quarter of my master’s degree” (OSWI) on March 24, 1954 in the Salt Lake Temple. Living in the Avenues of Salt Lake City, they raised seven children who have enriched their lives with 25 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. As a “stay-at-home mom” (OSWI) and heavily involved in her children’s lives and activities, she served as the PTA President for their schools. Olene spearheaded the formation of the Salt Lake Education Foundation that led to similar projects in all Utah School districts to help them meet their financial needs. When Myron decided to purchase Country Crisp to be his own boss, after working 60 hours a week for someone else, she joined him in his family’s venture.

In the 1980’s Olene Walker was elected to the Utah State House, representing her district for 8 years, including a four-year term as Majority Whip. Her greatest legacy was sponsoring the “Rainy Day Fund” that has enabled Utah to continually meet it obligations and earned Utah the respected #1 Best Top Managed State Award numerous times. With beliefs in limited government, pro-life, pro-education and pro-family, Olene became Governor Leavitt’s right hand man in 1992, until he left for Washington in 2003. Elected for 12 years as a three term Lieutenant Governor, she served for 11 years as a skilled leader in the challenging leadership role of consensus, compromise and conciliation. She once described the valuable lessons that she had learned during her government service, “Being a leader in Government is not like the Private Sector. You can’t be a dictator. You must learn to bring people together to be successful with your programs. Sometimes it is a long process. To get things done you must first develop trust and listen to others – to hear others positions in order to reach the compromise.” (OSWI) Olene Walker literally spent a lifetime learning this and preparing for her last year in public office: from her early days working on her family farm; through her active school years; into her long hours of studying; being a mother, a wife, a companion and a community volunteer; to her experiences in the private sector and eventually public life. And she built this life on the framework given her by her forefathers. Olene Smith Walker took this all this with her at 72 years of age when she broke through political glass ceiling in Utah on November 5, 2003 when she became Utah’s 15th Governor and First Lady of the State. She will be remembered for a year of service that promoted volunteerism, education, literacy, fiscal responsibility and business development. She is an honor to her family and heritage.

So, what advice would Utah’s first woman Governor, Olene Smith Walker, share with the women of this generation aspiring to do great things? What can her fellow LDS women, young and old alike, learn from her and her achievements?

“I would encourage all women to take advantage of the opportunities offered them or just jump in and be involved in whatever level you can…”(OSWI) She also added that “women can be policy makers, they can be decision makers. They need to take the opportunity to make the world a better place. We all have that obligation”. (OSWI) This is exemplified by “My favorite story is of a 5th grade boy in a Weber elementary school who I met while I was Lieutenant Governor. I had asked the question “What does democracy mean?” He merely said “People rule, so we all have to do something.” (OSWI)

We need to keep our eye on Governor Olene Smith Walker. She has had a long and rewarding career in the private and public arena and will leave office on January 4, 2005 with the singular recognition that she broke the political barrier for women in Utah. A gifted student of human nature with vast experience in the political process, Olene Walker is an invaluable resource for the present and the future. She has lived a remarkable life and contributed to the educational, economic, social, religious, and political well being of both her state and her nation. She is a storehouse of wisdom, knowledge and skilled leadership that we need to continue to tap. This brilliant, genuine, and charming woman stands as a worthy exemplar of womanhood for her fellow Saints and is a role model for the modern woman. Governor Walker is to be much admired for how she has lived her life as a woman, a mother, a citizen and a politician. We are grateful she was the woman of the hour when Utah needed her.

And --- She’s a great cook, too! When asked for her favorite cookie recipe that she loves to prepare for her family, she gave us her “7 Layer Bars.”

Governor Olene Smith Walker’s 7 Layer Bars

Melt 1/2 stick of butter in a 13x9 pan in oven.
Remove from oven.

Sprinkle 1 individual package graham crackers that have been finely crushed over butter.

Sprinkle the following over the butter and graham cracker crumbs in the order given:

1 cup Skor Baking Bits (preferred) or butterscotch chips
1 cup coconut
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts

Pour evenly overall:
1 can SWEETENEDCONDENSED milk

Bake about 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Run knife around edges while warm, cut when cool.

Enjoy!!!!

By Jonette Brown, Shawn Magnuson, Christine Martin, Ralph Oldland, Mary Petty, (Heritage Gene@logy College students) and Instructors, Jeanette Daniels, and James W. Petty, AG, CG