Awards Gala Banquet
When
Thursday - July 18, 2024
Reception @ 6:30pm
Dinner & Awards @ 7:00pm
Where
The Grand America
555 S Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Contact Information
"Tickets are limited. For more information or to purchase tickets for the dinner, please contact Margo Ayre at 801-809-3446 or mayre@xmission.com
About The Event
The Pioneers of Progress Awards were instituted in 1995 to recognize service and achievement in modern-day pioneering. These awards honor those who continue Utah’s rich heritage of vision, industry, integrity, sacrifice and courage. Honorees are selected in the following categories:
- Science & Technology
- Education
- Business & Enterprise
- Health & Humanitarian Assistance
- Sportsmanship & Athletics
- Historic & Creative Arts
- Legacy (posthumous)
Submitting Entries
You have two options for submitting a nomination: (online & paper form - choose one)
NOMINATE ONLINE - Pioneers of Progress Nomination Form.
DOWNLOAD AND PRINT - download and print the nomination form (Word Document).
To submit additional information for this nomination, please email mayre@xmission.com.
If you have questions or would like to attend, please contact:
Margo Ayre
Phone: 801-809-3446
Email: mayre@xmission.com
Eligibility
Any current Utah resident, regardless of age, can be nominated for a Pioneer of Progress Award. Nomination Procedures:
- An individual or group may nominate more than one individual for any category.
- Individuals may nominate themselves.
- Pertinent supplemental information, not to exceed four (4) pages may be attached to the nomination form.
- Judges may request additional information from nominees, nominators or nominating organizations.
- The judges’ decision is final. Nomination forms, including all supplemental materials, become the property of The Days of ’47 and will not be returned.
- Nominees agree to the use of their names and likeness in publicity connected with The Days of ’47 Pioneers of Progress Awards, including videos, press releases and audio reproductions.
Selection Criteria
Nominations are judged on the following criteria
- Service—The dedication displayed by the nominee in providing service that betters individuals and communities.
- Innovation and Industry—The ways in which the nominee has demonstrated vision and hard work in personal and professional roles.
- Achievements—How the nominee has produced results that reflect the spirit of Utah’s pioneers.
As part of the annual celebration of Utah’s pioneer heritage, The Days of ’47 Board of Trustees honors modern-day Utahns who perpetuate a legacy of industry and integrity with Pioneers of Progress awards. These awards honor deserving Utahns whose lives and achievements commemorate such virtuous principles of pioneering as faith, courage, industry, integrity and sacrifice; and whose work benefits present and future generations.
2023 Pioneers of Progress Recipients
Utah remembers those who courageously crossed the planes 176 years ago, as well as those who are pioneering our future in 2023. On the evening of July 13, 2023, The Days of ’47 organization will honor seven individuals who are influencing our state through leadership, business, art, academia, philanthropy, and sports. A dinner sponsored by KUTV Channel 2 will be held at The Grand Hotel to highlight the following individuals:
PRESIDENT'S AWARD
Kent Crawford
Kent Crawford is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of KUTV, KJZZ and KMYU in
Salt Lake City. In addition, Kent oversees more than 20 television stations in the western United
States for Sinclair Broadcasting, KUTV’s parent company. A native of Utah, and a University of
Utah graduate, Kent was a two-time All-American tennis player and a University of Utah Athletic
Hall of Fame inductee. Under Kent’s leadership, KUTV has focused relentlessly on improving
the communities it serves by creating awareness of the challenges facing Utahns, and working
with community partners to solve large scale problems. Some of those projects include Baby
Your Baby, Check Your Health, the Super Bowl of Caring, Addicted Utah, the Ronald McDonald
House charities, and the KUTV and Salvation Army Angel Tree program.
BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE
Karen Mayne
Karen Mayne, a lifelong Salt Lake Valley resident, has profoundly influenced Utah politics. Succeeding
her husband, Ed, in the State Senate in 2008, she served Utah for 15 years, notably as Senate Minority
Leader (2019-2022) and Whip (2010-2018). Karen has been a powerful voice for Utahns on various
legislative committees and commissions. She’ served on the Airport Advisory Board and as Vice-
president of the Utah AFL-CIO. She also supports Women in the Trades. Before her Senate tenure,
Mayne served as a Granite School District para-educator for 20 years. Karen’s legislative work garnered
various accolades, including Legislator of the Year, Utah Democratic Party's Eleanor Roosevelt Award, an
Honorary Doctorate from Weber State University, Hero on the Hill from the Legislative Coalition for
People with Disabilities, Firefighters' Legislator of the Year, Workers Compensation Fund President's
Award, the Sunshine Award (given for protection of free speech and open government), and the Award of
Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health presented by the Rocky Mountain Center. Salt Lake
Community College named a Westpoint campus section after her. Her steadfast dedication to public
service inspires Utahns. Karen is a proud mother of two, grandmother of six, and cherishes her circle of
family and friends.
HISTORIC AND CREATIVE ARTS
Debra Bonner
Debra Bonner is a world-renowned performer and vocal coach. She is the mother of eight incredibly
talented children and has been married to Harry Bonner for 46 years. She is the founder of Debra Bonner
Enterprises and the nonprofit Unity Gospel Choir International 501(c)(3). Debra received a Bachelor’s
Degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Kentucky State University and a Master’s
Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan. She trained with and was mentored by
Seth Riggs and Richard Miller–two of the top vocal pedagogues of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Debra
has transformed the voices and lives of thousands of students over five decades using her own method
called Your True Voice™. Debra professionally performs all over the world as a soloist and with The
Bonner Family, and The Debra Bonner Unity Gospel Choir. Debra’s vision is to heal the world through
music. Her motto is, “When You Change A Voice, You Change A Life."
EDUCATION
Skip Morgan
Skip Morgan began volunteering for the Orange County, California Chapter of the American Red Cross
in 1971. He was asked by the Red Cross to write the curriculum and direct a high school leadership camp
(LDC) which was first held in 1978. Skip directed the Leadership Camp in Orange County for 11 years. In
1999, one year after relocating to Utah, Skip was diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and
forced into early retirement. With time on his hands, he returned to volunteering for the Red Cross in
Utah. In 2009 Skip was asked to develop a Utah LDC, fashioned after the curriculum/camp he introduced
30 years prior for the Orange County Red Cross. He directed the camp until 2017. The goal of both
camps was to get youth out of their comfort zone and learn the value of embracing diversity in all aspects
of life. With Skips, curriculum, the camp continues to operate in California and Utah, helping thousands of
young people. He is a pioneer in teaching leadership through focusing on empathy, values clarification,
and diversity. His modules focus on mental health, helping youth love themselves, love others, be
empathetic, and be more confident in themselves, which in turn helps them help others. A scholarship is
established in Skip’s name and given to an individual who has attended the camp, and has volunteered
for the Red Cross and other community efforts. Skip has changed many lives through the work he has
done at LDC.
LEGACY (POSTHUMOUS)
Mark Eaton
Mark Eaton was a giant whose lasting legacy of integrity, dedication, inspiration, and love for people
around the world far exceeded his height. He was passionate about helping others succeed. Mark’s
stellar 12-year career with the Utah Jazz as their 7′4″ center, was highlighted by countless awards,
including two Defensive Player of the Year awards and being named an NBA All-Star. He was a gifted
motivational speaker and teamwork expert, and was inducted into the NSA’s Speaker Hall of Fame. He
authored the best-selling book, The Four Commitments of a Winning Team, and numerous articles
devoted to uplifting others. Mark was the founder and managing partner in two award-winning restaurants
in Salt Lake City, Tuscany and Franck’s. He founded the Mark Eaton Standing Tall for Youth Foundation,
which provided sports and outdoor opportunities for more than 3,000 at-risk children. He provided
countless scholarships to students in trade schools and tech colleges, conducted basketball camps for
youth, and supported the Jazz Bear Christmas Shop for kids for over 30 years. He was a president and
board member of the Legends of Basketball, which supported the needs of retired NBA players. Mark’s
television and radio experience included eight years as host of Jazz Tonight on KJZZ-TV, host of Mark
Eaton Outdoors on The Outdoor Channel, as well as host of the internationally syndicated radio show
Sports Health Today. By far his most valued and treasured accomplishment in life was creating lasting,
loving relationships--most especially that of loving and devoted husband to Teri, father to Nick, Doug,
Whitnee, Andiya, Courtney, and Shelbey, and papa to his beloved grandkids.
BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE
Dave Petersen
Dave Petersen is Vice Chair of the Board and CEO of O.C. Tanner. He arrived at O.C. Tanner offering
his services without a job interview or offer. If the company wasn't pleased after a month's work (without
pay), he'd pack his things. Forty years later, Dave has worked on several teams across the OC Tanner
organization including sales, supply chain, client relations, and operations—all with the goal of helping
people thrive at work. Dave also spent more than 14 years serving on the boards of multiple community
organizations including the United Way of Salt Lake, Utah Opera, and One Refugee. He earned a
bachelor's degree in international business from Brigham Young University and an MBA from Thunderbird
American Graduate School of International Management.
SPORTSMANSHIP AND ATHLETICS
Tom Holmoe
Tom Holmoe, a former player and then coach, was named Director of Athletics at Brigham Young
University on March 1, 2005. He oversees a nationally recognized program with 21 intercollegiate sports,
involving more than 600 student-athletes and a 190-person staff. Since his appointment, BYU has
captured 126 conference regular-season and postseason championships, and more than 290 student-
athletes have earned All-America status. In addition to his role as director of athletics, Holmoe served as
a member of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee from 2015-18, and was the Executive Council
Committee Chair for the West Coast Conference from 2014-17. Over his 17-year tenure, BYU has an
average ranking of 36th in the annual NACDA Learfield Directors’ Cup, ranking all athletic programs in
the country. For the 2020-21 athletic season, BYU finished No. 17 in the Directors' Cup standings. In the
fall of 2022, for the first time ever, BYU finished No. 1 in the Directors' Cup standings for fall sports. A
native of California, Tom first came to BYU on a football scholarship in 1978. He earned first-team All-
WAC honors as a senior in 1982 and was selected in the fourth round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the San
Francisco 49ers. Over a seven-year NFL career, he played on three Super Bowl championship teams
with the 49ers. Holmoe graduated from BYU with a degree in Zoology in 1983, and received a master's
degree from BYU in Athletic Administration in 1995. He and his wife, Lori, have four children and nine
grandchildren.
