Our hat is off to Olene Walker for being one of Utah’s greatest Stateswomen. The timing of this Hat’s Off was brought on by her op-ed piece in the Salt Lake Tribune (Sunday, March 7^th and is re-printed on this blog elsewhere) in which she endorsed the Fair Boundaries Initiative that would bring to an end the very visible results of the blatant gerrymandering partisanship of the Utah Republican Party.

Her opinion piece is another in a long list of courageous stands this great woman has taken in opposition to her beloved Republican Party. It is a must read. Aghast, she also has endorsed the Ethics Reform Initiative that will result in greater dignity and respect for her former legislator friends, dignity and respect that they are fighting against tooth and nail. (Her statement on the Ethics Reform is also found elsewhere on this blog.)

To second this Hat’s Off find a copy of the two Initiative Petitions and sign your name. You will be doing your state and the political climate a great service. Out of respect for her you could also sign online, although the current Lt. Governor has ruled online signatures unacceptable, a position that in all likelihood Olene would not have taken.

Fairness and civility are two of her greatest trademarks, the two least visible traits in today’s Republican Party.

Watts Cookin’ has known and admired Olene and her husband Myron Walker for many years. They are kind, thoughtful, soft spoken, industrious and generous. Their donation through their Country Crisp potato chip company was the boost that was needed to initiate the Utah-Arizona Shootout, an inter-state golf tournament that has become one of Utah’s premier golfing events and is now nearing its 20^th competition.

Olene Walker, at 72, is the oldest person to ever become governor. She is also the only woman to be governor, and also had the shortest term of office, 17 months. In 2003, when Governor Mike Leavitt was invited to head up the Environmental Protection Agency in the Bush Administration it, aghast, elevated a woman to be Utah’s Governor.

She performed wonderfully and gained high approval ratings state wide, but she didn’t have the gender and the required right wing lingo to be deemed worthy for re-election by her Republican Party and she was forced aside ‘to let a man do a man’s job.’

She wouldn’t approve of Watts Cookin’ taking these ‘pot shots’ at her beloved Republican Party, and she would probably call them ‘unfair’ and if she says so then we will concede that fact and still tip our hat to her for her marvelous example to all of us and for generations to come.

She is suffering from an incurable disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and is advocating for greater research in finding a cure for it. It is a disease that seems to be escalating rather rapidly throughout the nation, and we extend our best wishes to her and Myron and their family in her challenge to conquer it.

A brief sketch of her achievements is listed below.

She also served in the Utah State Legislature from 1980-1989 and was Appropriations Committee chairperson during her second term in the Utah House of Representatives.  She was the Assistant Majority Whip from 1985-1987 and Majority Whip from 1987-1989.  Prior to her positions (more…)

Hats Off to Gary and Millie Watts

Our hat is off today, and everyday, for Dr. Gary Watts who, after 35 years, had his last day of work Christmas Day at the Utah Valley Hospital as one of the state’s premier radiologists. The recognition also goes to his sidekick in all things—-Millie, his wife of 47 years.

There are thousands upon thousands who will join with us in this Hats Off recognition, from the thousands in Utah County who have benefited by his medical attention to the tens of thousand throughout the state and across the nation who have benefited from their highly visible and personal campaign to change the attitudes of the world toward gays.

Gary’s medical practice was inspirational and worthy of emulation by all physicians everywhere. He was well compensated for his expertise, but his devotion to his patient’s care went around the clock every day, mostly uncompensated except in the satisfaction that he received from helping others by easing their burden and fears. He is idolized by many of his former patients and numerous of his physician friends for his knowledge, his wisdom, and his caring, and the unselfish love he has shown to them at all hours of the day and night.

Radiologists are supposed to be able to punch a time clock and then go home. They don’t have patients. Doctors are their clients. But that wasn’t the way it was with Gary. He was available around the clock with soothing counsel for those in fear regardless of whether the news was good or bad. He didn’t sugar-coat anything, but he made the medicine easier to swallow.

In the lives of many people Gary’s medical career has been heroic, and it has been his life’s work, and he has touched so many lives for good through his role as a physician that it should not be discounted in the least—-but truly, when the last bell is rung, his most significant contribution, one that will stand forever, is his partnership with Millie in their joint campaign to change the attitudes (more…)

Hats Off to Parley Petersen

Our hat is off today to Parley Petersen, 75, the general manager of Riverside Country Club for the last quarter of a century and then some. He has announced that he is retiring at the end of the year. Parley has been the face and voice of Riverside Country Club to the members, the broader golf community, and to the people of Utah Valley. He has personally greeted thousands of visitors to the club and made them feel welcome and comfortable.

Parley’s charm is in his courteous, graceful style. Never in a rush, but always on time. Never in a panic, but always prepared. Never flustered, Always immaculate in dress and manner. His quiet, gentle tone of voice (radio quality) and reassuring smile calm all ruffled feathers.

He is keenly observant of the needs of others, many times before they even realize their need. He fixes distractions without distraction, and turns unease into comfort with a kind word and (more…)

The first ‘Hats Off’ kudo, which will be a regular feature of the blog, goes to Mike ‘Minty’ Mintari who has pushed, shoved, and encouraged Joe to do the blog—–and has provided all the technological work required to get the site up and running. His company, ‘www.YourWebWorker.com’ is highly recommended for anyone who wants to start a blog similar to this.
Minty hails from (more…)

Inquirer Staff Writer

With a stroke of his pen Friday afternoon, President Obama cemented a political victory by reining in a credit card industry widely condemned for snaring consumers in financially crippling traps.

When the new law takes full effect next February, card issuers will no longer be able to impose sky-high penalty interest rates on customers whose payments arrive a day or two late. Consumers will still face late fees, but they will have to be 60 days late to be pushed into default.

Barred, too, will be retroactive changes in terms affecting cardholders who had committed no infractions at all. In urging Congress to act, Obama sharply criticized those sorts of “any-time, any-reason” rate increases that can suddenly double or triple the interest rate on a customer’s existing balance. Many consumers complained that such tactics amounted to bait-and-switch.

Critics say the credit card industry’s outrageous practices caused its fall from grace even (more…)

By JULIE PACE, Associated Press Writer

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – President Barack Obama strode head-on Sunday into the stormy abortion debate and told graduates at America’s leading Roman Catholic university that both sides must stop demonizing one another.

Obama acknowledged that “no matter how much we want to fudge it … the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable.” But he still implored the University of Notre Dame’s graduating class and all in the U.S. to stop “reducing those with differing views to caricature. Open hearts. Open minds. Fair-minded words. It’s a way of life that always has been the Notre Dame tradition.”

One of the noisiest controversies of his young presidency flared after Obama, who supports abortion rights but says the procedure should be rare, was invited to speak at the school and receive an honorary degree. “I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away,” the president said.

The Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, introduced Obama and praised the president for not being “someone who stops talking to those who disagree with him.” Jenkins said too little attention has been paid to Obama’s decision to speak at an institution that opposes his abortion policy.

(more…)

The first ‘Hats Off’ kudo, which will be a regular feature of the blog, goes to Mike ‘Minty’ Mintari who has pushed, shoved, and encouraged Joe to do the blog—–and has provided all the technological work required to get the site up and running. His company, ‘www.YourWebWorker.com’ is highly recommended for anyone who wants to start a blog similar to this.