Lieutenant Val Oveson Name Norman Bangerter Preceded by Scott Matheson Role Former Governor of Utah | Political party Republican Party Republican Party Children 6 Succeeded by Mike Leavitt | |
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Full Name Norman Howard Bangerter Born January 4, 1933
Granger, Utah, U.S. ( 1933-01-04 ) Alma mater University of Utah
Brigham Young University, Utah Religion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Died April 14, 2015, Murray, Utah, United States Spouse Colleen Bangerter (m. 1953) Previous office Governor of Utah (1985–1993) Education Brigham Young University, University of Utah | ||
Norman "Norm" Howard Bangerter (January 4, 1933 – April 14, 2015) was the 13th Governor of Utah from 1985 to 1993. He was the first Republican elected to the position since 1965.
Biography
Bangerter was born in Granger, Utah (now West Valley City) to William Henry Bangerter and Isabelle Bawden. His older brother, W. Grant Bangerter, served as a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Bangerter married his wife, the former Colleen Monson, in 1953. The two had six children and one foster son.
Prior to his election, Bangerter founded a successful construction firm which specialized in building homes. He served in the Utah House of Representatives from 1975 to 1985 and as Speaker of that body from 1981 until 1985.
During his tenure as governor, Bangerter dealt with the flooding of the Great Salt Lake and its tributaries by approving the construction of large, US$60 million pumps to channel excess water from the Great Salt Lake onto the Bonneville Salt Flats. This was initially successful, yet caused some controversy when the lake's water level fell in later years, and some regarded the idle pumps as wasteful.
Bangerter's "foremost interest was improving the state's educational system".
After his retirement as governor, Bangerter returned to his construction firm and served for three years as president of the South Africa Johannesburg Mission of the LDS Church from 1996 to 1999.
The Bangerter Highway (SR-154), which opened in 1998, was named after the former governor, who had long supported such a road.
In 2008, Bangerter was appointed to the Governing Board for the national children's charity Operation Kids.
On April 14, 2015, Bangerter suffered a stroke and later died at the age of 82.