Leadership
"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." — Warren Bennis
Jon Beesley
I was born to James and Carol Jean Beesley in 1975. I am the youngest of four children with 2 older sisters and 1 older brother. I am a 5th generation Plain City native and thoroughly enjoyed my childhood in this wonderful city. On July 2nd 1998 I married an amazing woman. Shelly and I have been married for 21 years and have 4 children, 2 grandchildren and one amazing daughter-in-law. My childhood in Plain City consisted of more fun than should be legal. A few of my favorite memories are riding our bicycles to 4 mile pond to go fishing, Dairy Days and spending our summer nights at Town Square watching Softball games and being a batboy for any team that would have me. And who can forget the Blossom Angus tournament. I always remember the Swift team showing up in their huge motor home and me running over to say hello to the returning player and meeting the new ones. In 1992 I sent myself to the beautiful island of Maui to pick pineapples for 6 months. What an adventure I had there. Picking pineapples was some of the hardest work I have ever done in my life, and oh how I loved it. I learned a lot about myself in that 6 months. The most important lesson I learned was respect, respect for my parents, for those who are willing to teach, and respect for myself. I started in the Glass and Glazing industry in ‘93 with Northern Utah Glass. Although I have had other employment outside of the glass business, it always seemed to draw me back. 2 years ago I started my own Glass company that I own and operate today. Being a Grandpa is by far my favorite job! Serving as Mayor has been very educational for me. I have served as Mayor for a year and a half and have enjoyed most of it. Our city has amazing residents and an awesome staff that keep me hoppin’ and up to date on the in’s and outs of our city. My love for our community is my reason, and my goals as Mayor reflect that.
Bruce Higley
Bruce Higley, served Plain City from 2006 – 2017. Bruce and his family have lived in Plain City for 28 years. He became interested in getting involved with his community in 2006, serving as a Council member for 2 consecutive 4-year terms. When those terms were finished, he then ran for mayor, serving one successful term. During his time as mayor, many great things happened in Plain City. One being our city receiving a grocery store—welcoming Kents. Another item completed was the new city shop for the city employees, helping them to better serve the great citizens of Plain City. Bruce enjoyed his time serving this great city and its citizens.
Jay Jenkins
Jay was born and raised in Plain City and has lived here most of his life. Having spent 10 years in Wyoming with his family, he moved back and purchased the home he grew up in. As a fifth generation resident of Plain City, he is the son of Kent Jenkins of Plain City and Wilma Bell of Ogden. Jay attended the old Plain City Elementary, The old Wahlquist and both the old Weber High school on Washington along with the new Weber High. After serving a mission in San Jose, California, Jay married Barbara Carruth or North Ogden. They have been married for 39 years. They have been blessed with 6 Children, 4 of which are now living in Plain City. They have 19 grandchildren. Jay comes from a family that believes in community service. Combined with his deep pride of his Plain City roots, he has served wherever he could. His community service included many callings in his Church along with being a member of the Plain City Lions club, one of the oldest clubs in the state. He served on the Plain City Planning Commission, The Plain City Council and 8 years as the Mayor of Plain City. He also served on the Bonas Vista Water Board and on the Weber County Health Department Board of Directors. Jay stays committed to his opinion that the best place to raise children, and the best place to grow up is in Plain City!
Glen Willie
Glen was born 10 March 1943 in Malad, Idaho. His family moved to Roy, Utah in 1955. He attended Malad Elementary School, Roy Junior High, and graduated from Weber High in 1961. He attended Weber State University with a major in Business. He served a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Scotland. He’s worked for Bradshaw Auto parts and Smith & Edwards. He opened his own business, “Glen’s Western World” in Salt Lake City. The store was broken into at least 3 times and he was forced to close after the third robbery. He made friends with probably every cowboy in Northern and Central Utah because he sold everything that had to do with ranching and rodeo. He then worked hanging dry wall. He soon started a construction company named Will-O-Way Construction. He built beautiful homes for many years all over Northern Utah. When it was too hard physically to climb on roofs, he retired from construction and became an inspector for Pleasant View City and Morgan County. On March 15, 1969, he married Diane Smith in Bountiful, UT. He became the loving father of her children, Brooke Dominguez and Dana Anderson. They had four more children, Justin Willie, Courtney Hammon, Brandon Willie and Joshua Willie. They were sealed in the Ogden Temple on March 15, 1974. There are 16 grand kids and 3 great grandkids. He has been an Elder’s Quorum President, High Councilman, Bishop of the Slaterville 2nd Ward, and Councilor in the Plain City Stake Presidency. He and Diane just finished a 26 month full time mission with the Utah, Ogden Mission. He has done some crazy things in his life for excitement. He raced cars, jumped from airplanes, and was a Steer Wrestler and President of the Rocky Mountain Rodeo Association. A resident of Plain City for 40 years, he is happy to call it home. He served on the City Council for 6 years and became the Mayor for 1 term.
Lynn Moyes
Lynn Moyes is a lifetime resident of Plain City. He was born May 18, 1951 and has lived in his current home for 43 years (just 3 blocks from his childhood home). He attended Plain City Elementary, Wahlquist Junior High and graduated from Weber High School in 1969. Lynn served in the US Army Reserves from 1970 to 1976. He married Kay Hinchcliff on June 2, 1972. They have been blessed with four children: Bryce, Erin, Megan, and Ali. Two of their children also have made their homes in Plain City. Lynn and Kay have 16 grandchildren. Lynn worked for Weber State University for 40 years as the lab manager in the microbiology department. Lynn has always had a love for Plain City. He has served the community in many capacities. He was the grounds keeper for the parks, recreation director and water master. He served as a city councilman for 10 years (1981-1991) and mayor for two terms (1994-2001). During his time as mayor he oversaw the building of the city hall and senior center, participated in the development of Lee Olsen Park, applied for and received a grant for the walking trail around the park, and purchased the properties that Pioneer Park and the pickle ball courts are on today. Lynn has many fond memories of this community and the opportunity he had to serve.
Scott K. Jenkins
Scott was born and raised in Plain City and currently lives 100 feet from his childhood home. He is a fifth generation resident, the son of Kent Jenkins of Plain City and Wilma Bell of Ogden. He is a product of the Weber School District education system and graduated from Weber State College. After Serving an LDS Mission in Chicago, Illinois, he enlisted in the Army National Guard serving for 7 years. He is married to his wife of 45 years, Becky Bingham of Ogden. They have 5 children and 21 grandchildren. Scott has served his community throughout the years in many different callings for his church. He enjoys being a member of the Plain City Lions Club where he is currently serving as President. Early in life, Scott felt the need to serve in his community. It started as a member of the planning commission, eight years on the city council and 4 years as Mayor. He also served on the Bona Vista Water District Board of Directors for 12 years. Later he was elected to the Utah State Senate, where he served for 16 years, 4 of which were spent as the Majority Leader and Whip. He was recently elected to the Weber County Commission and currently serves as Chairman. Scott has a great love for Plain City and all the wonderful people in it.
Robert Sharp
Robert Sharp was born and raised in Plain City. His family had settled here a couple of generations before he came along. One evening, in 1941, a very respected friend came to visit him, long after bedtime. This friend told him that he felt very strongly that he (Robert) should run for Plain City. He was serving on the Planning Commission at the time. Bob was totally shocked, and could not get the notion out of his mind. Another group approached him, thereafter, and suggested the same thing. To make a long story short – Robert Sharp ran for Mayor, and was elected. He loved Plain City and was a people person who worked to improve things for the community. He had some very specific focuses. He worried about growth and tried to ensure that it was controlled so that Plain City’s resources could support the growing demand. In that day, everyone wanted the area to remain a rural, farming community. He learned a great deal at the League of Cities and Towns conventions. Roads and parks were well maintained and general improvements were made. He worked diligently to establish a volunteer Fire Department and traveled the State to observe what worked in other areas. He supported an organized senior citizens group. He always balanced the budget and encouraged give and take in an effort to make things run efficiently. He openly acknowledged that he would not be able to do it all without help from exemplary City workers that went the extra mile to serve well. He supported town traditions such as the 17th of March (Founders Day), the 4th of July parade, the Junior Posse, Little Buckaroo Rodeo, and Dairy Days.
Samuel Lower
I married Dianne Peterson form Richmond Utah. We have been blessed with 6 lovely children ( Robert, Susan, Steven, David, Daniel and Christy). We have 19 grandchildren and 15 Great-Grand Children. I was the last of six children born to Samuel Steven Lower and Mary Oka Litz. I had two brothers and three sisters. Max Wendell Lower born in 1920, Bartley Litz Lower born in 1922, Anne Lower, born in 1926, Helen Lower born in 1929, Mary Oka Lower born in 1931 and me Samuel Steven Lower Jr born in 1936. I grew up on a farm in Lewiston, Utah. We raised sugar beets, tomatoes, pole beans, corn for silage for the cows, most any kind of grain but mostly wheat and barley. We had 20 cows and some pigs and 400 chickens. We had many chores to do. A farm is a wonderful place to raise a family. You learn to work hard when you are growing up. I graduated from North Cache High School. I then went to Utah State University where I graduated with a Mechanical Engineering Degree. I have a Masters Degree in Technical Management from University of Southern California. I served a mission in Hong Kong 1956-1959. When I was Mayor of Plain City I worked with some other Weber and Davis county Mayors to see if we could get the Sales Tax Distribution changed form a point of Collection basis to a population distribution basis. Carl Saunders was in the State Legislature and he helped us to get population information on the Cities in the state of Utah and their representatives in the State Legislature. I served as Weber Council of Governments Chairman for a short time when we were getting the Utah State sales tax distribution changed for point of Collection to a 50% population basis distribution. My last year as Mayor Plain City’s total revenue on a point of collection basis was about $55,000 a year to run our city on. We fought a tough battle and finally got 50% of the sales tax on a populations basis and 50% stayed on a Point of Collection basis. This raised the city operating revenue to about $450,000 the next year. The sad part of this story is that 50% of the State Sales tax is still distributed on the Point of Collection basis. The sales tax distribution on population basis is so much more fair to the people of Utah than the point of collection distribution basis. If another campaign could be run to get the Cities in the state to change to 100% population basis Plain City and the other cities would have a big boost in income. People need the services where they live and not where they shop. Point of Collection gives the money back to where the purchases of goods are made. Population areas without shopping centers are giving their sales taxes to where they shop instead of where they live. We moved to Plain City in 1970 because of the rural atmosphere and I wanted to get a cow so the kids could learn how to milk by hand. Carlos Heslop has been a great neighbor and helped me get the cow and had a place where we could feed and milk the cow. We love the people of plain City and it is a wonderful place to raise a family.
Lee Olsen
Lee Olsen was born in Plain City to Carl and Florence Owen Olsen and lived his entire life there. He attended Plain City elementary and graduated from Weber High. He married Clara Child. They had four children; Maureen, Carolyn, Dean and Bob. He was a farmer and co-owner of Olsen Grocery with his brother Don, in Plain City. He served in the town council four years – 1950 -1954. Mayor for sixteen years 1954-1966 and 1974-1978. Active in Dairy Days (Black & White Days), Cemetery Committee, Neighborhood watch and a charter member of the Lions Club. He did custom meat cutting in the grocery store and in his home after selling the grocery store in 1973. He enjoyed golfing and fishing. He and Clara served two missions to South Africa and enjoyed serving in the temple and home teaching. Lee always worked very hard and enjoyed having a few livestock,a nice garden and keeping his place looking good. Always putting others before himself, he was honest and sincere – living by the golden rule and practiced the importance of never quarreling over money not even a nickel. Lee was a great friend and asset to his family, church and community.
Keith Blanch
Keith. P. Blanch, often known as “Wheeler”, was born in Plain City and lived his entire life in the home he was born in. He was the 3rd child and only son of Florence Eunice Palmer and Wheatley Lorenzo Blanch. Keith’s father died of typhoid fever when Keith was six years old. Being the only boy, later in his life he would take over the family farm. In 1942, he married Pearl Berrett and together they had four girls, no strapping boys to help milk the dairy cows. Keith loved the community he grew up in and believed in honoring it with his time and civic commitment. This love for town and people grew even more when a fire broke out on Keith’s farm, threatening to burn down all of his barns, hay, and destroy his cattle. It would be the people in that same community that would turn out to help put out the fire and save the farm. My dad always said, “The people in Plain City are the finest people there are.” On January 13, 1944, the Articles of Incorporation for the town of Plain City were filed in the Weber County Clerk’s office in Ogden, Utah. Adoption of a resolution designating Plain City as an incorporated town was made and action was taken by Weber County Commissioners. And on November, 1945, the first municipal election was held in Plain City. On June 3, 1967, Plain City received a proclamation signed by Governor Calvin L. Rampton where in he declared Plain City a city of the Third Class. The former title of “President of the Town Board” would then be changed to “Mayor”. And Keith P. Blanch became the first to be officially called ‘Mayor of Plain City.’ One of Keith’s greatest accomplishments as Mayor was bringing the sewer system to Plain City. Keith served as a member of the Town Board and Mayor faithfully for 14 years. He loved the people and the town of Plain City and relished calling it his home until he passed away at the age of eighty two. Written by his fourth daughter, A life long resident of PC herself, Faye Blanch Crowther, 5-24-2019.
Clair Marcus Folkman
Clair Marcus Folkman was born March 24,1910. in Plain City, a son of Peter Marcus and Elvira Marilla Lund Folkman. He was married to Clara Louise Knight on September 28,1933. The marriage was later solemnized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple in Salt Lake City. They had three children. Robert and Lynn Folkman and Janet Folkman Ellis. They have twelve grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, and many great-great-grandchildren. Clair owned and operated a dairy farm and was a lifelong resident of Plain City. His great grandfather and grandfather were some of the first settlers in Plain City. They all shared a great love for Plain City. He was the Town Board President from 1950 to 1953 – that was before Plain City was incorporated. He believed it was important to serve his community and was always willing to support it any’ way he could. He was also president of the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Committee and was a charter member of the Plain City Lions Club. Clair loved sports and Plain City was known for great athletes. He played on many championship teams and coached several other winning basketball and baseball teams in Plain City and Weber County. Utah’s largest open dairy show was managed by Clair for over 25 years. Plain City Dairy Days would showcase the largest all-breed show in Utah with more than 200 – 300 of the State’s “finest dairy animals” exhibited. It was a great opportunity for dairy farmers throughout Utah. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many positions; he held positions in all the priesthood quorums, was the Sunday School Superintendent, and also was a Sunday School teacher and home teacher. Clair believed education was essential and we needed great schools and teachers. He served as a member of the Weber Board of Education For 12 years. Four of those as president of the board. He made many wonderful friendships and worked to help create a superb school system we could all be proud of. In those 12 years, there were many schools dedicated with his name being part of the board. He loved being part of growth and change. Clair loved people. Many said he would be one of the first to welcome them into the community and there wasn’t a person who didn’t get a wave or a handshake when he saw them. He believed honesty and integrity were essential character qualities and his motto was, “Everyone deserves a smile and a ‘hello!’ ”. He would tell his children they didn’t have to do what everyone else did, but they better always respect the person. He had many young men work with and for him, milking cows and helping on his farm. He loved them all and would be there to support if needed. He often said, “You can’t love too many people, and you can’t have too many people love you.” He was definitely a loved individual, by his family and friends.
Dean Abiah Baker
Dean Abiah Baker was the first official leader of Plain City, Utah serving as President from Jan. 1944 to Jan. 1946. Under his direction The Articles of Incorporation were filed in 1944. Dean was born Aug. 15, 1910, raised in Roy, Utah and had 10 siblings. His Beloved Mother passed when he was 11 years old. He was called on a mission at age 17 to the South Sea Islands for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving faithfully for 3 years. Upon his return, Dean was drawn to Plain City and a beautiful young woman, Vivian L. Thomas, who could sing like an angel. He knew she was the ONE. She was smart, having skipped a grade in school, graduating early from WSC, and was teaching several combined grades in Plain City at age 20. They married and raised 7 children here – Joan, Beverly, Diane, Tom, Judy, Georgia and Penny. They passed on their love of Plain City and the people here to 23 grandchildren, 66 great grandchildren, and 55 great-great grandchildren, many of whom have chosen to live here as well. Dean and his trustees organized the first Cemetery District in 1945 and served within. Dean was a happy, fun-loving leader and loved those with whom he served. He loved the Lion’s Club and served as the first President in 1948 with 65 chartered members. He said of this organization, “The Lion’s Club has personally served me and my family more that I could ever repay.” He purchased the Episcopalian Church building and sold it, at cost, to the Lion’s Club. This yellow building stands in the heart of Plain City and is still used today. Not able to serve in WWII because of a broken eardrum, Dean valiantly helped collect the most scrap metal in the state, gathered on the Town Square. Part of the proceeds was used to build a Monument honoring all the sacrificing Men and Women of Plain City in WWII. This stands in the cemetery today. Dean helped organize the first Potato Days celebration with queen contest, foot races, rodeo, and horse races on his farm. Everyone loved and participated in this celebration for many years. Dean loved Dairy Days and Holstein cattle. He bought and sold cattle throughout the State. Dean was known by many children for his red and white cattle truck, candy, and a LOUD bull horn. At Christmas time he had a horse-drawn bobsled. It had bells-a-jingling and children loved to jump on for a night ride around the Town Square. Dean and Vivian, our Mom and Dad, loved Plain City and the people who live here and so do we, it’s in our blood!
Elmer Carver
Elmer Carver was born on October 1, 1894. He was reared in Plain City, and lived there until his death on November 7, 1978. He is the grandson of one of the Plain City Founders, John Carver, whose cabin is located at the center church in Plain City. During Elmer’s life he was known as a prominent civic and church leader, as well as a reputable asparagus and zinnia flower grower. He served as Plain City Town Board President from 1946 to 1949. He resigned midway in his second term when he was elected to the County Commission. He served as Weber County Commissioner for 18 years. During his terms as Plain City Town President, he assisted in the beatification project on the Town Square and took part in the erection of the granite monument honoring those who had served in World War II. Elmer loved Plain City Dairy Days. He was one of the original organizers as well as a huge supporter. Elmer spearheaded the formation of the Plain City Asparagus Grocers Association and served as its president for many years. Elmer Carver was a great man. He loved his family, farming, and Plain City. He was fair and kind to all people. We are so grateful to be his descendents. Elmer and Jane McLean had four children: Norman, Ruth, Wayne and Joan, whom they reared in Plain City. His descendants include: 18 Grandchildren, 61 Great-Grandchildren, 123 Great-Great Grandchildren, and 6 Great-Great-Great-Grandchildren.