Search This Blog

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Utah: "Still the Right Place" I


From Deseret News archives:

`UTAH'S STILL RIGHT PLACE,' PANEL SAYS

Published: Sunday, Jan. 7, 1990 12:00 a.m. MST
PRINT | FONT + -

"This is Still the Right Place."

William Calvin Hughes was heading back to Utah from Idaho in August when he decided Brigham Young's 1847 evaluation of Utah was still on the money.The Utah State Centennial Commission agreed with Hughes' assessment, and selected the phrase as the state's new centennial slogan as Utah prepares for its 100th birthday celebration scheduled for Jan. 4, 1996.

To illustrate the point, the commission selected a logo drawn by Daniel Christopherson, 16, a Provo High sophomore.

Hughes' slogan was one of 400 entries submitted in a statewide contest to select a slogan and logo for the state's centennial observance.

"I was in Idaho when I heard a radio disc jockey talking about the contest." Hughes said. "He thought it would be great if an Idahoan won and urged his listeners to enter."

When Hughes, 29, a marketing representative in First Security Bank's insurance division, arrived back at his Taylorsville home, he called the Utah State Historical Society to find out if the contest was for real. The society sent him an application and he promptly filled it out and put it in his briefcase - where it stayed for nearly two months. Hughes finally found time to get the entry over to the Historical Society before the Oct. 31 deadline.

Hughes said he toyed with the idea of creating a logo to go with the slogan, but just couldn't find the time.

"I consider myself creative and like to fool around with these kinds of things," he said. Although Hughes considered sending a joke entry poking fun at the "Utah: A pretty, great state" slogan of two years ago, he said the Brigham Young statement just stayed in his mind.

"I thought, `How can that not win?,' " Hughes said.

He was right.

Commission officials hope to incorporate the slogan and logo onto commemorative auto license plates within the next two years to generate money for planned celebrations around the state.

The commission also plans to legally register the slogan and logo and to license it for use on T-shirts, bumper stickers and other such items.

Commission officials said they concur with the idea that Utah is still the right place for all its citizens.

Christopherson designed his entry for his commercial art class under the direction of teacher Dennis Zupan.

The winning design features the word Utah in large block letters in the background with mountains prominent in the center. A covered wagon is featured on the left side of the logo and a city skyline that includes the state capitol building on the right side. These are underscored with the word "centennial" and the dates 1896-1996.

"We were pleased by the response to this contest and especially happy to see so many thoughtful and well-designed entries from the young people," said Maxine Grimm, commission chairwoman. "We think they are all winners and expect to use many of the designs in future displays and in commission literature."

The entries were judged by the American Institute of Graphic Arts' Salt Lake Chapter, which made recommendations to the commission. The final selection was made by commission members.

Recognized as division winners were Elizabeth Jarvis, a fourth-grader at Kaysville Elementary, in the elementary school division; Amy Barrett, a 10th-grader at Timp View High, Provo, in the secondary school division; and Grant Hulet, Salt Lake City, in the adult division.

The winners were honored at Statehood Day ceremonies in St. George on Thursday.


1 comment: