DSC to Induct Four into College’s Hall of Fame

 

 

ST. GEORGE – Dixie State College of Utah will induct four new members into the College’s Hall of Fame as part of Homecoming activities on Saturday, Oct. 22, in the St. George Tabernacle.

The 13th-annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Homecoming Founder’s Day Assembly, which begins at 9 a.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Honored in the area of Fine & Performing Arts will be Dr. Norman H. Fawson. A New Year’s baby born January 1, 1939, Fawson is a St. George native who was more than the average academic student during his two years at Dixie College and became well rounded and balanced through service to others. He was a member of the Dixie College String Quartet and Dixie College Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Ronald Garner. He played in the pit orchestra for musicals directed by Dr. Marion Bentley, and served as stage manager for Delta Psi Omega. In addition, Fawson served as the X-Club President, sports editor for the Dixie Sun newspaper and business manager for the yearbook. He was also a member of the Dixie College tennis team and was the Valedictorian for his 1958 graduating class. 

Following military service and a church mission to Canada, Norman graduated from the University of Utah in Genetics and was a member of the University Symphony Orchestra. In 1966 he graduated from the University of Utah College of Medicine. After his internship and general practice residency in Ogden, Utah, he returned to St. George where he enjoyed a 40-year family medical practice and served as a hospital chief of staff and board member, president of the Southern Utah Medical Society, medical director of the Rocky Mountain Hospice and the St. George Metro Treatment Center, and as a Deputy Utah State Medical Examiner. Fawson has always had a passion for music and orchestra in his life. In 1980, he co-founded the Southwest Symphony Orchestra, and has been a violist with them ever since. He also plays with the Southwest Symphony Strings, and is the director of the annual Bach and Mozart festivals. He is a violin and viola instructor for Washington County School District. Fawson is the father of seven children.

Honored in the area of Athletics will be Richard Lee Hafen, who was born in St. George to Elsie and “Coach Lee” Hafen. Reared in the family home located across the street from the original Dixie College campus, Hafen’s participation in sports was to be his destiny and his passion. In 1957, he quarterbacked Walt Brooks’ Dixie High School Flyers to a state football championship, received first team all-state recognition, and was awarded the Thom McAn Trophy as most valuable player. Then, Salt Lake Tribune sports writer Bill Coltrin referred to Hafen as being a “helmeted surgeon.” In that same year, Hafen helped lead Coach Brooks’ Flyers team to a state basketball championship and was named an all-state guard. Upon graduation from Dixie High he received football scholarship offers from Stanford University, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and Colorado State University; but opted to stay at Dixie and play under the tutelage of legendary Dixie coach Sark Arslanian. The option offense devised by Coach Sark fit well with Richard’s passing and running talents. In 1958, Hafen garnered honorable mention Junior College All-American recognition, and was named first team quarterback for the Intermountain Collegiate Athletic Conference. In 1959, he was selected Junior College All-American quarterback for the West team. Richard also played point guard for the Dixie College basketball team, and shortstop for the baseball team. During the 1960-61 football season he quarterbacked at the University of Utah and played shortstop for the Ute baseball team. Once asked if there was one sport he preferred to play over another, he responded: “I love them all!” 
 
Hafen had the privilege of serving in the United States Armed Services, which included a tour of duty in Vietnam. Upon returning to Utah he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education at Weber State, and then joined forces with Clark County, Nevada’s juvenile justice system working directly with youth as a probation officer, and later serving the court as a staff administrator. After 31 years with the court, Richard retired in 1999. He and his wife Marti divide their time between their residence in the Summerlin area of Las Vegas and restoring Richard’s boyhood home in St. George.

Honored in the area of Public & College Service will be Jeannine H. Holt, who was born in St. George to Grant and Eleen Harris. After graduating from Dixie High School in 1947, she attended Dixie College where she met and married Stanford Holt. Helping and respecting others were just a few of the traits her parents taught her and which through her extraordinary accomplishments, she has gracefully exemplified. Jeannine has been involved with politics most of her adult life. Professionally, she worked for the United States Senate under Senators Garn and Hatch, serving as Hatch’s Southern Utah Area Director for 27 years. She has worked on many important issues affecting our State including lands issues, private property rights, and health care. In recent years she played a pivotal role in helping southern Utah citizens receive compensation from the government for exposure to radiation. In one of the nine counties receiving compensation, Jeannine was given the title of honorary citizen; something she completely treasures. 

Besides her involvement and love for politics, Holt is also an avid advocate for Dixie College, her alma mater, and served as a member of the DSC Board of Trustees for 10 years, including seven years as vice-chair. She has served as a member of the DSC Alumni Board, Dixie Rotary Bowl committee, and is a longtime and current member of the DSC National Advisory Council. In 1994, Jeannine received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the College and in 2007 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from DSC for her service to the school and the community. On October 10, 2008, Dixie State College President Stephen D. Nadauld unveiled the Stanford and Jeannine Holt Wireless Learning Center located in the Udvar- Hazy School of Business building. The center is equipped with worktables, and sofa-style lounge chairs, and serves as a gathering place and work/study area for students. 

In the Congressional Record to the Senate on March 11, 2004, Senator Orrin Hatch writes “Jeannine has actively and energetically promoted the tourism industry in Utah’s Dixie and has shared her love for the red rock canyons and sun-drenched lands of St. George and its surrounding areas with people she meets each day. Jeannine Holt is a dedicated public servant, fervently patriotic American, and loyal and cherished friend.” Jeannine’s service to Dixie is immeasurable. Her far-reaching dedication has blessed her with the title Washington County Goodwill Ambassador. Stanford and Jeannine are the parents of Patrice, Steven, and Jeff.

Honored in the area of Education will be H. Loraine Woodbury, who was born and raised in St. George as the son of Lawrence and Ina Woodbury. He attended St. George Elementary and Woodward Jr. High School. After graduation from Dixie High School in 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, and upon completion of his pilot training he earned the rank of Second Lieutenant. After discharge in 1945, he returned to St. George and attended Dixie College where he served as Student Body President and graduated in 1947. Loraine continued his education at Brigham Young University, receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biological Science. 

Following Loraine’s six years of teaching high school science, Dixie College President Arthur Bruhn offered him the position of teacher and department head in the Biological Science Department. While at Dixie he served as Dean of Students from 1958 to 1964, serving as registrar two years during that time. During these years he assisted in organizing and developing the current Dixie College Campus. With President Bruhn’s illness, Loraine was asked to serve as interim President of the college until the installation of the new President in 1964. Loraine served as Administrative Affairs Dean, Professor of Biological Science and Zoology, Dean of the Science Department, and Dean of the Family and Home Living Department at Dixie College. Due to Parkinson’s disease symptoms, he reluctantly had to retire early in 1984. Loraine was always interested in furthering his education. He received an outstanding service award from the Bureau of Land Management. One of his special concerns was teaching students to conserve and care for natural resources. 

In 1992, Woodbury was awarded with Distinguished Service Award at the annual Dixie College D-Day banquet. Nina Huish, his long time secretary at Dixie College, has said, “Loraine is blessed with the qualities of a peacemaker among both administrators and the faculty. He spent untold hours helping students resolve their problems, and in return the students respected and loved him. He always went out of his way to be considerate of the needs of all those with whom he came in contact.” Countless are the students who received their Pre-Med, Pre-Dental and Pre-Veterinary biological foundations from Mr. Woodbury. In 1946, he met and married his sweetheart Catherine Carter. They are the parents of six children – Vicky, Brent, Keven, Becky, Mark and Bruce.

Additional details of the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of the these four Hall of Fame honorees will be given at the Founder’s Day Assembly.

The Hall of Fame was introduced at DSC in 1998, at which time 18 individuals were inducted as charter members.

The photos and plaques of this year’s inductees will join the past 77 inductees on the Wall of Fame located in the Avenna Center on campus.

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