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Olene WalkerAmerican politician
Date of Birth: 15.11.1930
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Olen Smith Walker: A Trailblazing Utah Politician
- Early Political Career
- Governorship
- Legacy
- Personal Life and Death
- Recognition
Olen Smith Walker: A Trailblazing Utah Politician
Early Life and EducationOlen Smith Walker was born in Ogden, Utah, in 1930. She graduated from Weber High School and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University, a master's degree from Stanford University, and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Utah.
Early Political Career
Walker's political experience included eight years in the Utah House of Representatives, where she played a role in the creation of the Utah Rainy Day Fund. Before becoming governor, she served as Utah's fourth lieutenant governor for 10 years.
Governorship
In 2003, Walker was appointed governor of Utah after the previous governor, Mike Leavitt, was appointed head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Walker served as governor until the end of the term on January 3, 2005.
During her brief term as governor, Walker prioritized education, launching the "Early Bird Reading" initiative and frequently visiting classrooms to read to children. She also signed legislation banning firing squads for executions and worked to conserve Utah's wildlife and create affordable housing.
In a controversial move, the Utah Republican Party voted not to place Walker on the ballot for the party's gubernatorial primary election in May 2004, effectively barring her from running for re-election.
Legacy
Olen S. Walker Institute for Politics and Public ServiceIn 2012, Walker established the Olen S. Walker Institute for Politics and Public Service to "foster in Weber State University students and the broader community the ideals of public service and political involvement that motivated her many years of service in Utah politics."
Personal Life and Death
Walker was married to Myron Walker, and together they had seven children and 25 grandchildren. She and her husband were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as international missionaries in New York City. Walker passed away in 2015 at the age of 85.
Recognition
The Olen Walker Home Loan Fund operates in Utah with the mission of providing affordable housing, repairing rural housing, protecting renters from predatory landlords, and otherwise expanding housing options for low-income Utahns. In 2010, Walker was awarded the Utah State Democratic Party's first Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2020, an elementary school in Utah was named after Walker.
