Gary Crowton As the replacement for famed BYU Coach LaVell Edwards, who retired
last year, Crowton only had to do as well or a little better than
Edwards had last year to be accepted as adequate. Instead Crowton has
led the Cougars to their first undefeated (so far) season since their
National Championship in 1984.
See:
Crowton Will Be Named BYU Coach Today Nominated by Kent Larsen
Eugene England Known for his untiring attempts to bridge the gap between liberal and
conservative LDS Church members, W. Eugene England died August 17th
of brain cancer. His example made a lasting impression for Church
members of how to live in a community with conflicting views.
See:
Remembering England Nominated by Kent Larsen
Rulon Gardner The 12 months since his upset win in the Sydney Australia Summer
Olympic Games, Gardner has been everywhere, recieving awards,
making endorsements, television commercials, and public appearances.
But the changes have been more than a financial windfall for Gardner,
who has maintained his standards throughout the publicity.
See:
One Year after the Gold Nominated by
Darius Gray Along with Marie Taylor, Darius Gray was instrumental in getting the
Freedman's Bank Records on CD. Darius also published the first of
three books "One More River To Cross" during the year and is
President of the LDS Church's Genesis Group. As a result there is
much activity among the African American community and the Church as
been perceived in a very positive light. "I believe that thousands of
names have been added to the Church's ancestral files as a result and
these souls will now have an opportunity to have their work done for
them," says subscriber Allen Johnson.
See:
LDS Church's Genesis Organization is 30 Years Old Nominated by Allen Johnson
Tom Green While not now an LDS Church member, Tom Green has been in the news
this past year as much as any other Mormon. The Utah polygamist, once
an LDS Church member, appeared in newspapers worldwide during his
trial on bigamy charges. Although Green wouldn't see it this way, he
gave the LDS Church more opportunity to disavow itself of polygamy
than it would otherwise have had.
See:
Polygamist Green Given Five Years, $78,000 Judgement Nominated by Kent Larsen
Orrin Hatch Hatch continues to have a major impact on U.S. policies, including
his groundbreaking decision to support the use of federal funds for
stem-cell research. With Hatch leading the way, all five Mormon
senators eventually supported stem-cell research, and the views of
many conservatives were moderated on this issue because of his
decision.
See:
Hatch Favors Stem Cell Funding, Draws Pro-Life Ire Nominated by Kent Larsen
Paula Houston Lawyer Houston was named Utah's Porn Czar to handle citizen
complaints about pornography and help Utah's local governments draft
laws that meet constitutional muster. The unique nature of her new
job led to national attention.
See:
LDS Church Member, Utah's 'Porn Czarina,' Gets National Attention Nominated by Kent Larsen
Jon M. Huntsman Sr. While most wealthy men tend to loss their faith, Huntsman continues
to demonstrate an unyielding ability to exercise his religion in his
business, community and personal affairs. This is a very powerful
example to member and non-member alike. "There are a million bad
things he could be doing with that influence but I haven't heard of
one." says Mormon News subscriber, and nominator Lyle Leavitt.
See:
Notable Mormons, Apostle Support New 'Alliance for Unity' Nominated by Lyle Leavitt
Elbert Peck For fifteen years Elbert Peck led Sunstone magazine, despite
criticism from conservatives and continuing struggles to keep the
magazine growing. In spite of the criticism, Peck has maintained his
belief that Sunstone provides a needed and enduring role in the
Mormon community.
See:
Long-time Sunstone Publisher Elbert Peck Resigns Nominated by Kent Larsen
Naomi Randall A longtime leader of the LDS Church's Primary organization, Randall
was best known for authoring the favorite LDS hymn, "I am a Child of
God," in 1957. Randall died May 17th at age 92.
See:
'I am a Child of God' Author Naomi Randall Dies Nominated by Kent Larsen
Mitt Romney When Romney took over the Salt Lake Organizing Committee in January,
1999, he became one of the most visible Mormons in the world, known
for rescuing the 2002 Winter Olympics from a bribery scandal that
could have put it in the red. And since the 2002 Games he is
preparing for is in the Mormon heartland, he has also become visible
to many Mormons.
See:
Deseret News Profiles Mitt Romney Nominated by Kent Larsen
William Sadleir Sadleir pulled off one of the biggest Mormon commemorative events in
history, focusing the attention of news media on two continents as
well as hundreds of thousands of Mormons on a small group of ships
commemorating the immigration of more than 80,000 Mormon pioneers
from Europe to America. SeaTrek2001 was simply the biggest Mormon
event since the 1997 Mormon Trek re-enactment.
See:
SeaTrek Sails; Commemoration Gets International Attention Nominated by Kent Larsen
Cary Stayner Stayner, briefly LDS as a youth, was overshadowed all his life by
his younger brother, Steven, who was kidnapped as a child and escaped
after seven years. Cary murdered three people in Yosemite
park and then plead guilty to a federal homicide charge, getting life
imprisonment. He is now awaiting trial for the Sunn-Peloso murders and
expected to get the death penalty. His widely-publicised trial brought
disgrace to the church and his family.
Overshadowed All His Life and
Stayner family's woeful history Nominated by D. Jack Haycock
Mark Wattles CEO of Hollywood Entertainment has managed to turn around his company
and raise its stock price during the year from under $1 a share to a
high of $12 a share.
See:
Hollywood Entertainment Fighting Investor Fears Nominated by Kent Larsen