As we come to the end of 2024, we have the opportunity to pay tribute to those Utah politicos we lost throughout the year. Whether they held elected office or supported those who did, they left a mark on Utah — and a huge hole in their families’ hearts.
Ted Wilson, a former three-term mayor of Salt Lake City and former longtime director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, died on April 11 at age 84. He served as mayor from 1976 to 1985, then left to begin what would be an 18-year stint as director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, from which he retired in 2003. He also taught in the political science department during that time. In 1982, he challenged incumbent Orrin Hatch in a high-profile Senate race, and in 1988, he ran for governor, losing to Republican Norm Bangerter by fewer than 12,000 points. His is survived by his wife, Holly, seven children (five with his first wife, Kathryn, and two stepchildren) and 13 grandchildren.
Former Provo Mayor George Stewart died on April 22. Stewart was a man driven by the desire to serve others, whether that was his family, his church or his community. He retired the first time at age 50 so he could spend more time with his wife, Jo Anna, and their 11 children He worried he would die at age 53 like his father. Instead, just before George turned 55, he was elected as the mayor of Provo. He returned later to serve on the city council, then stepped down mid-term to serve a church mission with his wife. He was reelected to the city council in 2016, just before he turned 77. He was 84 when he died.
Former Utah Congressman Chris Cannon died on May 8 at age 73. He represented Utah’s third congressional district from 1997-2009. Cannon was born in Salt Lake City on Oct. 20, 1950. He received an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University, and subsequently a law degree. He also attended Harvard Business School. Prior to running for Congress, he was an associate solicitor for the Department of the Interior, from 1984-1986. He played a significant role in acquiring Geneva Steel from U.S. Steel. In 1996, he defeated Democrat Bill Orton by four points and went on to be reelected five times.
In 1999, Cannon was a member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, and became one of 13 House managers who prosecuted the case against President Bill Clinton in his impeachment trial. He became the chair of the Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee in January 2003 and held that position until he left office. He is survived by his wife, Claudia, and seven of their eight children.
Sunset Mayor Howard Madsen died on May 8 at age 73. Madsen served for many years with the Utah Highway Patrol and then as a Summit County dispatcher. He was the mayor of Coalville City from 2002 to 2006 and became the mayor of Sunset City in 2018. His fellow city leaders called him the “heart and soul” of Sunset City and said he was “more than just a politician — he was a friend.” He is survived by his wife, Connie, six children, 30 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Peter Knudson died on June 5 at the age of 86. He served as a Brigham City city councilman from 1974-1978, and then as mayor from 1978-1990. He was elected to the Utah House in 1995 and then to the Utah Senate in 2002, where he served for nearly two decades. He was also a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, and was the sponsor of a 2016 bill that created a special license plate for combat veterans. He also helped create Vietnam War Memorial Day in Utah. He was an orthodontist by training and helped create the School of Dentistry at the University of Utah. He is survived by his wife, Georgie, four children and six grandchildren.
Dave Buhler, a long-time presence in Utah politics, died on July 16. His obituary highlights his lengthy political resume. He served on the staff of U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch from 1979 to 1984, was a member of Gov. Norm Bangerter’s senior staff from 1984 to 1988, and managed Bangerter’s successful reelection campaign in 1988. He served as Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce from 1989 to 1992. He was then recruited to be vice president over the Western states for the National Assessment Institute for eight years. He concurrently served as a Utah state senator from 1994 to 1998. Dave returned to public service when he was appointed associate commissioner of higher education in 2000. During that time he also served, from 1999 to 2007, on the Salt Lake City Council, which included two terms as council chair. From 2012 to 2019, he was Utah’s eighth commissioner of higher education. He then taught political science at the University of Utah, where he was popular among students. He is survived by his wife, Lori, four of their five children and nine grandchildren.
Bountiful city councilman Jesse Bell died on Aug. 13 after a 14-month battle with glioblastoma. He was 47. Bell served as chairman of the Bountiful Trails Advisory Committee from 2013-2021, served on the planning commission and joined the city council in 2022. His obituary notes that he loved nature and community and his role as a landscape architect blended both passions. He is survived by his wife, Cami, and four of their five children.
A longtime fixture in the Utah Senate, former Sen. Karen Mayne died from a 2 1/2 year battle with brain cancer on Aug. 15 at age 78. She joined the Utah Senate in 2007, following her husband, Ed, who also died from cancer. Together, the Maynes represented Salt Lake City’s west side for almost 30 years. In 2018, she was elected as the Senate minority leader, a position she held until she stepped down from the Utah Senate in January 2023. She spent 20 years as a para-educator in Granite School District, and served as vice-president of the Utah AFL-CIO. She is survived by her three children and six grandchildren.
A fixture for 40 years in the Utah Legislature, former state representative and senator Mike Dmitrich died Sept. 30, just three weeks shy of his 88th birthday. He served 22 years in the Utah House, including seven years as House Minority Leader, then 18 years in the Utah Senate, where he also served seven years as the Senate minority leader. In 2009, the Utah Legislature renamed a portion of Highway 6 in Carbon County the Mike Dmitrich Highway in his honor. After a bit of a kerfuffle a few years later, that was renamed the Mike Dmitrich Byway. Dmitrich is survived by his wife, their three children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Former Utah state Sen. Ralph Okerlund passed away on Oct. 9 at age 72. His obituary notes that “Ralph loved to serve his community.” He began serving in local government as a volunteer fireman and later a Monroe city councilman in 1980. He then became mayor for two terms, Sevier County commissioner for three terms and served as a Utah state senator for 12 years. His community service totaled more than 30 years. He served as the Senate majority leader from Jan. 28, 2013, to 2020. In 2014, Okerlund suffered a heart attack and collapsed at the Capitol and was rushed away by ambulance. He eventually had both heart and kidney transplants in 2018. He continued to serve in the Utah Legislature until retiring in 2020. He is survived by his wife, Cindy, three children and 10 grandchildren.
Longtime politico Christopher McKay died on Nov. 17, one day before his 55th birthday. Raised in Salt Lake City, he found a passion for politics and spent his life in the political arena. He worked alongside Doug Foxley as a lobbyist assistant, and his involvement in local and national campaigns was extensive. Chris was the Utah state campaign coordinator for Sen. Bob Dole’s presidential bid and later served as chief of staff to Rep. Chris Cannon. The last 20 years of his career were spent as a vice president of federal government affairs for Verizon and in private practice with the Bennett Group. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and their two children.
JoAnn Ipson, wife of Utah Sen. Don Ipson, passed away on Nov. 27, at age 77. She worked with her husband at DATS Trucking as office manager and director of payroll and accounts receivable. She also volunteered her time with the PTA, the Sterling Scholar program, the Lions Club and other civic and religious organizations. She is survived by her husband, four children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Don Ruzicka, husband to Utah Eagle Forum president Gayle Ruzicka, died on Dec. 6 at age 86. A longtime presence in Utah politics, Don worked from a home office that allowed him to be close to home and family. He attended many state Republican conventions, as well as national conventions, including the 2024 national convention in Milwaukee. He is survived by his wife, Gayle, eight of their 12 children, 26 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.
