Ted Wilson
Encyclopedia
Ted Lewis Wilson was the 30th mayor
of Salt Lake City, Utah
, USA, from 1976 until July 1985. He won three elections. Wilson resigned during his third term to become the director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah
where he held an adjunct assistant professorship of Political Science
.
His terms were noted by an election in May, 1979 to change the five member commission form of government to a mayor/council form. This initiative was created by a city scandal involving the take-over of the city personnel department by the chief of police
.
Other highlights of Wilson's administration included re-construction of the Salt Lake City International Airport
, re-building the city's sewage treatment
plant, re-tooling the water system, and expanding the green space of the city's parks department. Wilson also initiated and passed the first historical and foothill preservation ordinances in the city's history. Currently, Wilson is the Executive Director of the Utah Rivers Council, a Utah based environmental organization.
in 1957 and from the University of Utah
in 1964, with a B.S. degree in Political Science. He received a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Washington
in 1969. In 1983, he received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Westminster College of Salt Lake City.
From 1957 to 1963, he served in the Utah Army National Guard
and was activated to full time status during the Berlin Crisis
. He was an instructor at the Leysin American School, Leysin, Switzerland for one year. He also taught economics at Skyline High School, Salt Lake City, Utah for seven years. During the summer months of 1966 to 1969 he was a mountaineering park ranger in Grand Teton National Park.
He was appointed Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman
Wayne Owens
(D-UT) in March 1973. In April 1975 he was appointed to direct the Department of Social Services in Salt Lake County. In November 1975 he was elected as Mayor of Salt Lake City. He served as Mayor until July 1, 1985, when he became the Director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. Retiring from the Hinckley Institute in September 2003, Wilson retains status as Professor Emeritus of political science and continues to teach classes at the university. Wilson is a founder of the Exoro Co.
He ran against Orrin Hatch for the Senate in 1982. In 1988, he was the Democratic candidate for Governor of the State of Utah. In 1991, Wilson was selected by the Harvard University John F. Kennedy Institute of Politics as an institute fellow during the Autumn Semester.
Personal travel to India
has allowed Wilson to study and understand the Indian system of government. Wilson has made ten trips to India leading university student expeditions. During those visits, he has met with the Dalai Lama
, and led efforts to build housing for Tibet
an Refugees in Bir
, a community hall in Leh, Ladhk and a school in Kotwara.
Wilson loves the sport of mountaineering and has made many first ascents on mountain climbing routes in Utah, in the Tetons, and in other ranges including the Alps, Alaska, Andes, and the Himalaya. Wilson has established three climbing schools still in operation, was a climbing ranger in Grand Teton National Park, and is currently a part owner of Exum Utah mountain Guides. He received the Department of the Interior Valor award for a mountain rescue on the North Face of the Grand Teton in 1967.
Wilson is married to former Salt Lake Tribune columnist Holly Mullen. From his previous marriage to Kathryn Carling, Wilson has five children. He is stepfather to Mullen’s two children.
Ted Wilson serves on many voluntary local boards including the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Clark Planetarium Advisory Board and the University of Utah College of Social and Behavioral Science Advisory Board. He is an Ambassador for the 96th Army Reserve and provides a liaison between the troops and the community.
He enjoys bicycling, skiing, rock climbing, and backpacking with his family.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, USA, from 1976 until July 1985. He won three elections. Wilson resigned during his third term to become the director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
where he held an adjunct assistant professorship of Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
.
His terms were noted by an election in May, 1979 to change the five member commission form of government to a mayor/council form. This initiative was created by a city scandal involving the take-over of the city personnel department by the chief of police
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
.
Other highlights of Wilson's administration included re-construction of the Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport is a major public airport in Utah. A joint civil-military facility, it is located in western Salt Lake City, approximately four miles from the central business district...
, re-building the city's sewage treatment
Sewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
plant, re-tooling the water system, and expanding the green space of the city's parks department. Wilson also initiated and passed the first historical and foothill preservation ordinances in the city's history. Currently, Wilson is the Executive Director of the Utah Rivers Council, a Utah based environmental organization.
Partial biography
Ted Wilson was born May 18, 1939, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended schools in Salt Lake City, graduating from South High SchoolSouth High School (Salt Lake City)
South High School was a high school in Salt Lake City, Utah, which operated from 1931 to 1988. The school was located on the southern end of Salt Lake City proper, at 1575 S. State Street...
in 1957 and from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
in 1964, with a B.S. degree in Political Science. He received a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1969. In 1983, he received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Westminster College of Salt Lake City.
From 1957 to 1963, he served in the Utah Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
and was activated to full time status during the Berlin Crisis
Berlin Crisis of 1961
The Berlin Crisis of 1961 was the last major politico-military European incident of the Cold War about the occupational status of the German capital city, Berlin, and of post–World War II Germany. The U.S.S.R...
. He was an instructor at the Leysin American School, Leysin, Switzerland for one year. He also taught economics at Skyline High School, Salt Lake City, Utah for seven years. During the summer months of 1966 to 1969 he was a mountaineering park ranger in Grand Teton National Park.
He was appointed Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Wayne Owens
Wayne Owens
Douglas Wayne Owens was a member of the United States House of Representatives for Utah's 2nd congressional district from 1973 to 1975 and again from 1987 to 1993....
(D-UT) in March 1973. In April 1975 he was appointed to direct the Department of Social Services in Salt Lake County. In November 1975 he was elected as Mayor of Salt Lake City. He served as Mayor until July 1, 1985, when he became the Director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. Retiring from the Hinckley Institute in September 2003, Wilson retains status as Professor Emeritus of political science and continues to teach classes at the university. Wilson is a founder of the Exoro Co.
He ran against Orrin Hatch for the Senate in 1982. In 1988, he was the Democratic candidate for Governor of the State of Utah. In 1991, Wilson was selected by the Harvard University John F. Kennedy Institute of Politics as an institute fellow during the Autumn Semester.
Personal travel to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
has allowed Wilson to study and understand the Indian system of government. Wilson has made ten trips to India leading university student expeditions. During those visits, he has met with the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
, and led efforts to build housing for Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
an Refugees in Bir
Bir Tibetan
Chowgan, also known as Bir Tibetan Colony is a Tibetan refugee settlement on the outskirts of the Himalayan village of Bir in the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India....
, a community hall in Leh, Ladhk and a school in Kotwara.
Wilson loves the sport of mountaineering and has made many first ascents on mountain climbing routes in Utah, in the Tetons, and in other ranges including the Alps, Alaska, Andes, and the Himalaya. Wilson has established three climbing schools still in operation, was a climbing ranger in Grand Teton National Park, and is currently a part owner of Exum Utah mountain Guides. He received the Department of the Interior Valor award for a mountain rescue on the North Face of the Grand Teton in 1967.
Wilson is married to former Salt Lake Tribune columnist Holly Mullen. From his previous marriage to Kathryn Carling, Wilson has five children. He is stepfather to Mullen’s two children.
Ted Wilson serves on many voluntary local boards including the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Clark Planetarium Advisory Board and the University of Utah College of Social and Behavioral Science Advisory Board. He is an Ambassador for the 96th Army Reserve and provides a liaison between the troops and the community.
He enjoys bicycling, skiing, rock climbing, and backpacking with his family.
Awards and honors
- National Science Foundation Fellow, University of Washington, 1968–69
- Department of Interior, Valor Award, 1968, for Grand Teton north face rescue
- Utah Bolivian Partners, Fern Wiser Award for Distinguished Service to Bolivian Education, 1976
- Utah National Guard, Bronze Minuteman Award, 1979
- Chairman, Utah Presidential Inaugural Hosting Committee for President Carter, 1977
- Utah League of Cities and Towns Award - Outstanding Utah Elected Municipal Official, 1983
- Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Westminster College of Salt Lake City June, 1984
- Fellow, John F. Kennedy Institute of Politics, Harvard University, 1991
- Pi Sigma Alpha “Professor of the Year,” 1994; University of Utah Political Science Department
- Mortar Board National Honor Society “Top Professor Award,” 1996
- Professor Emeritus, University of Utah
Books
- Utah’s Wasatch Front, Utah Geographic Series, 1987
- Utah Then and Now, Westcliffe Publishers, 2000.
Press
- Numerous articles in The Wasatch Runner and the Utah Business Review Op-Ed articles in Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune, The Event, “Putting Together the Leadership Puzzle.”
- Weekly political column in The Enterprise, a Salt Lake City business newspaper 2000 to 2001
- Weekly political column in The Deseret News, a Salt Lake City daily newspaper, Wilson and Webb 2000-2002.
- Article in Utah Forum, “Professor Productivity: An Emerging Issue in America and Utah,” June, 1994.