100+-year-old Utahns who lived through Spanish Flu to COVID-19, among other amazing feats to be honored Sept. 18, 2021
Tags: Civility and ServiceSTATEWIDE UTAH (Sept. 18, 2021) — They fought and survived six large-scale wars, the Great Depression and 13 recessions, and now two global pandemics. Utah’s most resilient citizens who are 100 years and older will be honored by Gov. Spencer J. Cox’s declaration of Sept. 18, 2021, as “Centenarian Day in Utah.”
With the declaration, the state welcomes 24 new members to The 2021 Governor’s Century Club of Utah. As of Sept. 18, 2021, Utah has a total of 164 known residents ranging from 100 years to its senior member, Lilian Jones, 111 years old (Salt Lake City).
“I am proud to join five governors before me in honoring Utah’s Centenarians with their own day,” said Gov. Cox. “All Utahns can be grateful for these extraordinary individuals’ personal contributions to our state’s history and for the wisdom they continue to share with us.”
For health safety reasons, the Governor is foregoing an in-person celebration with the 2021 Centenarians. A bound yearbook and signed Governor’s letter of commendation was sent to each Centenarian.
For the life stories and photos that are released for media use of many of Utah’s 2021 centenarians, visit the online yearbook at daas.utah.gov/centenarians.
Facts about Utah’s 2021 Centenarians (more demographics and regional data below)
- Witnessed changes in history, including widespread indoor plumbing and electricity, radio and television, and production of the automobile and airplane
- 116 are female; 48 male
- 29 are WWII veterans
| Breakdown by Centenarian’s Age | |||
| Age | Female | Male | Total |
| 111 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 110 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 109 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 108 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 107 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 106 | 9 | 4 | 13 |
| 105 | 9 | 4 | 13 |
| 104 | 16 | 1 | 17 |
| 103 | 16 | 12 | 28 |
| 102 | 17 | 9 | 26 |
| 101 | 20 | 8 | 28 |
| 100 | 15 | 8 | 23 |
| 99* | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Grand Total: | 116 | 48 | 164 |
*Will turn 100
| Breakdown by Counties in which Centenarians Reside | ||||
| County | # of Centenarians | County | # of Centenarians | |
| Beaver | 0 | Piute | 1 | |
| Box Elder | 1 | Rich | 1 | |
| Cache | 5 | Salt Lake | 85 | |
| Carbon | 1 | San Juan | 0 | |
| Daggett | 0 | Sanpete | 4 | |
| Davis | 11 | Sevier | 0 | |
| Duchesne | 0 | Summit | 1 | |
| Emery | 0 | Tooele | 2 | |
| Garfield | 0 | Uintah | 1 | |
| Grand | 0 | Utah | 21 | |
| Iron | 0 | Wasatch | 0 | |
| Juab | 0 | Washington | 13 | |
| Kane | 0 | Wayne | 0 | |
| Millard | 0 | Weber | 17 | |
| Morgan | 0 | Grand Total: | 164 |
| Oldest Ladies in Governor’s Century Club: |
| Mrs. Lilian Jones (111 years old), born in March 1910. Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County |
| Mrs. Alice Bennett (110 years old), born in May 1911. Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County |
| Mrs. Betty Mendoza (109 years old), born in April 1912. Hurricane, Washington County |
| Oldest Gentlemen in Governor’s Century Club: |
| Mr. Ted Wells (110 years old), born in September 1910. Orem, Utah County |
| Mr. Paul Smith (109 years old), born in May 1912. Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Earl Webb (106 years old), born in January 1915. Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County |
| Total WWII Veterans in the Governor’s Century Club Database |
| Mrs. Edith Akers (106 years old). Riverton, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Derral Allen (102 years old). Clearfield, Davis County |
| Mr. Milton Christensen (106 years old). West Haven, Weber County |
| Mr. Lloyd Clement (103 years old). Logan, Cache County |
| Mr. David Curtis (103 years old). Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Louis H. Edison (102 years old). Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Jack N. Eichers (100 years old). Millcreek, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Eugene England (101 years old). Sandy, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Allen Frandsen (102 years old). Centerfield, Sanpete County |
| Mr. John Frey (103 years old). Manti, Utah County |
| Mr. Joseph Garcia (102 years old). Bountiful, Davis County |
| Mr. Oscar Green (100 years old). Holladay, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Gail S. Halvorsen (100 years old). Provo, Utah County |
| Mr. Weldon Heaton (100 years old). He is from Laverkin, Washington County |
| Mr. Mark Heyrend (103 years old). Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Norton James (102 years old). Taylorsville, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Hyrum Grant Keeler (103 years old). Layton, Davis County |
| Mr. Wilhelm Kuhn (102 years old). Orem, Utah County |
| Mr. Robert Larson (101 years old). Centerfield, Sanpete County |
| Mr. John Millar (101 years old). He lives in St. George, Washington County |
| Mr. Gregory Montagnoli (100 years old). He lives in American Fork, Utah County |
| Mr. Stanley Nance (103 years old). Millcreek, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Carl Nelson (101 years old). Taylorsville, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Herbert Olschewski (102 years old). Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County |
| Mrs. Esther Orr (100 years old). She lives in Park City, Summit County |
| Mrs. Thelma Patton (105 years old). Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Douglas Smith (100 years old) He lives in Syracuse, Davis County |
| Mr. Albert Vise (102 years old). Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County |
| Mr. Woodrow Wilson (102 years old). Clinton, Davis County |
Download a copy of this press release here.
Download a copy of this declaration here.
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