Dorothy M. Burnham, associate broker with Century 21-Grant Davis, Bountiful, Saturday was named the 1989 Realtor of the Year by the Utah Association of Realtors, and Salt Lake attorney Thomas K. Welch was named 1989 Citizen of the Year as the trade association's annual convention concluded here.
A spokesman said the Realtor of the Year award is given annually to a Utah Realtor who "visibly displays faithfulness and commitment to furthering principles of sound real estate practice, is active in civic affairs and is an accomplished business person."The Citizen of the Year award goes annually to a person outside the real estate industry who the board determines has contributed significantly to the community or state.
Welch, general counsel for Smith's Food and Drug Centers and the leader of Utah's bid for the Winter Olympic Games, was cited for his "tireless efforts and endless enthusiasm" in his work to bring the Games to Utah.
Burnham, whose dollar volume of sales for the pat year was more than $3 million, is a past president of the Utah Association of Realtors, the first woman to hold that position. She is a lifetime member of the Utah Realtors Political Action Committee (URPAC) and served three years as a director of the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Last year, Burnham served the NAR as a member of the Full Committee for Political Affairs, as a member of the sub-committee for Political Affairs and as a member of the subcommittee for Political Strategy.
Locally, she is a member of the Ogden and Salt Lake Boards of Realtors. She holds the professional designations of Graduate, Real Estate Institute (GRI) and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS).
She holds lifetime membership in both the Ogden and Salt Lake Boards' Million Dollar Club.
In citing Welch as Citizen of the Year, 1990 UAR President A. Mansell said the economic benefits for Utah are substantial "even if we are not successful on our first attempt for the Olympics.
"However, if successful, the economic impact for Utah has been estimated at $700 million to $900 million. Apart from the economic benefits, Mr. Welch has been able to unite and lead a diverse cross-section of the state toward a common goal and we salute him for that."
A native Utahn, Welch graduated from Weber State College and George Washington University Institute of Law. He has served as president and campaign chairman of the United Way, sits on the boards of the Salt Lake Airport Authority and the Utah Symphony and recently completed a term on the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce board.