Hugh Wilkens Colton, 89, lawyer, rancher, civic and church leader, died at his home in Vernal, Utah April 14, 1990.
He graduated from the U of U where he met his wife of 65 years, Marguerite Maughan. He also graduated from George Washington Law School. While attending law school, he served as Secretary to the United States Public Buildings Commission.In 1927, he and his life-long friend, J. Willard Marriott, Sr., opened a nine-seat A& W Root Beer stand in Washington, D.C. This was the beginning of the Marriott Corporation.
Hugh returned to the West to practice law and raise cattle and horses. He settled in Ashley Valley in eastern Utah.
He practiced law throughout eastern Utah and western Colorado. He was recognized as an expert in grazing, water and natural resource law. He served several terms as County and City Attorney. the Utah State Bar Association honored him as having been a member of the Association for over sixty years.
Hugh commanded Company B. of the 115th Combat Engineer Battalion, a part of the Utah National Guard called to active duty prior to Pearl Harbor. He later commanded the 1104th Engineer Combat Group. He was awarded a battlefield promotion to the rank of Colonel by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who personally pinned on his eagles. Hugh, one of the most highly decorated Utahns to come out of WW II, then returned to Vernal to his wife and four children.
Hugh had a lifetime interest in livestock serving as President and as a director of both the Uintah County and Utah State Cattlemen's Associations. He was a vice president and director of the American Cattlemen's Association and a director of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. In 1972, the Utah Cattlemen's Association awarded him its Distinguished Cattlemen's Award.
He was vitally interested in the conservation and development of water resources. He spent many years working on the upper Colorado River Project. He served as chairman of a four state committee that was successful in obtaining Federal funding for the project. He was instrumental in the organization of the Uintah Water Conservancy District and active in obtaining funding for the Glen Canyon, Flaming Gorge, Steinaker and Red Fleet Dams. He served twelve terms as a Utah Water and Power Board director.
He served as president of the Vernal Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club and Rodeo.
Hugh served in many leadership positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He spent 27 months in the Eastern States Mission.
He is survived by his wife, Marguerite Maughan Colton; there three sons and wives, Sterling Don and Eleanor Ricks Colton, Bethesda, Maryland; Hugh Maughan and Colleen Simper Colton, Vernal and Salt Lake City; John Phillip and Barbara Snyder Colton, Rockville, Maryland; and son-in-law, Robert Bradley, Sacramento, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by daughter, Nancy Carol Colton Bradley.
Funeral services 12 noon, Wednesday, April 18, 1990, in the Maeser 3rd Ward, 2575 North 1500 West, Vernal. The family will meet friends Tuesday, 7-9 p.m. and Wednesday, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Thomson Vernal Mortuary Interment, Maeser Fairview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Amercan Cancer Society.
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