Douglass C. Blaser, a native of Logan and owner for the past 15 years of his own marketing and consulting firm in Phoenix and Denver, has been named director of the Utah Statehood Centennial Commission.
The appointment of Blaser, who worked in the Nixon and Ford administrations and who was chief of staff for the director of the National Park Service, was announced last week by Maxine Grimm, chairwoman for the centennial.The centennial will be celebrated with scores of events before and after the 100th anniversary of Utah statehood, Jan. 4, 1996.
"It's great to be home and especially to be engaged in a purposeful endeavor of this magnitude. Just think of the global interest that will be generated," Blaser said, noting that he and others involved hope to reach current and former Utah residents and individuals whose education, work or tourism pursuits have been touched by Utah.
Max J. Evans, the commission's executive secretary, said Blaser's abilities will do much to direct organizational and other efforts. The director will work to establish satellite committees in each of Utah's 29 counties so events can be localized, thus ensuring more citizen participation. A portion of money raised through the sale of new Utah centennial commemorative license plates will be returned to help local committees fund activities.
Blaser is a Utah State University graduate. He worked for Mattel Inc. and Allstate Insurance in California. He was a special assistant to President Richard Nixon, a chief advance man for Vice President Spiro Agnew, assistant press secretary to President Gerald Ford and a consultant to the Republican National Committee and to then-presidential candidates Ronald Reagan and George Bush.
The commission continues to seek suggestions for projects, events and ideas for inclusion in its 1992-97 master planning calendar. Blaser may be contacted by writing the Utah Statehood Centennial Commission, 300 Rio Grande, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1182, or by calling 533-5755.