The England family of C.R. England Inc. and Pride Transport will be honored at the National Kidney Foundation of Utah's ninth annual Gift of Life Award dinner Friday, April 11.
The award will be presented by former U.S. Sen. Jake Garn, chairman of the board of the National Kidney Foundation of Utah, at Little America Hotel. Garn is a past recipient of the award.Through C.R. England Inc. and Pride Transport, the family has made exceptional contributions to Utah's economic growth, the safety and public image of the state and nation's transportation industry, foundation officials say.
Funds raised at the annual Great Salt Lake Truck Show established the Truck Show Kidney Camp for dialysis and transplant patients and their families.
Demonstrating support for organ donation education, Dan England, chief executive officer of C.R. England, donated his kidney to a brother, Rod, in 1981. And C.R. England and Sons were sponsors of the 1996 Transplant Games at the University of Utah.
Chester R. England founded England and Sons in 1920 when he began hauling milk from farms to northern Utah dairies. During the next three decades, he concentrated on transporting food products and expanding operations to cover the Mountain West, California and Texas. Following World War II, England's sons, Gene and Bill, joined him in the business.
They initiated service nationwide with the company fleet expanding to include nearly 200 truck tractors by 1980. Gene England is president of the company and Bill England, board chairman.
While still working for the company at C.R. England, Jeff England brought his first truck, leasing it under the name of "Pride of England." The dream of owning his own company became a reality when England started Pride Transport 18 years ago. Pride now has more than 300 employees.
A dinner and program will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, April 11. Reservations are $125 per person and may be made by calling the National Kidney Foundation of Utah office, 226-5111. All proceeds will go to support the foundation's medical research, community education and patient service programs.