PROVO -- Lauding their support to Brigham Young University and their service to the world, President Merrill J. Bateman announced the recipients of BYU's 1999 President's Awards at a recent banquet.
Receiving awards are Don W. and Mary B. Ashworth of Las Vegas, William H. and Patricia W. Child of Salt Lake City and Rodney A. and Beverly E. Hawes of New Canaan, Conn."These awards are given with sincere appreciation to the Ashworths, Childs and Haweses for their years of support to BYU and the service they have given to others," Bateman said. "These individuals truly exemplify the BYU spirit."
Don and Mary Bonelli Ashworth, both graduates of BYU, are the parents of seven children, all of whom have attended their parents' alma mater. An accomplished pianist, Mary came on scholarship to BYU, where she worked with composer Crawford Gates. She has since directed a 450-voice regional choir, written a column for the Beehive News and Prime Magazine and volunteered for numerous civic organizations.
Don earned bachelor's and master's degrees from BYU and a law degree from the University of Utah Law School. His varied law career includes work in private practice, as a public defender and as a corporate attorney. In 1978, he was elected to the Nevada State Senate and served for four years. Since 1990, he has been the Probate Commissioner to the Eighth Judicial Court in Clark County.
University of Utah graduates Bill and Pat Child are both great supporters of BYU and are the parents of several BYU alumni.
In 1951, Bill married Darlene Willey, daughter of Rufus Call (R.C.) Willey, and they had parents of four children. He began working for his father-in-law part time shortly after they were married. Bill transferred from Weber State to the University of Utah and graduated in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education. He planned to teach junior high history, but that year Darlene's father died, and Bill took over the fledgling furniture business instead.
After Darlene passed away in 1965, Bill married Patricia Wright, and they went on to have four more children. With a degree in medical technology, Pat began working full time at Holy Cross Hospital (now Salt Lake Regional) as a registered medical technologist. She serves on the University of Utah Health Sciences Executive Board and the LDS Hospital Heart and Lung Foundation.
Today, under Bill's leadership and vision, R.C. Willey is among the 20 largest furniture store chains in the country. Bill has served on several boards and committees, including the Weber State board of trustees and Commercial Security Bank's board of directors. In 1996, he was inducted into the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business Hall of Fame.
Longtime supporters of BYU, Rodney A. and Beverly E. Hawes are known as active and concerned citizens in their community. In high school, Beverly earned the nickname "Crusader Rabbit" because of her involvement in a variety of causes. A graduate of Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., Beverly has continued to research issues and volunteer in community service. The Haweses are the parents of six children, five of whom have graduated from BYU, with the sixth still attending the university.
Rodney earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Stanford University and his MBA from Harvard, where he was named a Baker Scholar. He then went on to a successful career in insurance mergers and acquisitions, serving as chairman and CEO of Founders Life Assurance and of Life Re-Assurance Corp.
Rodney has been a member of the Marriott School's National Advisory Council and served on the President's Roundtable for BYU. He has been a member of the Lighting the Way steering committee and recently accepted the appointment to be a co-chair for the Lighting the Way capital campaign.