In the world of dollars and cents, Spencer F. Eccles has done a lot with fellows like Washington, Lincoln and Hamilton . . . and people know it. In the world of blue and red gates and groomed slopes, he's probably done as much if not more . . . and few realize it.
Probably because more people are interested in how the Washingtons, Lincolns and Hamiltons are doing in the world money market, but the only one interested in how deep the snow is at a particular time and how well the skis are turning at the time is Eccles when he skis.
If Eccles had to choose which give him the most return, however, banking would have a difficult time competing.
It is, after all, skiing, he said, that has most shaped his life "in the business world, with my family, in everything I do. What I learned in skiing I carried over into my business life. It has been a guiding force in my life. . . . The discipline, the need to focus, the opportunity to set goals and achieve them. It's all there."
Spencer F. Eccles is, in a suit and tie, chairman and chief executive officer of First Security Corp.
In a puffy parka, orange-tinted goggles and knit cap pulled snuggle down around his ears, he's a skier who not only participates but has become one of its most impassioned supporters.
It is for his support and involvement in skiing over the years that the Utah Ski Archives has chosen to honor Eccles with the S.J. and J.E. Quinney Award for outstanding contributions to the sport. He will be presented the award at the Archives' annual banquet Tuesday evening at the Little America Hotel.
Also recognized will be the U.S. Forest Service for its work with winter recreation over the past 80 years.
Eccles started skiing as a youngster growing up in Ogden. His teacher was Corey Engen, one of the legendary Engen brothers along with Alf and Sverre.
It turns out that young Eccles did, indeed, master the turns. As a member of the Ogden High ski team, he helped his school to two state championships. He went on to compete for the Utah State American Legion co-ed team and competed in the slalom downhill and ski jumping.
Skiing was then, and is now, "a major focus in my life. . . . And, I'm happy to say, now in the lives of my family. If there's one thing I'm most proud of it's that I was able to pass on the love of skiing to my family."
He passed it on to others as well. While attending the University of Utah, Eccles was a four-year member of the ski team, serving as captain his senior year, and was named to the all-American team.
Since 1964, Eccles has been a major contributor to the U. ski team, which over the past 17 year has won eight NCAA championships and six runners-up titles.
While a competitor, he won a silver medal in the U.S. national slalom and alpine combined, won a bronze in the Canadian national slalom and a silver in the prestigious Roche Cup slalom. He later skied competitively in masters races.
In 1991, he was inducted into the Crimson Club Hall of Fame and in 1997 into the Utah Old-Time Athletes Hall of Fame.
Less publicized has been the unwavering support of skiing away from the red and blue flags. Through his contributions, and those of Eccles-related foundations, he has sponsored World Cup racing in Park City, the Eccles Cup at Snowbasin and the prestigious Snow Cup at Alta and was a founding contributor to the Rowmark Ski Academy.
He has also helped guide the sport by sitting on the boards at Sun Valley Corp., Alta Ski Lifts Co., U.S. Skiing and Snowboard Foundation, the Utah Athletic Foundation, the Utah Sports Commission and the U.S. Ski Team.
In his spare time he supported the George and Delores Dor Eccles Foundation's $10 million contribution to renovate the Rice-Eccles Stadium and the George Eccles Foundation's $10 million contribution to the Alf Engen Museum.
He was also a member and contributor of the 1998 and 2002 Olympic bid committees and serves as an elected member of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.
As for his future plans, he said he looks forward to when he can go skiing on a day when the sun is shining and there's 2 feet of new snow . . . not because his busy schedule allows it, but because he decided, that very morning, that "this would be a good day to go skiing."
E-MAIL: grass@desnews.com