Alan S. Layton, president of the Layton Companies, the Utah-based construction and engineering business, is the new president of the The Days of '47.
He replaces the retiring Frank T. Hales, who had served on the board of directors of the Days of '47 for 20 years and who assumed leadership of the Days of '47 in 1997 after the death of Floyd "Flip" Harmon.
Layton has served on the board of directors for the Days of '47 and the Western Heritage Art Show for more than 10 years. He has also served as chairman of the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and as a trustee for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Games.
He currently serves on several other community-based organizations, such as the Deseret Foundation and the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Layton said Harmon brought a vision of reaching out to include all segments of the community in the Days of '47, a tradition he hopes to continue, as Hales did.
"I am confident we will be able to conduct the affairs of the Days of '47 with the same excellence as it has always been, while at the same time reaching out to people of all faiths and backgrounds to draw them into the annual celebration," Layton said.
Other new Days of '47 officers are; Carolyn Toronto, first vice-president; and Sidney Price, second vice-president.
Retained as members of the executive committee were: Norma Jones, third vice-president; Brad Harmon, fourth vice-president; Lois Harmon, secretary; Bruce Lawrence, treasurer; and Scott Loveless, legal counsel.
Retiring from the Days of '47 along with Hales are: Barbara B. Smith, Glen A. Lloyd and Virginia Boogert.
The Days of '47 state celebration sponsors 14 separate events each summer, the most famous of which is the Days of '47-KSL Parade, one of the oldest and largest in the nation.
Parade applications and other information are available on the Web at ( www.daysof47.com), or by calling 254-1466.