The Utah Sports Hall of Foundation will honor four Utahns for their contributions to sports in the state and recognize eight scholars.
The 17th annual Paul Ream Distinguished Service/Scholarship Banquet is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at the South Towne Exhibition Center, following a 6 p.m. reception.
The Distinguished Service Award recipients are Lex Baer, Providence, Cache County; Robert L. Rice, Salt Lake City; the late Harry Burchell; and the late Vaughn Soffe.
Baer, a member of the Utah Softball Hall of Fame, is credited with helping to expand Utah State's Romney Stadium and with coaching and sponsoring youth teams in Cache Valley. Rice, for whom the University of Utah's Rice Stadium (now Rice-Eccles Stadium) was named, is a member of the school's Crimson Club Hall of Fame. His $1 million contribution enabled the school to renovate the former Ute Stadium in 1972. Burchell was Bonneville High's first athletic director and football coach when the school opened in 1960. He was inducted into the National High School Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame and recognized in the Utah High School Activities Association Circle of Fame. Soffe was mayor of Murray and played roles in establishing Ken Price Field and Murray Parkway Golf Course, in addition to youth baseball and basketball teams for more than 20 years.
The eight Ream's Scholarship recipients entered college in fall 2004: Dustin Glenn, Olympus High School, University of Utah; Jennica Grimstead, Tintic, Weber State; Kendon Knowles, Sky View, Utah State; Ali Smart, Alta, USU; Celeste Van Tassell, Tabiona, BYU; Erik Vanwoerkom, Fremont, Weber State; Ema Sitake, Granite, BYU; and Andrew Yawn, Jordan, USU.
Tickets are $25. For reservations, send checks to Scott Mayne, USHFF secretary, 10182 S. Cornerstone, South Jordan, UT 84095.