Conrad Bullen Harrison
1911 ~ 2008
Conrad Bullen Harrison died quietly at home on February 12, 2008 of causes incident to age, after a lifetime of service to his God, his family and his community. He was 96. Con was born in Logan, Utah, on July 15, 1911, the son of Antrim Byrd Harrison and Pearl Bullen. He graduated from Utah State University in 1937 with a degree in English. As a high school student he had edited the student newspaper, the Logan High Grizzly, and he continued in that line in college, as editor of the "Student Life" newspaper. To the end of his life he considered himself a newspaperman and maintained his membership in Sigma Delta Chi, the fraternity of professional journalists.
While still in college he became managing editor of the Logan Herald newspaper, and wrote as a "stringer" for the Deseret News (and later for the Wall Street Journal). In 1938 he moved to Salt Lake City, where he worked for the News until 1960, starting as a sportswriter but quickly moving to political reporting, covering the Salt Lake City and County Building and the State Capitol, and editing the Church News. His knowledge and love of music led him to assume the duties of music editor and critic for the News as well.
In 1935 he married Ruth Annie Layton of Kaysville, a fellow-student at USU, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they had 5 children, 18 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. Their marriage in this life lasted 68 years, until Ruth's death in December 2003.
In 1960, with the support of Mayor J. Bracken Lee, the Salt Lake City Commission appointed Con to fill a medterm vacancy on the commission. He went on to serve 16 years on the commission, ending with a year as mayor after Jake Garn was elected to the U.S. Senate. During his years on the commission he worked tirelessly during the 1960s and '70s with his life-long friend Governor Cal Rampton on the first bid for the city to host the winter Olympics, an effort that bore fruit years later.
Always a great lover of music, Con was a stalwart friend of the Utah Symphony Orchestra, and was instrumental in bringing Maurice Abravanel to Utah as music director and conductor in 1947. In 1986, Con wrote a commemorative history of the Utah Symphony, "5,000 Concerts," and his "Pioneer Symphony," the story of symphonic music in Utah, was published serially in the Utah Symphony printed programs in 1949-50, and updated in 1958-59. He was a member of the Symphony Board of Directors from 1950 to 1973, and of the Utah Civic Ballet Board from 1957 to 1959. He served for many years as a judge for regional New York Metropolitan Opera auditions.
Con was a board member of the Utah State Institute of Fine Arts from 1950 to 1973, serving as chairman from 1957 to 1960. He was a lifetime member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and served two years as president of the Community Services Council, of which he was a member for over 20 years. Following his service to the City, Con served 16 years as secretary of the Bonneville Knife and Fork Club and continued serving as secretary of the Utah Bowling Proprietors Association.
He loved fishing, the Jazz, the Cincinnati Reds and golfing with his son and sons-in-law and friends. He once scored a hole-in-one on Bonneville golf course.
An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Con filled many church callings in the Parley's Stake, including counselor in a bishopric, Stake High Councilman, temple shift supervisor and host on Temple Square. He was a major contributor to the history of Parley's Stake 1958-2000, and sang in the Tabernacle Choir from 1943-49.
Con is survived by a brother, Stephen (Florence), and his children: Connie Carey of Huntington Beach, Calif.; Susan Jean Jones (Gordon) of Draper; David L. Harrison (Stephanie) of Salt Lake; Ruth Kay Pickard of Salt Lake City; and Linda Harrison of Salt Lake City.
Funeral services will be at Noon on Thursday, February 21st at the Parley's First Ward building, 2350 South 2100 East. There will be a viewing from 6:30-9 p.m. on Wednesday at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, and from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. at the Parley's First Ward, prior to the services on Thursday. Interment will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. In remembrance of Con Harrison, the family would appreciate contributions to the Utah Symphony and Opera, the Church Perpetual Education Fund or the Salvation Army.