Gov. Calvin L. Rampton

Deseret Morning News editorial
Published: Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007 12:02 a.m. MDT
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I have a vivid recollection of a day that fell within a day or two of my seventh birthday. That morning I noticed there was a great deal of activity at the Mabey house. I went through the back lot to the Mabey house and into the back door without knocking, as always, and I found Bob in the kitchen and asked him to come out and play. He said he couldn't, that he wanted to see all the people. I asked him why so many people were there and he said, "My father has just been elected governor."

"What's a governor?"

And Bob said, "He's the boss of the whole state."

That was a statement I would later find was a great exaggeration. — Gov. Calvin L. Rampton, "As I Recall."

· · · · ·

Many Utahns are familiar with Gov. Cal Rampton's history. A Democrat, Rampton was Utah's only three-term governor, the state's longest-serving state executive. As an attorney, he brought a lawyerly approach to his work. His "Little Hoover Commission" literally restructured state government. Rampton's vision of the state's future needs kick-started an ambitious building program on the state's college campuses and bolstered the state's role in economic development.

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Rampton, who died Sunday at age 93 after months of declining health, was known to generations of Utahns simply as "the governor." His election in 1964 was the culmination of a long and intense interest in politics. Starting in his late teens, Rampton worked on campaigns and became a student of state, national and international politics. He was a good student and gifted speaker during his days at Davis High School.

A few days before he was to start college at the University of Utah, Rampton's father died unexpectedly. Rampton's family insisted that he go to college, but he worked at the family business during school to help support his family.

After graduation, Rampton became the administrative assistant of Rep. Will Robinson, D-Utah. By day, Rampton handled congressional matters. At night he went to law school. While in Washington, D.C., Rampton met Lucybeth Cardon, who would become his beloved wife of 64 years. She died in 2004. Rampton finished law school at the U. and was elected Davis County attorney before he had even taken the state bar exam. He would not win another elected office until he ran for governor.

Rampton was pressed into military service during World War II, which meant he had to leave behind his daughter and wife, who was pregnant with the couple's second child. In the service, Rampton served in the European theater, investigating and processing claims against the U.S. military. Upon his discharge from the service, Rampton resumed family life and his legal career. The Ramptons had four children, Meg, Janet, Anthony and Vince.

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Thanks for your fitting tribute to Governor Rampton. I grew up in...

lamonte | Sept. 18, 2007 at 8:28 a.m.