LEHI CITY - Key Persons
Mayor Ellison was responsible for hiring Police Chief Bill Gibbs, cleaning up blighted areas in the community, and developing an extensive organizational chart for Lehi City employees. He resigned after 195 days due to a conflict of interest with his employment at the Intermountain Power Agency.
Born in 1852, Mayor Abel Evans was the first mayor born in Lehi. He initiated a series of local government law classes that taught the constitution, which led to a second political party challenging the People's Party. He also served on the Utah County Commission and Utah State Senate.
Mayor Andrew R. Anderson was born in Denmark in 1844. He immigrated to Utah in 1862 and settled in Lehi in 1870. He served as a policeman, Lehi Marshal, and then mayor. He played a role in establishing Lehi Irrigation Co. to distribute water throughout Lehi.
Job Titles:
- Deputy City Administrator
Mayor Ellison was responsible for hiring Police Chief Bill Gibbs, cleaning up blighted areas in the community, and developing an extensive organizational chart for Lehi City employees. He resigned after 195 days due to a conflict of interest with his employment at the Intermountain Power Agency.
Job Titles:
- Assistant City Administrator / Public Information Officer
David Evans was a key player in Lehi history. Evans also served as a bishop in Lehi for the LDS church for 28 years. He was pivotal in supervising many public works projects during Lehi's establishment, including a fortification around the city.
Garry Sampson was appointed to replace Mayor Bud Ellison following his resignation. Previous to the appointment, Sampson was serving on the city council. During his administration Utah Lake and Dry Creek flooded many parts of Lehi, "Footloose" was filmed, and Mayor Sampson implemented many cost-saving efforts to keep the city in sound financial position.
George Austin was appointed mayor in November 1900 when Mayor Evans was elected to the state legislature. He served until 1902 when he too was elected to the state legislature. The Lehi Volunteer Fire Department was founded during his administration.
Mayor Tripp oversaw a number of improvement projects to the city's sewer system (using Community Development Block Grant funds) and the culinary water system. During his administration a portion of the old Lehi Jr. High was preserved and renovated into what is now the Lehi Public Library.
Mayor George Webb was born in England in 1839. He served as the city attorney, an alderman, and eventually on the Utah Territorial Legislature. Webb was responsible for purchasing land for the first city park, developing many new roads, and securing the Lehi Sugar Factory.
Isaac Goodwin completed Mayor Hatch's term as mayor and later completed the term of Mayor William Winn. Goodwin was born in Connecticut in 1810. He was responsible for bringing alfalfa seed to Lehi, which became the foundation of Lehi's hay industry.
Israel Evans, son of Mayor David Evans, was born in Ohio in 1828. During his administration, all land in the surveyed Lehi township was registered with the Federal land office making it possible, for the first time, for citizens to receive deed to their property.
John Roberts was born in England in 1848 and immigrated to Lehi with his family in 1863. Before serving as mayor he served as the city treasurer (6 terms), a city councilman (2 terms), and on the Lehi School Board (6 years).
John S. Willes ran for mayor in 1897 as a democrat supporting prohibition. The prohibitionists won. Under his two year administration, Mayor Willes was responsible for bringing electricity to Lehi City. In 1899, residents decided they had had enough prohibition and replaced Mayor Willes with former Mayor Evans.
Lorenzo H. Hatch served only one month as mayor. Hatch was born in Vermont in 1826 and moved to Lehi because of his friendship with David Evans. He moved to Franklin, Idaho one month after being elected mayor. He and his brother built the grist mill at American Fork Canyon.
Job Titles:
- Mayor Howard H. Johnson ( 2006 - 2009 )
Mayor Ellingson was born in Norway in 1831 and settled in Utah in 1854. He was the son-in-law of Mayor David Evans. during his time as mayor, Lehi faced a diphtheria outbreak and he directed the Quarantine Board to try and isolate contagious families. Ellingson was Lehi's first Republican mayor, served on the board of the Lehi Irrigation Company, and founded the Lehi Commercial and Savings Bank (1891).
Mayor Gilchrist welcomed home returning solders from World War 1 and his administration was responsible for the construction of the Lehi Memorial Hall, which honored veterans. Gilchrist's second term was during the Great Depression. He died while in office due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
John R. Murdock, born in 1826 in Ohio, was elected as Lehi's third mayor in 1861, after running unopposed. Following his term as mayor, he also served on the Territorial Legislature, the Utah State Legislature, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1895 to frame the Utah State Constitution.
Job Titles:
- Mayor
- Mayor Guy Cash Biography
Ronald Smith, a Lehi native, was appointed in 1992 to complete Mayor Cash's term following his resignation. At the time of his appointment he was serving as a city councilman. Mayor Smith implemented the Capital Improvement Plan during his tenure to plan for future infrastructure projects.
Born in Kentucky in 1850, Samuel R. Thurman was a prominent lawyer and politician. He also served on the Utah Territorial Legislature (1882-1890), chairman of the Utah Democratic Party, and justice of the Utah Supreme Court. He was instrumental in obtaining suffrage for women in the Utah Constitutional Convention of 1895.
Mayor Southwick served as the city recorder (1898-1899) and as a trustee of the School Board before being elected. Following his term of mayor, he served in the Utah House of Representatives and the Utah State Senate. He was the director of the State Bank of Lehi for many years. During his term the first Lehi Public Library was established.
Mayor Taylor was raised in Lehi, the grandson of pioneer settlers. He fought in World War 1 and was a pharmacist by profession. He ran on the platform, "Our Light Plant with Pay," during a time when there was concern that the newly established power plant was not profitable.
Mayor Winn was born in Pennsylvania in 1833 and was the son-in-law to Mayor David Evans. During his administration Lehi City built its first City Hall on the north side of Main Street between 100 W. and 200 W. At 36, he was the youngest mayor elected to Lehi City.
Mosiah was the son of Mayor David Evans and had previously served as city recorder. He was serving as mayor when Utah became a state. Mosiah was elected to the Utah State Legislature in 1900 and resigned from his second term as mayor.
Mayor Samuel Taylor was born in England in 1840. He was a member of the Lehi Brass Band and Lehi Silver Band. He served as a city councilman, alderman, mayor, police captain, and judge. Mayor Taylor was a veteran of the Black Hawk War.
Silas Barnes was born in New Hampshire in 1805. He migrated to Utah in 1851 and settled in Lehi in 1852. The first election in Lehi was held January 29, 1853. Silas Barnes ran unopposed and served until he moved to California in April 1854.
Mayor Fox was appointed to the position in January 1932, following the death of Mayor Gilchrist. Lehi's community celebration, Lehi Round-Up, was established during his first term, then called Utah Beet Sugar Days. He led Lehi through much of the Great Depression, a time of fear and anxiety.
Born in Denmark, William Racker was a prominent merchant in Lehi. During his administration the city paved its first sidewalk and the Salt Lake and Utah Electric Railroad came through town. The train depot was built at 300 North and 100 West.