Former Nebo School Board Member Honored by Springville Chamber

Submitted by lana.hiskey on

Springville Chamber of Commerce holds Awards Banquet and Installation

President Jay Knight welcomed chamber members and guests to the annual awards banquet. He introduced the new board members and officers. The meal was provided by Utah Celebrations Catering.

Judge Sherylnn Fenstermaker conducted the installation of the new Officers and Board of Directors for the year 2011.

President Brian Miner, Family First Credit Union; Past-President Jay Knight, Far West Bank; Vice President Finance Richard Holmes, Duke’s Jewelers; Executive Director Bob Shearer, Chamber of Commerce; Kevin Whisenant, American National Insurance; Vicky Curtis, Central Bank; Mike Ewing, Copies Plus Printing; Brenda Smith, Elite Life Solutions; Justin Jacobson, Jake’s Brookside; Lana Hiskey, Nebo School District Public Relations; John Gleave, Springville City Liaison; Shauna Binkerd, Springville High DECA Club Advisor; Jay Taylor, Training Consultant; Mark Walker, Walker Therapy; Scott Murdock, Walmart.

The highlight of the evening was the recognition of awards that honored Martin and Bonnie Palmer as Citizens of the Year Jake’s Brookside as Business of the Year for 2011.

Citizens of the Year

Martin and Bonnie Palmer were married December 20, 1963, which was the last day the Salt Lake Temple was open after finals at Brigham Young University (BYU) where they were both students. Bonnie graduated Cum Laude with a major in English and a minor in French and political science the following spring. Martin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1966 and a master’s degree in the same field in 1968.

After working as a management trainee at Geneva Steel for two and one half years, Martin decided to go into business for himself. Having been taught the masonry business by his father, Martin started a masonry contracting business, which was very successful for 30 years until he retired. He was known for quality work and fair prices.

Meanwhile, Bonnie was busy raising seven children and serving in church callings, volunteering for the PTA and eventually serving for 20 years on the Nebo School Board of Education. During her tenure on the school board, she also served as President of the Utah School Boards Association representing 400,000 public school children and their families in Utah.

Bonnie currently serves on the Utahns for Public Schools as the Public Relations Chair, the Co-Chair for Women in Leadership annual conference, and on the Kid’s Cause Board where she helps coordinate Shop with a Cop. She is also active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where she has served on both ward and stake levels.

In 1979, Martin started a long career as a coach in the youth city leagues. He coached baseball for all of his three sons. He also coached soccer and youth football and had two undefeated seasons. His last civic coaching was for April’s, his daughter, softball team in 1988.

Martin is currently an instructor and publicity chair for Springville Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and has served in those positions for the last seven years. CERT has trained hundreds of Springville citizens to be able to competently respond to emergency situations both at home and in the community.

In 2010, Martin and Bonnie served as Chairpersons for Senate District 13 for the Utahns for Ethical Government. They spent hundreds of hours going door to door setting up booths and recruiting others to gather over 5,000 for the cause.

Attributions
Lana Hiskey