2019 National Symposium

The SUP National Symposium was an extra special treat this year being one day after the Sesquicentennial of the Golden Spike joining of the Transcontinental Railroad. Topics included Tom Alexander’s history of Brigham Young and the Latter Day Saints’ involvement in the construction of the Union and Central Pacific Railroads, Ron Watt’s Denver and Rio Grande Western Beginning and End, Wayne Hinton’s Construction and Development of Utah’s “Mormon Railroads”, Dan Kuhl’s Legacy of the Golden Spike Modern Railroad Service in Utah; and the keynote address was from Church Historian Steven E Snow who presented Brigham Young’s Role in Bringing the Railroad to Utah: We Want the Railroad!

This was a fantastic program packed with fun and insightful information with a stirring vocal rendition of Come Come Ye Saints by Dr. Melissa Hinton. We also had the special privilege of seeing and handling the silver Spike and Mallet used for the Utah Spur Line to Salt Lake City eight months after the Golden Spike at Promontory Point, and kept in Brigham Young’s personal collection since then.

The annual Presidents’ Award for Meritorious Service was presented to Stewart Radmall for 57 years of dedicated service and 16 years of excellent leadership over the SUP National Monuments. National President Tony Tidwell explained that Stewart had been given a 4 page list of monuments 16 years ago, and was told to go find them. Since then he has collected photos of each monument, GPS coordinates of 90% of them, and a record of ongoing conditions and repairs, compiled in a 407 page book that is now available to view on our website. Stewart Radmall accepted the award to the sound of applause that became a standing ovation. Thank you Stewart Radmall.

Many thanks to all of the participants in the 2019 National Symposium, and to SUP President elect Wayne Hinton for organizing this event!