Governor Gary R. Herbert and First Lady Jeanette Herbert individually honored Utah’s residents 100 years of age and older at the 30th Centenarian Celebration.
Fifty four of the total 141 statewide centenarians attended the annual luncheon with their families at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan, Utah.
“These remarkable individuals not only have lived in our communities for more than a century, they were the ones who built and shaped them,” said Gov. Herbert. “We are all the beneficiaries of their contributions and wisdom.”
Today’s centenarians witnessed incredible changes in history, including the creation and public implementation of indoor plumbing, electricity, radio and television and the production of the automobile and airplane. They also experienced several of the world’s pivotal events and milestones like World Wars I and II, and the Great Depression.
With the aging population in Utah, the state is projected to have 1,400 centenarians by 2050 or about the size of Duschesne, Coalville or Kamas. The oldest living man in Utah attending the celebration was Mr. Glen Winegar (104), from Salt Lake County and the oldest living woman attending was Mrs. Beatrice Payne (107), from Utah County. Payne is also the oldest Centenarian on record living in Utah.
For the life stories of each of the state’s 2016 centenarians, visit the online yearbook (available 8/22) at:www.daas.utah.gov
