President Ezra Taft Benson was honored May 11 as Utah State University's most distinguished alumnus in its 100-year history.
"It made us very proud to select President Benson for this honor," said USU Pres. Stanford Cazier. He said President Benson's "distinguished career in agriculture, from cooperatives to the national level of public service, and his extremely successful career as an ecclesiastical leader . . . made the selection easy."President Benson received the Centennial Alumnus Award of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, which is given to the top alumnus of each of its member schools. Utah State is a member of the association. Other Centennial Alumnus Awards given by the association have been presented to such people as Walter Cronkite, Bill Cosby, and J. Willard Marriott Jr.
Pres. Cazier noted that President Benson was the only religious leader to receive the Centennial Alumnus Award.
Included in the award was a citation that highlighted President Benson's career, one that started in a farm home in southeastern Idaho and eventually "brought worldwide recognition in two distinct careers, one in agriculture, the other in ecclesiastical leadership."
President Benson also received Utah State's Special Centennial Recognition award, which was given to 30 outstanding graduates of Utah State. Both USU and the national association are celebrating their centennial anniversaries this year.
The awards were given to President Benson at a meeting in his office by Pres. Cazier and USU vice president William F. Lye, who is also centennial chairman.
The Church leader attended the Logan, Utah, college from 1919-21, when it was known as Utah Agricultural College, and he often speaks fondly of his experiences there. He responded that, "It is a joy and an honor to be thus recognized."
He reminisced about meeting his wife, Flora, at Utah State, and mentioned that she had been a tennis singles champion at the college.
President Benson also took a little time out May 11 to be entertained in the Church Office Building by "Cloggers USA," an energetic group of some 40 Utah County youths. After enjoying the clog dancing, he was presented with the "Spirit of America" award, which the dancers received July 4, 1987, in Washington, D.C., after they performed in festivities honoring the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. The cloggers gave the award to President Benson as a token of their esteem.
"We've danced for heads of state, but this is by far the most difficult to do, President Benson," said the group's leader, Mary Jex. She explained that the group, which has performed internationally and will soon travel to the People's Republic of China, are LDS youths who pursue excellence in an art form that celebrates life.
"You're actually pretty good," President Benson joked as he was surrounded by performers still breathing hard from their effort.
"It is a real joy to be here," he told the dancers. "I thank God for such young people." To parents "who'd come along for the ride," he added, "God bless you every one. This is what makes America. I can't hold back the tears."
One parent responded, "Neither can we."
