George Dewey Clyde
Encyclopedia
George Dewey Clyde was an American politician
and the tenth Governor of Utah
, serving two terms from 1957 till 1965 as a Republican
.
Although Clyde was on the faculty of Utah State University
for twenty two years, serving as Dean of the agricultural college's College of Engineering and Technology, he is best known for an eight year battle with Utah school teachers that eventually resulted in the first statewide teachers strike in United States history during May 1964. He was also involved in the creation of Canyonlands National Park
. He came from a prominent Latter-day Saint
family in Springville
, south of Provo, Utah
. Clyde was the younger brother of W.W. Clyde, wealthy philanthropist and founder of W.W. Clyde Company
and Geneva Rock.
Clyde received his bachelor's degree from Utah State University and a masters degree from the University of California, Berkeley
.
In 1956, Clyde defeated incumbent J. Bracken Lee
, running as an Independent, and Democrat L.C. Romney in the gubernatorial race.
During Clyde's first term as Governor, he succeeded in increasing state aid to education and teacher salaries. During these first years as governor, highway construction increased by 500 percent, state personnel practices and wages improved, and new programs for public welfare, state parks, and libraries were initiated. As a fiscal conservative, however, he refused to bond the state for the increasing building needs of higher education.
During Clyde's second term he again came into conflict with educators. His administration's spending increases for education fell short of perceived needs and a two-day classroom walk-out was staged. The National Education Association voted sanctions against Utah. Clyde finally approved a large state building bill that included education but did not require bonding.
The creation of Canyonlands National Park also created publicity and conflict during the governor's second term. Utah's Senator Frank E. Moss proposed the national park but Clyde felt the park was too large and tied up much of Utah's natural resources. After a public political battle, a reluctant compromise led to the creation of a smaller national park.
Other events during Clyde's terms included breaking ground for the new interstate highway and the construction of the University of Utah
's Medical School. Clyde also vetoed a Sunday closing bill in favor of minorities. Clyde chose not to run for a third term.
Clyde suffered a stroke soon after retirement and died from effects of the stroke on April 2, 1972.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
and the tenth Governor of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, serving two terms from 1957 till 1965 as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Although Clyde was on the faculty of Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
for twenty two years, serving as Dean of the agricultural college's College of Engineering and Technology, he is best known for an eight year battle with Utah school teachers that eventually resulted in the first statewide teachers strike in United States history during May 1964. He was also involved in the creation of Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is a U.S. National Park located in southeastern Utah near the town of Moab and preserves a colorful landscape eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado River, the Green River, and their respective tributaries. The park is divided into four districts:...
. He came from a prominent Latter-day Saint
family in Springville
Springville, Utah
Springville is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 20,424 at the 2000 census, while the 2008 estimates placed it at 28,520. Just minutes south of Provo, Springville is a bedroom community for...
, south of Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
. Clyde was the younger brother of W.W. Clyde, wealthy philanthropist and founder of W.W. Clyde Company
W.W. Clyde Company
W.W. Clyde is a heavy civil construction firm based in Springville, Utah.W.W. Clyde was founded in 1926 by Wilford W. Clyde, brother to George Dewey Clyde, who later became a Governor of Utah...
and Geneva Rock.
Clyde received his bachelor's degree from Utah State University and a masters degree from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Public service
In 1934, Clyde was appointed as a Utah state water conservator during a period of drought and was later appointed to the advisory board of the Utah Department of Industrial Development Water Resource Division. He also was elected director and later the vice-president of the Utah Water Users Association. In 1945, Clyde was appointed chief of the Division of Irrigation Engineering and Water Conservation and Research for the U. S. Soil Conservation Service. In 1953, he became the director of the Utah Water and Power Board.In 1956, Clyde defeated incumbent J. Bracken Lee
J. Bracken Lee
Joseph Bracken Lee was a political figure in the state of Utah, United States. A Republican, he served two terms as the ninth Governor of Utah , six two-year terms as mayor of Price, Utah , and three terms as the 27th mayor of Salt Lake City ., Lee is the most recent Governor of Utah who was not a...
, running as an Independent, and Democrat L.C. Romney in the gubernatorial race.
During Clyde's first term as Governor, he succeeded in increasing state aid to education and teacher salaries. During these first years as governor, highway construction increased by 500 percent, state personnel practices and wages improved, and new programs for public welfare, state parks, and libraries were initiated. As a fiscal conservative, however, he refused to bond the state for the increasing building needs of higher education.
During Clyde's second term he again came into conflict with educators. His administration's spending increases for education fell short of perceived needs and a two-day classroom walk-out was staged. The National Education Association voted sanctions against Utah. Clyde finally approved a large state building bill that included education but did not require bonding.
The creation of Canyonlands National Park also created publicity and conflict during the governor's second term. Utah's Senator Frank E. Moss proposed the national park but Clyde felt the park was too large and tied up much of Utah's natural resources. After a public political battle, a reluctant compromise led to the creation of a smaller national park.
Other events during Clyde's terms included breaking ground for the new interstate highway and the construction of the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
's Medical School. Clyde also vetoed a Sunday closing bill in favor of minorities. Clyde chose not to run for a third term.
Clyde suffered a stroke soon after retirement and died from effects of the stroke on April 2, 1972.