The county Event Center was the site of this year’s Oneida County Hall of Fame awards banquet, which saw the induction of three county classics – Dotty Thorpe Evanson, William Griff Jenkins, and DelMar Pierce Williams.  Evanson and Williams were in attendance with their extended families, and many members of the Griff Jenkins family were also able to attend.  It was a night of excellent food, great company, and inspiring words, as well as a lot of music.

Over the last month in the lead-up to the Hall of Fame banquet, we have brought you details of the lives and accomplishments of each of the amazing inductees to this year’s class. 

William Griff Jenkins was introduced by Committee member and 2023 Hall of Fall inductee Terrill Schwartz.  Schwartz stated that he met Jenkins “when he hired me at the bank.  He became my mentor, and taught me banking from the ground up.  He told me that a small bank does everything a big bank does, just on a smaller scale.  He also taught me to check my work, and I have found that invaluable over the years.” “I remember growing up, my mother always got a calendar from Ireland bank, and at the bottom it said ‘solid as the pyramids.’  He took pride in making sure the bank was well run.  He was disciplined, hard working, and paid attention to detail. He was loyal to his staff.  Many employees worked for the bank for many year—many retired from there.”

Schwartz read from a tribute written following Jenkins’ death in 1978, which read in part: “He was an outstanding man in his own community.  His business dealings showed him to be of sturdy character, conservative judgement, unfailing honesty, and business sagacity.” 

“Griff was a mover and shaker,” his daughter said.  “He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, you’d better listen.  I recall a meeting when there was a vote to be taken, and when it was done he said, ‘now, we’re going to vote again, and you’d better be on the right side of the vote.  That was dad.” 

Representing Griff Jenkins: Tim Deeg, Diane Deeg, Cheryl Marshall, Randy Marshall

 Jenkins passed away at the impossibly young age of 5, but not without leaving behind an impressive legacy.  West Point graduate Jenkins earned a Masters Degree from the US Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on Ohio.  After retiring from the Air Force as a major, Griff returned to Malad to take up the family vocation of banking, and that is where the stories of Jenkins’ contributions to the culture and people of Malad kick in.  Instrumental in local institutions including  the Oneida County Free Library, the Masonic Lodge, First Presbyterian Church, Lions Club, and more.  Jenkins, whom the eponymous street in near the High School is named for, was represented by members of his family including daughters Cheryl and Diane at the ceremony.

Dotty Thorpe Evanson was introduced by Committee member Wendy Blaisdell.

After graduating in MHS 1971, as Blaisdell noted, “like so many who love this valley, she left to gain her education, but chose to come back and give that knowledge right back to our community.”  Evanson earned a degree in elementary ed from BYU in 1975, and a masters in educational administration from ISU in 1988.  After marrying Brent Evanson, she raised her family here in the valley, and has been a integral part of it ever since.

“She has been a constant force in this community,” Blaisdell said. Evanson was noted as serving on the Oneida Education Foundation Board, Junior Miss Committee, Nell J Redfield Hospital Board, Co-Op cleanup committee, Hall of Fame committee, Pickleball Committee, Welsh Festival Committee, and too many other things to fully list out.

She is a practicing Bard (Welsh Festival 2018), a Boy Scout District Community Hero (2019), a Volunteer of the Year (2022) for the city, and an extremely popular columnist for the Idaho Enterprise, among other things.

A tribute from her siblings was read, which stated in part: “WE have called her a lot of things over the years – oldest sister, bossy, the one with the plan, mom number two, but tonight we celebrate her as a member of the Oneida County Hall of Fame.  For thirty plus years, Dotty walked those halls of our elementary school as a teacher and principal.  She knew every kid’s name, every bus route, and somehow every grandparent too.  She led by example.  She was the first one in and last one out.  And never too proud to unclog a drinking fountain or mop up after the kindergarten pet turtle.

When she retired from education, she didn’t retire from serving…She writes Grandparents Only every week in the Idaho Enterprise, and if you’ve ever laughed out loud in the grocery store aisle reading about her grandkids, or your neighbors, you’ve met her on the page.  She makes us all feel like we really do live in Mayberry. 

Dotty Evanson and Family: Brandon, Kenzie, Bo, Dotty, Brent, Brett, Elle, Hadley Evanson

She takes charge, she serves others, she volunteers, she makes a difference.  To the community she is a leader.  To our community, she’s in the hall of fame.  To us, she’s just Dotty.  Our oldest sister who taught us all that life is better when you get your hands a little dirty for the people you love.  Life really is better with Dotty.  We’re so proud of you, Dot.  With love, Ed, Tam, Ter, Rox, and Gia.”

Messages from her grandkids were also shared, as well as an amazing musical recreation of a poem Dotty had written set to music, and a “Happy Plate” song performed by her family.  You had to be there!

In her remarks, Evanson mentioned a time when her granddaughter Hadley had asked her son, “Dad, is grandma Dot the boss of Malad?”  and he had said, “No, but sometimes she thinks she is!”

Evanson laughed along with the audience, and explained that “it’s the people” that keeps her in positions of service.  “I love the people of this community.  I do have a super power, which is that I surround myself with really good people.  I’ve done it since the day I was born.”

DelMar Williams was introduced by Committee member Scott Alder.  He mentioned the sign at the entrance to BYU-Provo, which says ‘Enter to Learn, and Go Forth to Serve.”  The phrase was used as capsule of the biography of DelMar Williams, who was born in Malad in 1942.  Almost from the beginning, Williams knew he wanted to be a pilot.  With a dogged determination, he made his dream a reality in 1969 when he was accepted at Williams Air Force Base.

Williams told the story of his relentless quest to make it into Williams by calling the secretary in charge of admissions coordination constantly until his dedication paid off when another pilot broke his leg.  The secretary moved him to the top of the list, and the rest was history.  Williams flew missions over Vietnam from 1970-1975.  He served in the USAF Reserves until 1980, and then for Western Airlines and Delta until 1999.

Williams’ list of accomplishments and experiences is nothing short of amazing.  In addition to his impressive flying career, he has run 27 marathons, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, been a bishop, volunteered at the High Cumorah pageant, trained missionaries at the MTC in Provo, and much more. 

“I want to thank the committee for considering me.  I consider it a great honor.  I have been all around the world – seventy countries as we counted them, and to me there’s no place like the Malad valley and the people of Malad.”

When the couple were deciding where to build a new home, DelMar suggested Malad, and he and Sylvia built a home in Cherry Creek where he grew up.

All three inductees are amazing examples of the character that grows in Malad, and the Enterprise extends our congratulations.

Committee members include: Tom Jenkins, Nacona Smith, Susan Wittman, Sharee Blaisdell, Gene Caldwell, Kay Caldwell, Wendy Blaisdell, Terrill Schwartz, and Scott Alder.

The event closed with the traditional singing of the Idaho State song "Here we have Idaho" and the Malad High School Song.