Calvin Rampton, former Utah governor, dies at 93

He ran on a pledge to change Utah government, and he didn't wait long. He proposed an ambitious bonding program of $67 million — an outlandish amount in the mid-1960s considering that 30 years later the Legislature is arguing over $100 million bonds.

He put together what came to be called the Little Hoover Commission, which recommended vast restructuring of state government, the first such effort since statehood in 1896. In 1964, more than 150 state agencies reported directly to the governor. Little Hoover recommended the 150 be bunched up into 10 departments, and Gov. Rampton pushed the change through a special legislative session.

After eight years in office, many wondered if Gov. Rampton would break precedent and run for a third term. To the surprise of many, he decided to do just that. Even though Utah was beginning a hard swing toward Republicanism, Gov. Rampton was re-elected in 1972 by his largest margin, even though then-President Richard Nixon, a Republican, took Utah in a landslide.

Later, Gov. Rampton was to say the last term probably was a mistake because it cost his family too dearly. His wife, Lucybeth, suffered from clinical depression in 1974, and later Gov. Rampton said he'd lost some of the drive needed to conduct state business at the highest level.

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Gov. Rampton was born and reared as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and counted many of its leaders as personal friends. But he did not always follow all of its precepts. More than one reporter found Gov. Rampton in private enjoying a large cigar. In one of his rare scrapes with public opinion, it was discovered during his 12 years as governor — and, in fact, in previous administrations — that agents for liquor companies wishing to do business with the state were giving free samples to the Liquor Commission and that some samples were passed along to the Governor's Mansion and used to officially entertain visiting dignitaries. Gov. Rampton defended the practice, saying it was perfectly legal. But, as he wrote in his autobiography, "As I Recall," much was made of it in the press.

He was also named "Outstanding Public Administrator in Utah" by Brigham Young University in 1972. He and his wife, Lucybeth (who died at age 89 on Jan. 23, 2004) were honored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews with a "Brotherhood" award in 1973.