It took Gov. Rampton nearly a year of writing letters to Army officials to straighten out the matter. He was finally appointed to the Judge Advocate's Office in the Army. He went into active duty in January 1942 and was shipped to Europe in 1944. After the war he served in the U.S. Army Claims Commission in Paris. He was discharged with the rank of major.

Gov. Rampton returned to Utah following the war and worked part time in the Attorney General's Office and opened a three-man law firm in downtown Salt Lake City. He started a tradition of running — and losing — for various offices along the way.

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Winning the governorship in 1964 wasn't a shock to Gov. Rampton. After all, he figured during all of his races that he'd win. He just hadn't. On election night 1964, after the parties and congratulations, Gov. Rampton and Lucybeth settled down in front of a fire in the living room of their east-side Salt Lake City home. Musing a bit, Gov. Rampton said softly, "What if I disappoint them (Utah citizens)?" After a short silence he said, "But I won't."

Gov. Rampton often pointed out that his wife, a granddaughter of the late Anthony W. Ivins, a former first counselor in the LDS Church First Presidency, was one of his greatest assets. He married Lucybeth in 1940, and they were together for some 63-plus years. He met Lucybeth during his two-year stay in Washington, D.C. They were the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters.

Generally, his popularity stemmed from being a progressive governor and one who was considered trustworthy and truthful.

Although his state building construction program required an increase in the individual income tax and corporation franchise tax, he helped eliminate the statewide property tax in 1974.

Gov. Rampton made thousands of appearances as governor, from the major public gatherings to the minor ribbon-cuttings. His aides claimed that he had visited practically every city, town and hamlet in the state and was acquainted with the problems and aspirations in each one.

One goal he failed to achieve as governor was repeal or modification of the state's right-to-work law.

He believed his biggest defeat while governor was the failure to pass a land use act in 1976. In retrospect, Gov. Rampton believed the lack of that bill meant needless suffering during the disastrous floods and mudslides of 1983-84.

As a member of the LDS Church, he had at one time taught Sunday School and had also served as an assistant Scoutmaster. His hobbies included hunting, golf and fishing.

In his post-governor years, he wrote his autobiography, "As I Recall," published by the University of Utah Press in 1989. He also continued to work, consulting in law at the Main Street offices of Jones, Waldo, Holbrook and McDonough. He spent many lunch hours at the Alta Club, keeping current on Utah affairs. He served on the UTA board and the KUTV, Channel 2, board, as well as other local boards.

A ministroke in the late 1990s slowed his golf game, but he remained articulate. He and his wife also took a foreign trip every year after he left office, until her death.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com; lynn@desnews.com