Sidney Hyman, the author of several books on the Eccles family, including a biography of Marriner S. Eccles and a book on banking written with George S. Eccles, called the dedication a "sweet, sad moment." In a way, Hyman said, it was the end of a journey, the turning of a page.

"It has its poetic elements," Hyman said. "You hate to see the end of an operation, but the end of this operation is done in grand style, with a sense of a thrust toward the future.

"The Eccles family itself embodies 150 years of history, history of different dimensions. It's the history of the West, the history of the economic development of both the West and the country, and the history of a family that has met the challenges of changing circumstances, a family that never stood still."

Today, the Eccles family again is in the midst of change, Hyman said.

"Today marks a transformation, the transformation of its own role in the West — a philanthropic role," Hyman said. "It is going from making money, from adding to its estate, to more the distribution of its estate to worthy causes."

Indeed, Spencer Eccles said Friday that while he will continue with Wells Fargo "at this present time," he also will turn his attention increasingly to the various Eccles charitable foundations.

"We want to make sure that the Eccles family can continue to contribute, to help make a difference in the lives of people," he said.

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