'It's the journey that's gratifying'

OREM — Friends and family say Duane Herbert's birth kicked off the Great Depression of 1929.

While businessmen across the country were dumping their stocks and bonds, Herbert was born in Salt Lake City, Oct. 24, 1929 — Black Thursday.

Herbert said his early years would rival those of Tom Sawyer's or Huckleberry Finn's. He was an Idaho farm boy who worked hard, played hard, went to church and worked some more. His mother died when he 9 years old and left him, a brother, three sisters and his father to hold things together.

"I sold eggs to the local grocery store," Herbert said. "It wasn't a matter of, 'Would you help, son? ' If we didn't, we'd starve to death."

He was teased about being small, maybe because he often lived on fried potatoes.

His father's work ethic was planted early in Herbert's life, and he, in turn, has given that to his children.

His son, Gary, who is Utah's lieutenant governor, and daughter, Linda, said the same thing: It is Grandpa's motto that everyone lives by: "Work will win, when wishy-washy-wishing won't!"

"Even now with his 77th birthday approaching, I still can't keep up with him," his daughter said. "I think that he is one of those people that lives on only four to five hours of sleep a night."

Herbert's hard work and his love of God and country have been felt by entire communities. From playing on the champion high school basketball team in Aberdeen, Idaho, to serving an LDS mission in western Canada, to delivering milk for 13 years, to owning his own construction company, Herbert keeps moving.

"I look back at what I've done in the community and in church, all the awards on the walls don't mean a thing, but it's the journey that's been gratifying," Herbert said. "I can't wait to get out of bed. I have things to do. I enjoy the ride whether, it's cleaning toilets or working in the yard."

Herbert has received recognition in the community. He's been named Builder of the Year, Utah State Chamber Total Citizen, and received the Arthur V. Watkins Citizen of the Year award.

Herbert was president of the Orem Chamber of Commerce and a major player in combining it with the Provo Chamber of Commerce in 1985. He was one of the founders and managers of the Timp Missionary Bookstore and a past president of the Orem Council PTA.

He currently serves on the SCERA Board of Directors and with the Orem Neighborhoods in Action Committee.