Provo couple put service first

PROVO — Serving others seems to be the theme in the lives of Janette Hales Beckham and her husband, Ray.

They find the time to serve by forgoing other kinds of pastimes.

"I don't fish and I don't golf," said Ray Beckham.

His hobbies instead are his family, his church and his interest in sports.

"I grew up learning how to get involved," said his wife.

Recently named chairwoman of the Utah Valley State College Board of Trustees, Janette Beckham has also served on the Brigham Young University Board of Trustees and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Board of Education. She served from 1992-1997 as president of the Young Women's organization for the LDS Church, coordinating activities for 500,000 girls worldwide. She served on the board of directors of Deseret Book Co. and has worked with numerous civic organizations.

In 1988-90 she served a term in the Utah State Legislature in the House of Representatives for Provo District 63, then was called to the Young Women organization as a counselor. She has also served on the boards of several other organizations.

"I never wanted to sound like a list," she said.

As trustees chairwoman she is heavily involved in turning UVSC into a university by July 1, 2008.

"It's an exciting time for us," she said.

Her husband, meanwhile, having recently turned 80, is a trustee and consultant for the Crandall Historical Printing Museum. He was chairman of the Utah County Red Cross and president of the Utah National Parks Councils. He has been honored with many awards and accolades.

In his younger years Ray Beckham played football as a halfback for Brigham Young University and tight end for its archrival, the University of Utah. He also served with the U.S. Coast Guard.

When he graduated from BYU, he was offered a temporary job as director of the university's adult education department that evolved into a 42-year career.

As an administrator he organized the evening school and the travel study department. He served as alumni director for 10 years and was BYU's first development director, a fund-raising post he held for five years. Among the fund-raising projects he led was the construction of the Marriott Center and the football stadium.

While serving as alumni director, the alumni camp in the mountains above Provo was slated to be turned back to the John R. Stewart family, as demanded in a legal clause if the school quit using it for educational purposes.