Orton recalled as man of principle

He was a Utahn, a former U.S. congressman, an attorney, a Democrat, a maverick, a husband and a father.

Bill Orton was a lot of things, to a lot of different people, but the family and friends who attended his viewing Thursday evening at the Larkin Mortuary in Salt Lake City remembered Orton as a man who stood for something.

"Bill was great because he was a man of principle, and he had his priorities straight: God, family and country, all in that order," Utah Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert said after leaving the viewing.

Herbert said that while Orton was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 1997, he raised the bar for other elected officials who would follow him.

"(Orton) would say, 'When my party is right I am with them, and when they are wrong I am not with them,' " Herbert said. "He was what I believe the Founding Fathers really thought elected officials should be."

Salt Lake County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson was Congressman Orton's chief of staff, and she says that she, like many others, has incredible memories of her time working with him.

"It was an incredible place to work and an incredible team of people led by Bill," she said. "All of the people that worked for him have expressed thanks to him for helping to shape their careers."

But Wilson said the thing that was most important to Orton was his family.

"Bill was an incredible father, and they are going to miss him," she said of his sons.

Orton's wife, Jacquelyn, issued a statement saying how many long-lasting memories were made in their family recently as they traveled to ancestral, LDS Church and American history sites together. She said they also attended the Democratic National Convention and the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

"This last year has been Bill's gift to our family," Jacquelyn Orton said.

Other friends and colleagues were grateful they were able to show their appreciation for Orton while he was still alive.

About a year and a half ago, the Utah County Democratic Party created the Bill Orton Circle, its highest-level donor club.

Utah County Democratic Party chairman Richard Davis said Orton always helped encourage people to work toward good government.

"We wanted to honor him for his service, and we want to build up a party that nominates candidates and elects people like Bill Orton," Davis said.

Orton's funeral will be at noon Friday at the Federal Heights LDS Ward, 1300 Fairfax Ave. It will be followed by a graveside service at 4 p.m. at the Ben Lomond Cemetery, 526 E. 2850 North, North Ogden.

E-MAIL: ethomas@desnews.com