The defining moment when Martell Menlove chose education as his career was the same moment his father's education career came to a close.

Menlove's father, Ralph Menlove, was superintendent of Juab School District from 1964 to 1971 before a tragic auto accident left him severely disabled due to brain trauma. He died in 2000.

Martell Menlove, who was one week into an LDS Church mission in Brazil at the time, vowed he would carry on the Menlove education legacy.

Now, after serving 12 years as superintendent of Box Elder School District, Menlove will be second in command of the Utah's school system as deputy state superintendent over 405,000 students in 41 school districts. He begins his duties Aug. 1.

Current Deputy State Superintendent Larry Shumway, who will take over as state superintendent Wednesday said he handpicked Menlove as his replacement because of the educator's smarts, experience and team approach.

Menlove said he doesn't know Shumway extremely well but believes their skills and talents complement one another's. "I think he has a great vision and understands the role and purpose of state education," Menlove said.

The 57-year-old Menlove began his path of education as an elementary school teacher in Jordan School District in 1976. He has worked as a counselor in elementary and middle school and a principal in elementary and high school.

Menlove was named Utah Superintendent of the Year in 2005. He was honored with a Distinguished Service Award as an alumni of Utah State University in 2006.

He has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from USU, a master's degree in school counseling from the University of Utah and a doctorate in special education from USU.

Menlove plans to continue living in Fielding, just north of Brigham City, and commute to Salt Lake City. He just built a home on family farmland and did a lot of the construction himself. "That's how he relaxes," said his wife, Ronda Menlove, a Republican state representative and USU professor and administrator.

She has resigned from the Legislature's Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee to "avoid any appearance of conflict," she told the Deseret News.

E-mail: astewart@desnews.com