Utes to honor Elder Wirthlin with scholarship, decal

The University of Utah athletics department plans to establish an endowed

scholarship in the name of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, a former Utah football

player and a staunch supporter of the program for many years.

Initial contributors to the program include current Ute football coach Kyle

Whittingham and former Ute football coach Urban Meyer. The Elder Joseph B.

Wirthlin Family Scholarship, which will benefit the Utah football program, is

being established with the support of the Wirthlin family, the U. and The Church

of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Utah football team will honor Elder Wirthlin's memory by wearing a decal

bearing the initials JBW on its helmets in the Sugar Bowl.

Elder Wirthlin passed away earlier this month. He was a member of the church's Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

"Elder Wirthlin was a close personal friend to me and my family," said

Whittingham."I learned a great deal from him over the years. He will be missed

by all of us associated with Utah football, including our fans. I'm thankful to

the Wirthlin family for helping us establish this scholarship in his memory. I

hope Ute fans around the country will join Coach Meyer and me in fully funding

this scholarship. It is a great tribute to a great person."

For more information, or to make a contribution, contact the Utah athletics

department at 801-585-8837.