Glenn Jefferson Mecham, 81, completed a remarkable life on Sunday, July 23, 2017, surrounded by his loving family at home in Salt Lake City. Born December 11, 1935 at the family home in Logan, Utah, Glenn was fourth of the six children of Everett Hess and Lillie Dunford Mecham. Of them, he is survived by brothers Melvin, Norman, and Edward, and preceded in death by sister Merle (Jorgensen) and brother Kenneth.
Glenn's mother, Lillie, taught him to read at age four; so upon starting Kindergarten at Logan's Woodruff Elementary, Glenn was quickly advanced to the first grade. He played the violin and was concertmaster at Logan Junior High, earned his Eagle Scout, and competed on the debate, football, and track teams at Logan High. At Utah State University, he was affiliated with Sigma Chi and graduated from the LDS Institute of Religion, wrote a regular newspaper column for the Logan Herald Journal, and received his Bachelor of Science degree four days before marrying his sweetheart, Mae Parson, on June 5, 1957 in the Logan Temple. They were stationed in Augusta, Georgia and Colorado Springs, Colorado during Glenn's U.S. Army Military Police Corps training.
Glenn received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Utah in 1961, having also toiled at a brickyard after classes to pay for school and support his young family. His legal career included Duchesne County Attorney, Roy City Judge, Ogden City Judge, State Court Judge, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Utah, partner with the law firm of Mecham and Richards, and Vice President and General Counsel for St. Benedict's Regional Health System. He was also a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve and Director of Judge Advocate General Reserve Programs for the Air Force Logistics Command.
He served as Ogden City Councilman and Assistant Mayor, President of Utah League of Cities and Towns, President of Weber County Bar Association, Chairman of Ogden Housing Authority, Chairman of Utah State University Board of Trustees, Chairman of USU Research Foundation and Space Dynamics Laboratory, Ogden City Mayor, and Northern Utah Liaison for Senator Bob Bennett. He was Ogden's first full-time mayor (1992-2000) under its new form of government and he holds the record as Utah's youngest judge, at age 26.
Mayor Mecham was known for his extensive vocabulary and "true gentleman" dignity and optimistic approach to solving problems and improving the city, including facilitating the return of professional baseball and negotiating and signing the contract to develop former Defense Depot Ogden into Business Depot Ogden. He was also instrumental in projects to restore the Peery Egyptian Theater, renovate the Ogden Municipal Building and Gardens, develop the Ogden River Parkway and Dinosaur Park, and construct the Eccles Conference Center, Ogden City Public Safety Center, and Lindquist Field for the Ogden Raptors minor league baseball team.
His even greater legacy is the calm, ever-positive manner in which he endured a string of health challenges that necessitated several surgeries and rehabilitations, including a heart transplant in 2000. Although his first heart had to be replaced, he never lost heart in any other way. He was also an excellent Sunday School teacher and served an inner-city mission with his wife, Mae, at the Monroe Branch in Ogden.
Glenn is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years and their four children, Jefferson (Valentina) Mecham, Scott (Melissa) Mecham, Marcia (Mark) Webber, Suzanne (Phil) Cooper, 18 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
A visitation from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. and memorial service at noon will be held Saturday, July 29, 2017 at the Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 S. Wasatch Drive, in Salt Lake City. Interment at Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Perpetual Education Fund or charity of your choice.
