MICHAEL OKERLUND LEAVITT
Governor 1993-2003
Michael Okerlund Leavitt was born in Cedar City, Utah, in 1951. He graduated from Southern
Utah University with a degree in business and economics. Leavitt worked for the Leavitt Group,
a regional insurance organization founded by his father, rising up the ranks to become president
and CEO. Leavitt also served as a member of the Utah State Board of Regents.
Leavitt won the 1992 election for governor. His running mate, Olene Walker, became the first
woman to serve as Utah’s lieutenant governor. During Leavitt’s administration, the state
experienced its longest sustained economic expansion in its history. The 1995 Governor’s
Growth Summit set the stage for statewide initiatives in improving transportation, preserving
open spaces, and addressing quality of life issues. Governor Leavitt made education a priority
during his three terms in office, reducing class sizes while increasing funding. During his tenure,
Utah also received international recognition as host to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
In 2003, President George W. Bush nominated Governor Leavitt as the Administrator of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. Leavitt accepted the position and resigned as governor in
November 2003. During President Bush’s second term, Leavitt served as the Secretary of Health
and Human Services.
ARTIST
William “Bill” Ferrin Whitaker, Jr. (b. 1943), son of painter William Whitaker, Sr., grew up
surrounded by art. He earned his degree from the University of Utah and later taught at Brigham
Young University. Whitaker studied under the renowned Utah artist Alvin Gittins and is known
for his distinguished portraits of Latter-day Saints church