The Woodbury Family and the late Becky Lockhart To be honored by Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce

December 1, 2015

PROVO, Utah, December 1, 2015 – The Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce (www.thechamber.org) has selected the Woodbury Family, namely Orin R. Woodbury, W. Richards Woodbury, O. Randall Woodbury, Jeffrey K. Woodbury, Lynn S. Woodbury and Guy R. Woodbury and former Utah State Speaker of the House and the late Becky Lockhart as its Pillar of the Valley Award recipients for 2016. The sixth annual gala is to be held at the Utah Valley Convention Center on Thursday, March 24.

The Pillar of the Valley Award was created in 2011 to honor an individual or individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the business, civic, social, educational, and cultural climate of Utah Valley. The gala is one of the premier social events in Utah Valley, attracting many key Utah business, civic and church leaders.

We are proud to honor these great pillars of Utah Valley,” said Rona Rahlf, president and CEO of Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. “The investment in Utah Valley exhibited over the years by the Woodbury Family are nearly unmatchable.  Becky Lockhart’s leadership as a political leader in Utah will stand as an inspiration for years to come. Without question they wholly represent the values the Pillar of the Valley strives to acknowledge each year.”  

The late F. Orin Woodbury founded Woodbury Corporation in 1919.  He had a talent for working with people to transform real estate to its highest and best use.  He built a national reputation as a creative, honest and hard working real estate professional.   

F. Orin was later joined by his two sons, the late Wallace R. and Orin R –who at 94 years old still goes into the office daily. Woodbury Corporation is currently led by the third generation: Rick, Randy, Lynn, Jeff, Guy and many talented fourth generation family members. Building upon the organization's legacy of integrity, innovation, and expertise, privately held Woodbury Corporation is one of the oldest and most respected full-service real estate development companies in the Intermountain West.  Some of its projects in Utah include the University Place redevelopment in Orem, The Meadows in American Fork, Canyon Creek in Spanish Fork, the University of Utah Research Park and Falcon Hill at Hill Air Force Base.

Rebecca D. Lockhart, or Becky, made history when she was elected Utah’s first female Speaker of the House. Sometimes known as “Utah’s Iron Lady”, she served for 16 years in Utah’s House of Representatives. She fostered a collaborative and inclusive style of leadership that earned respect from both the Republicans and the Democrats.  She is known for her exceptional ability to empower her colleagues and staff to find solutions and inspire a love for the process of legislating, accountability and good governance. In her closing remarks in her last session, she stated, “This House, is practically my home. It’s a place where we fight, but that’s OK, because family can fight. It’s a place where lobbyists may congregate, but constituents get to cut to the front of the line.” She loved the legislative process.    

Becky was devoted to her husband Stan and children, Hannah, Emily, and Stephen often involving them in her experiences as she served in her public role. She was recognized as being a trailblazer.  “There’s something to the visual, the actually seeing a woman as the speaker,” she said. “There’s something powerful to that, because other young women and girls say, ‘I can do that because I’ve actually seen one.’”  She passed away January 17, 2015 from the rare neuro-genenerative brain disease CreutzfeldtJakob disease. Her legacy continues to inspire so many in our state.  
      

Tickets for the gala may be purchased at the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce office by calling 801-851-2555 or at www.thechamber.org.

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About Woodbury Corporation
Founded in 1919, privately-held Woodbury Corporation is one of the oldest and most respected full-service real estate development and management companies in the Intermountain West. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Woodbury Corporation owns and manages over 13 million square feet of retail, industrial, hotel, residential, and office buildings across 12 states. Some of these properties include University Place in Orem, Utah, Magic Valley Mall in Twin Falls, Idaho, and eight office buildings in the University of Utah Research Park.  For more information on Woodbury Corporation’s properties and projects, visit http://www.woodburycorp.com.

Press Contact
Amanda Butterfield
Woodbury Corporation PR
A_butterfield@woodburycorp.com
801-440-9837