Events / Pioneers of Progress Awards

Days of '47 KUTV

Awards Gala Banquet

Presented by dōTERRA

When

Thursday - July 16, 2026
Reception @ 6:30pm
Dinner & Awards @ 7:00pm

Where

The Grand America
555 S Main Street Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Contact Information

"Tickets are limited. For more information or to purchase tickets for the dinner, please contact Margo Ayre at 801-809-3446 or mayre@xmission.com

2025 PIONEERS OF PROGRESS RECIPIENTS

Utah remembers those who courageously crossed the planes 178 years ago, as well as those who are pioneering our future in 2025. On the evening of July 17, 2025, The Days of ’47 organization will honor six individuals who are influencing our state through their leadership in business, art, academia, philanthropy, humanitarian service and science. A dinner sponsored by The Days of '47, KUTV 2 and dōTERRA will be held at The Grand America Hotel to highlight the following individuals:

SPORTSMANSHIP AND ATHLETICS

Fraser Bullock
Fraser Bullock loves an adventure, whether in business or personally. He has been heli- skiing on the peaks of the Utah mountains, scuba diving with sharks and in shipwrecks and loves the serenity of Lake Powell. He began his career at Bain & Company and was a founding member of Bain Capital. He co-founded Sorenson Capital to help fund and mentor Utah companies. Fraser served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, one of the most successful Games in history. For his Olympic service, Mr. Bullock received the Olympic Order in Gold from the International Olympic Committee. He now serves as Executive Chair and President of the 2034 Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Fraser is the first person to help run two Olympic and Paralympic Games. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, in Alpine, Utah, and they are the parents of 5 children and 12 grandchildren.

EDUCATION

Bill Crim
(Photo Credit: MarDel Photography & Design)
Bill Crim serves as President and CEO of United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL) and Utah’s Promise. He joined UWSL in 2004 to help lead its transformation to an organization focused on creating economic opportunity through collaborative, aligned action – and became CEO in 2015. Bill was instrumental in building UWSL’s public policy influence and helped develop Promise Partnership Utah, the nationally recognized partnership infrastructure for improving cradle-to-career education outcomes. In 2013, Bill helped facilitate the first “pay for success” transaction in the country for early childhood education, helping make high-quality preschool available to thousands of additional low income children in Utah. Bill is a frequent speaker on the topics of “collective impact,” outcomes financing, and the power of data and shared accountability for results to transform communities. He is a lifelong resident of Utah and a graduate of the University of Utah.

BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE

Patricia Jones Horton
(Photo Credit: Kinser Studios)
Patricia Jones Horton was named CEO of the Women’s Leadership Institute when it was organized in 2015 to elevate the stature of female leadership in Utah. The organization was formed through the visionary efforts of key business leaders to address Utah’s deficiencies in the presence of women at top levels of corporate and political leadership. She was also co-founder and former president of Dan Jones & Associates, a successful public opinion and market research firm for 35 years, and has served on numerous community and company boards. Pat is an experienced and highly-regarded researcher, specializing in qualitative research, having conducted hundreds of focus groups throughout the country for a variety of industries since 1980. Pat also served in the Utah Legislature for 14 years, first as a member of the Utah House of Representatives and then as a Senator, serving in leadership positions 12 of those years. Pat is married to Professor Joe Horton and has four children and 11 grandchildren.

HEALTH AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Wayne L. Niederhauser
(Photo Credit: MarDel Photography & Design)
Wayne L. Niederhauser was appointed Utah Homelessness Coordinator by Governor Cox in 2021. A former state legislator, he served twelve and a half years in the Utah State Senate, including six years as Senate President. He holds a master's degree in accounting from Utah State University and is a CPA. Prior to his appointment, Wayne owned and operated a successful real estate and housing development company for three decades. As Homelessness Coordinator, he has spearheaded the development of the State Plan to Address Homelessness and successfully secured unprecedented legislative funding for deeply affordable housing and services. His approach to understanding homelessness is deeply rooted in weekly outreach and relationship- building to the unsheltered population with his wife, Melissa. Wayne and Melissa have been married for 43 years. They have five children and two grandchildren.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Randall J Olson, MD
Randall J Olson, MD is the Distinguished Professor and Chair at the University of Utah, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Dr. Olson is a renowned expert in cataract surgery and artificial intraocular lenses used to replace the eye’s natural lens during eye surgeries. He joined the University of Utah in 1979 as a one-person operation in the Department of Surgery. Dedicated to his vision that no person with a blinding condition, eye disease, or visual impairment should be without hope, understanding, and treatment, Dr. Olson worked with generous donors to build the John A. Moran Eye Center. The largest eye care and vision research center in the Mountain West, Moran Eye Center has more than 500 employees, 20 research labs, and 11 locations. Dr. Olson is the longest-serving chair of any academic ophthalmology department in the country and at the University of Utah. In addition to being the CEO of the Moran Eye Center, Dr. Olson is The Cumming Foundation Presidential Endowed Chair.

EDUCATION

Mayor Cherie Wood
(Photo Credit: MarDel Photography & Design)
Mayor Cherie Wood is a trailblazing leader and lifelong resident of South Salt Lake, where she became the city’s first female mayor in 2010. With deep roots in her community and a passion for equity, she launched Promise South Salt Lake, a groundbreaking initiative providing free youth, adult, and family programs that empower more than 3,000 individuals annually. Mayor Wood’s philosophy—“What I wish for my family, I wish for everyone in my community”—guides her relentless commitment to education, safety, health, and prosperity. In the wake of tragedy, she led the creation of the Hser Ner Moo Community Center, catalyzing a movement of resilience and opportunity. Under her leadership, South Salt Lake has become a national model for community stabilization, earning honors like United Way’s “Changemaker” award. Mayor Wood’s vision has redefined civic service—placing people at the center of policy, partnership, and progress.

About The Event

The Pioneers of Progress Awards were instituted in 1995 to recognize service and achievement in modern-day pioneering. These awards honor those who continue Utah’s rich heritage of vision, industry, integrity, sacrifice and courage. Honorees are selected in the following categories:

Science & Technology
Education
Business & Enterprise
Health & Humanitarian Assistance
Sportsmanship & Athletics
Creative Arts & Entertainment
Legacy (posthumous)

Submitting Entries

You have two options for submitting a nomination: (online & paper form - choose one)

NOMINATE ONLINE - Pioneers of Progress Nomination Form.
DOWNLOAD AND PRINT - download and print the nomination form (Word Document).

To submit additional information for this nomination, please email mayre@xmission.com.
If you have questions or would like to attend, please contact:

Margo Ayre
Phone: 801-809-3446
Email: mayre@xmission.com

Eligibility

Any current Utah resident, regardless of age, can be nominated for a Pioneer of Progress Award. Nomination Procedures:

An individual or group may nominate more than one individual for any category.
Individuals may nominate themselves.
Pertinent supplemental information, not to exceed four (4) pages may be attached to the nomination form.
Judges may request additional information from nominees, nominators or nominating organizations.
The judges’ decision is final. Nomination forms, including all supplemental materials, become the property of The Days of ’47 and will not be returned.
Nominees agree to the use of their names and likeness in publicity connected with The Days of ’47 Pioneers of Progress Awards, including videos, press releases and audio reproductions.

Selection Criteria

Nominations are judged on the following criteria

Service—The dedication displayed by the nominee in providing service that betters individuals and communities.
Innovation and Industry—The ways in which the nominee has demonstrated vision and hard work in personal and professional roles.
Achievements—How the nominee has produced results that reflect the spirit of Utah’s pioneers.

As part of the annual celebration of Utah’s pioneer heritage, The Days of ’47 Board of Trustees honors modern-day Utahns who perpetuate a legacy of industry and integrity with Pioneers of Progress awards. These awards honor deserving Utahns whose lives and achievements commemorate such virtuous principles of pioneering as faith, courage, industry, integrity and sacrifice; and whose work benefits present and future generations.

Past Recipients

The Pioneers of Progress Awards are sponsored by The Days of ’47 and were instituted in 1995 in recognition of service and achievements in modern-day pioneering continuing Utah’s pioneer heritage benefiting past, present and future generations.