Olene Smith Walker
Governor Olene Walker,
circa 2003-2005
Photo courtesy of Special Collections
Olene Smith was born in Ogden on November 15, 1930 to Thomas Ole and Nina Hadley Smith, the second of five children. She grew up on a farm in Wilson, with educator parents. Olene graduated from Weber High School and attended Weber College from 1949-1950 on a debate scholarship. Although she only attended Weber for a year, Olene was active on campus as a member of the debate team, Otyokwa, and Associated Women Students (A.W.S.). She helped members of the athletic department build the rock wall.
Olene transferred to, and graduated from, Brigham Young University with a double major in political science and secondary education in 1953. She married Myron Walker on March 25, 1954, and graduated with a master of political theory degree from Stanford in 1954. Together they raised seven children. She earned a doctoral degree in education administration from the University of Utah in 1981. She maintained a connection to education throughout her career.
Olene served in the Utah House of Representatives for a district in Salt Lake City from 1981-1989. During her first year as a representative, there were four other women in the House and one woman in the Senate. While in office she was the chair of an appropriation committee, Assistant Majority Whip, and Majority Whip. She wrote and passed the Rainy Day Fund, among other bills. In 1993 she was elected as the first female lieutenant governor in the state of Utah when Mike Leavitt was elected governor. During her tenure she helped pass CHIP, the Children’s Insurance Program, revamped the election process, and created the Department of Workforce Services. Because of her efforts, the Utah Affordable Housing Fund has been named in her honor. She remained lieutenant governor for ten years. When Governor Mike Leavitt was appointed as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in 2003, Olene became the first female governor of the state of Utah. As governor she worked to complete fourteen initiatives, including championing education through the Read with a Child Early Literacy program and tax reform. In 2004 she ran, albeit unsuccessfully, for reelection because “too often, as women, we have failed to step up and take the risk, and so for that reason I determined to run for governor.”
She received an honorary doctorate of humanities from Weber State University in 1997, and the Emeriti Lifetime Achievement award in 2007. In 2012 she developed the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics and Public Service at Weber State University. The institute promotes public service, the civil exchange of ideas in politics and government, and the promotion of civic education for students and citizens across the state of Utah. Of creating the institute Olene said, “The Walker Institute at Weber State University combines two passions of mine: education and politics.”
Olene Smith attended Weber College as a freshman in 1949-1950, on a debate scholarship
Otyokwa social club group portrait, 1949-1950. Olene is in the second row, second from the right
Lieutenant Governor Olene Walker, Myron Walker, and Governor Mike Leavitt at the Colin Powell Volunteer Summit Rally at the state capitol, 1997 Photo courtesy of Special Collections
Olene Walker at a Weber State University event, circa 2005-2012
Olene Walker at the governor’s desk, serving from 2003-2005. She was the first and only woman to date to hold the position in the state of Utah Photo courtesy of Special Collections
Olene Walker with Governor John Huntsman Jr., circa 2005-2009
Lieutenant Governor Olene Walker campaigning with Governor Mike Leavitt at Weber State University, September 2000
Exhibit in the Stewart Library