Bennion, Ione, 1908-1997

Ione Spencer was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1908. She taught school after graduating from the University of Utah in 1930. In 1937 she married Wayne Bennion, who passed away in 1942. Ione attended graduate school at Stanford University, University of Utah, and University of Washington. In 1945, she became the dean of women at Utah State University, where she met and married T.W. Daniel, a member of the forestry faculty. She was replaced in 1952 under an anti-nepotism law that stated that women could not be teachers or administrators if their husbands were employed by the university. Though she fought fiercely to keep her position, the university stood by their decision, and Ione began work as a teacher for the Logan City School District. For the next 28 years she worked with disadvantaged and disabled students. Her work included the creation of the Young Mothers program, which encouraged teenage mothers to complete their high school diplomas. Ione was politically active on the state and local levels, fighting for the rights of women, minorities, seniors, and others. In 1981 she received Utah State University's Distinguished Service Award.

Ione Spencer was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1908. She taught school after graduating from the University of Utah in 1930. In 1937 she married Wayne Bennion, who passed away in 1942. Ione attended graduate school at Stanford University, University of Utah, and University of Washington. In 1945, she became the dean of women at USU, where she met and married T.W. Daniel, a member of the forestry faculty. She was replaced in 1952 under an anti-nepotism law that stated that women could not be teachers or administrators if their husbands were employed by the university. Though she fought fiercely to keep her position, the university stood by their decision, and Ione began work as a teacher for the Logan City School District. For the next 28 years she worked with disadvantaged and disabled students. Her work included the creation of the Young Mothers program, which encouraged teenage mothers to complete their high school diplomas. Ione was politically active on the state and local levels, fighting for the rights of women, minorities, seniors, and others. In 1981 she received USU's Distinguished Service Award. Her life was a continuous struggle against injustice.

Ione Spencer Bennion was born October 6, 1908 in Salt Lake City, Utah. After graduating from the University of Utah in 1930, she worked as a teacher, and married Wayne Bennion in 1937. Tragically, after only five years of marriage, he died in an accident. Soon after her husband's death, Bennion enrolled in graduate school at Stanford University, later transferring to the University of Utah and the University of Washington. In 1945, she became the Dean of Women at Utah State University, where she met and in 1947 married T.W. Daniels, a member of the forestry faculty. Bennion would later divorce Daniels in the 1970s, but remained close friends. She was replaced as Dean in 1952 because of an anti-nepotism law that stated that women could not be teachers or administrators if their husbands were employed by the university. Though she fought to keep her position the university's board stood by their decision, and Bennion began work as a teacher for the Logan City School District. For the next 28 years she worked with disadvantaged and disabled students; her work included the creation of the Young Mothers program, which encouraged teenage mothers to complete their high school degrees.

Bennion also became very politically active at the state and local level. She fought for women's rights, helped to establish Planned Parenthood in Logan, supported the Women's Legislative Council, participated in the League of Women Voters of Cache County, and advocated on behalf of the ultimately unsuccessful Equal Rights Amendment. In the 1950s and 1960s, Bennion worked with the Utah Committee on Civil Rights to secure the passage of the Utah Voting Rights Act of 1965. She was a strong advocate for the elderly, supporting the RSVP/Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Voluntary Action Program, and serving on the Sunshine Terrace board of directors. Also a strong supporter of Utah State University, she was instrumental in the creation of the Women's Center, served as a volunteer on the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum board, and was inducted into the Old Main Society. She was awarded the university's Distinguished Service Award in 1981. When Bennion passed away on November 22, 1997, at the age of 89, her obituary described her life as a “continuous struggle against injustice.”

Allan M. West was born Oct. 16, 1910 in Portland, Oregon, the son of Ray and Mary Morrell West. He graduated from Logan High School, Logan, Utah and in 1932 received his B.A. degree from the Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University). He later completed graduate work in school administration at Utah State Agricultural College, the University of Utah, and the University of Chicago. On Dec. 2, 1932 he married Ferne Page, and they later had two sons: A. West and Johnathon P. West.

Allan M. West was Director of Research for the Utah Education Association from 1942-46. In 1946 he was made Executive Secretary of the same organization and served in that position for 16 years. He was also the editor of the Utah Educational Review from 1943 to 1961. West joined the staff of the National Education Association in 1961 as the Associate Director of the Membership Division. He assumed several different offices in the following years, including Associate, Deputy, and Acting Executive Secretary of the Association. West was affiliated with UEA and the American Association of School Administrations as well as being a life member of the National Education Association. Mr. West was an early proponent of formal negotiation rights for teachers and authored many articles and publications on the subject. He was also involved in the merger of racially separate affiliates of the NEA in the South.

Ione Spencer Bennion was born October 6, 1908 in Salt Lake City, Utah. After graduating from the University of Utah in 1930, she worked as a teacher, and soon married Wayne Bennion in 1937. Tragically, after only five years of marriage, Wayne died when a stack of boxes fell on him and inflicted fatal internal injuries. Soon after her husband's death, Ione enrolled in graduate school at Stanford University, later transferring to the University of Utah and the University of Washington. In 1945, she became the dean of women at Utah State University, where she met and married T.W. Daniel, a member of the forestry faculty, in 1947. She was replaced in 1952 because of an anti-nepotism law that stated that women could not be teachers or administrators if their husbands were employed by the university. Though she fought fiercely to keep her position, the university?s board stood by their decision, and Ione began work as a teacher for the Logan City School District. For the next 28 years she worked with disadvantaged and disabled students; her work included the creation of the Young Mothers program, which encouraged teenage mothers to complete their high school degrees.

Ione also became very politically active on the state and local level. She fought for women?s rights, helping to establish Planned Parenthood in Logan, supporting the Women?s Legislative Council, participating in the League of Women Voters of Cache County, and advocating for the ultimately unsuccessful Equal Rights Amendment. In the 1950s and 1960s, Ione worked with the Utah Committee on Civil Rights to secure the passage of the Utah Voting Rights Act of 1965. She was a strong advocate for the elderly, supporting the RSVP/Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Voluntary Action Program, and serving on the Sunshine Terrace board of directors. Also a strong supporter of Utah State University, Ione was instrumental in the creation of the Women?s Center, served as a volunteer on the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum board, and was inducted into the Old Main Society. She was awarded the university?s Distinguished Service Award in 1981. When Ione passed away on November 22, 1997, at the age of 89, her obituary described her life as a "continuous struggle against injustice."

Source: Obituary, Logan Herald Journal, Logan, Utah. November 24, 1997.