Ed Littlefield became financial vice president and treasurer for Utah Construction in April 1951. Marriner's marriage to Sallie gave 1951 a surprise ending, and he had begun the year with another significant move. He invited Ed Littlefield to join a game of golf following the Rose Bowl game on January 2. Over post-game cocktails, Littlefield related, "Marriner tried to persuade me to come into the Company as financial vice president and treasurer, reporting directly to the Board. "My initial reaction was negative. ... I suspect the fact that I did not jump at the opportunity made Marriner all the more convinced that I was the individual the company should have. He went on to prove over the next several weeks that he was not a man who took 'no' for an answer very easily. We spent hours on the telephone, going back and forth over the same ground." Despite promotions at Golden State Dairy, Littlefield had decided to leave. He hoped to purchase a majority share in a business and run it himself. "Marriner argued that I already had a substantial position in the UCC. I had an obligation to help look after this for the benefit of, not only my own family, but the other shareholders." Littlefield agreed to meet with Eccles again in March when the Board of Directors convened, and on that occasion he set two conditions: "The first is that it is very clear what my job is, who reports to me, and to whom I report," Littlefield said. "The second is that I be under no pressure to hire anybody's relatives, and that includes yours as well as mine." Marriner seemed to hear mainly the second condition. "Ed, the condition you set is precisely why I want you in the company right now, so that you can be groomed to take over all of its operations," he replied. Littlefield attended the Board of Directors meeting. "Had I been exposed to a Board meeting earlier, I doubt whether I would have had the courage to come aboard," he commented wryly. "The meeting took two days. Nothing was presented in writing."