{G Se SE angie ar aie Areas ie Me — Y I Bit Merlon L. Stevenson ks r 7 Carl H. Taylor began college in 1982 35 cents in his pocket, a quest 0 knowledge and a great del 1 determination. Most of his life has bay ao spent in helping others gain an educatiy He started his teaching carer Roosevelt, then came to Ogden where was a coach, English teacher and princi His popularity earned him the hon being namesake for the Carl H. Tay Elementary School in Ogden. He also sen on the Utah State Board of Educationay was majority leader of the Utah He of Representatives for eight ye the opponent. Only those who watched it or wet - involved in it can fully appreciate the play, buti was usually good for 30 or 40 yards, and oftena touch down. = After the last game in the 1932 football seasomg the Salt Lake Tribune carried an article stating Sats olf Ot A.S. Weber Ca B.S. Utah State Univer Four that Weber’s record was unexcelled by any scho in the state, including the senior colleges and @ universities. “ It seems that winning is uppermost in the mij =! 4] of many people, and it was important to Steve, til a: he taught us that there were things far more 9 important than winning a game. One such example was when he taught us to” have faith in ourselves and in Weber College. § Merion L. Stevenson reads the affidavit assigning his life insurance policy as collateral for a loan to keep sports “alive” at WSC. He was a member of the faculty for 42 years. During his tenure he was an instructor and chairman of the department of mathematics and physical science; coach of football, basketball, tennis and track; dean of instruction; and even “acting president" while Henry Aldos Dixon was on leave. Former student, Carl H. Taylor, recalls Merlon's influence, and highlights of his When the school was turned over to the state by) the LDS Church in 1932 a letter came from Commissioner Merrill stating that “athletics, if carried on at all at Weber College, must be mag self-supporting.” life. SS SER IRR RSE NRE RBIS AIOE VRS DEN IIE OU NS SOU NNT IRE SE TG i a RR EN ea RO Yr a mR TRE re, C | Coach Stevenson and G.H. Hurst used theirl insurance policies as collateral to finance somet trips for the team to earn enough money to get by Carl H. Taylor It’s almost a daily occurrence for Steve to receive a telephone call, a letter, or somtimes a visit from a former student or faculty member expressing thanks, affection, or just an up-date on what they are doing. Small tokens of appreciation for the contribution he has made to their lives. As a token of appreciation, I write herein my tribute to Merlon L. “‘Steve’’ Stevenson, teacher, coach, administrator, and most of all friend. Steve was born on a farm in West Weber. He was raised on another farm in Holladay, on the east side of Salt Lake Valley. He attended Granite High School, where he was recognized for both his scholarship and athletic prowess. He graduated in three, instead of the usual four years, and was co-valedictorian of his class. He excelled in basketball, but also played football, baseball, tennis and track. _ He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from University of Utah in 1921, a Master of Arts Degree in Mathematics at the University of California in 1929. When he retired from teaching in 1963 he had done more work than was needed Page 2 for a doctorate degree, but he didn’t receive one athletics on a firm footing. because he changed his field of study from mathematics to administration when he became Dean of Instruction at WSC. Merlon joined the faculty at Weber College in 1921. During the years I was a student he coached One such trip was to the Shriner’s Game in Honolulu. Two games were scheduled along the way to get on the ship in Los Angeles, one will . San Jose State and the other in Santa Barbara, least half the team couldn’t play either game tha football, basketball, tennis and track and taught because they came down with the flu and wee § 1% five classes of mathematics each quarter, too. very ill with high fevers. Merlon taught us love fro: He became Dean of Instruction in 1936 under President Leland H. Creer, and helped pioneer the engineering curriculum and the terminal education and compassion as he stayed up all night seven C nights in a row with the boys, nursing them bay ~~ program into the technical division. It was this Merlon Stevenson was more than a coachof teacher or administrator. Above all, he wasa program that earned Weber College a national reputation. As Dean, he was in charge of curriculum, guidance, and counseling. He was also chairman of the standards committee and the department of physical science. As a coach his cunning way of winning earned him the nickname ‘‘The Fox.” In his seven years of coaching the Weber College Wildcats we won six championship titles. A record which has not been equaled. He was best known in football by players, spectators and opponents alike for a play called “The Stevenson Spread,’ or # 55. He had us lined up clear across the field in single file to ran down to health. frie _ gre builder of men. His desire to instill fair play, honesty, high moral standards and integrity ij his students, together with his desire that we § achieve and become successful, were unsurpasip in my experience. His devotion to duty and his pay = “™ ?™ example of personal conduct have been an abc inspiration to me and to many who have knwiy him. I feel that every athlete who played under Sty was fortunate. Not so much for the victories as: the example he was to us. He guided us, and taught us not only to win or to lose graciously, to be gentlemen at all times. che “F - “7% = *°°