Obert C. Tanner
O.C. Tanner | |
---|---|
Born | Farmington, Utah, US | September 20, 1904
Died | October 14, 1993 | (aged 89)
Resting place | Farmington City Cemetery, Farmington, Utah |
Education | University of Utah Stanford University |
Occupation(s) | Founder, O.C. Tanner Co. |
Spouse | Grace |
Obert Clark Tanner (September 20, 1904 – October 14, 1993) was a University of Utah professor of philosophy, philanthropist, and founder of O.C. Tanner Co.[1]
Early life and education
Tanner was born in
Annie struggled to survive financially, and O.C. felt a responsibility to contribute financially from an early age, doing odd jobs that included stoking furnaces at the university to pay his tuition. One of the persons whose fires he maintained showed him how to enter the jewellery business, and he started selling seminary graduation pins and class rings from the back of his car. He founded the O.C. Tanner Co. in 1927, while he was still an undergraduate —a company that is now one of the largest manufacturers of retail and corporate awards in the U.S. He married Grace Adams in 1931.
He completed his B. A. degree in 1929 at the University of Utah, his L.L.B., also from the University of Utah in 1936, his M.A. from Stanford University in 1937, and his J.D. degree from the University of Utah in 1967. He has received numerous honorary degrees from Utah universities and colleges. The family foundation endowed the University of Utah Obert C. and Grace A. Tanner Humanities Center.
Tanner took an interest in
Professional career, awards and philanthropy
In 1927 he founded O.C. Tanner Co. by selling class rings and pins to graduates. A company that specializes in employee recognition and compensation services, they have offices in the US, Canada, and the UK.[2]
Before his appointment as professor of philosophy, he was an instructor in Religious Studies at Stanford University from 1939 to 1944. He was the author or co-author of 10 books, including New Testament Studies, The New Testament Speaks, Christ’s Ideals for Living, and co-author of Toward Understanding the New Testament. His autobiography One Man's Journey: In Search of Freedom, discusses his views about his commitment to learning and freedom.[3]
Tanner was a recipient of the
Tanner contributed enormously to Utah's cultural community, chairing the commission that planned the construction of Abravanel Hall, the Utah Art Center, and the restoration of the Salt Lake Capitol Theatre. He also served on the Utah American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, the Utah Symphony Board, and the White House Conference on Children and Youth.
Tanner collaborated with his friend
Art – beauty should be an everyday experience of all people...beauty is found in music.
— Obert C. Tanner, [6]
Tanner was also an honorary fellow of
Personal
He died in Palm Springs, California; and was buried at the Farmington City Cemetery.
His daughter, the Rt Rev'd Carolyn Tanner Irish, converted to Anglicanism and was the 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah. Although she was baptised and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), Carolyn's Mormon baptism was recognised by The Episcopal Church, and in 1983 she was ordained as a Deacon, and then a Priest.[8]
References
- ^ "O.C. Tanner Co". hoovers.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ "O.C. Tanner Co". Hoover.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- OCLC 30473917
- ^ Lythgoe, Dennis (August 9, 1988). "O. C. Tanner Prominent Utahn Receives National Medal of Arts for Beautifying World". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
- ^ Spangler, Jerry (October 15, 1993). "VALUES, BEAUTY SHAPED O.C. TANNER'S LIFE". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
- ^ Stowe, Dorothy (September 11, 1983). "Tanners offer a gift of music, endow new tradition". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "Linacre College | Development | Named Areas of College". Archived from the original on December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
- ^ "Bishop Irish comes full circle". DeseretNews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
Sources
External links
- O. C. Tanner Co. Web site
- O. C. Tanner Co. India Web site
- Tanner Humanities Center Web site
- Tanner Lecture Series
- Text of Tanner's book Toward Understanding the New Testament