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Jerry
Glenn, a member of the BYU-Idaho department of religious education, will
receive the Idaho State Historical Society’s Esto
Perpetua Award Oct. 24 in Boise.
The
award, named for the state motto that translates in English to “let
it be perpetual” has been given since 1999 to honor individuals and
organizations whose professional accomplishments, public service,
volunteerism and philanthropy helps preserve Idaho’s heritage.
“Each
of this year’s winners reflect truly
outstanding accomplishments in preserving Idaho’s
heritage,” said Steve Guerber, Executive
Director of the Society. “They represent a geographical balance
illustrating the widespread care that Idahoans share about our historical
preservation.”
Glenn,
who met his wife when they were students at Ricks
College, has been employed at
the institution since 1968. He originally worked in the library as a
special collections librarian and archivist for nearly 15 years and then
joined the religion department, where he has taught primarily family history
and Church history courses, in 1985.
He
has been a member of the Idaho State Historical Society and is currently a
member of the Mormon History Association. Additionally, he helped found the
Idaho Museums Association, over which he was presided for two years. He
also served as the president of the Idaho Library Association, president of
the Upper Snake River Valley Historical Society, president of the local
chapter of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers and on the Madison Library
District Board. He received the Idaho Humanities Council’s highest
award and was honored by the Association of State and Local History, a
national organization.
He
has helped microfilm newspapers all over southeastern Idaho,
worked on an oral history project and on the bicentennial committee. He has
traveled throughout southeastern Idaho
and parts of Wyoming for over
30 years giving historical speeches.
Glenn,
who was nominated by Paul Wright, a machinist/welder at BYU-Idaho and the
current president of the Upper Snake River Valley Historical Society, feels
the preservation of history is vital.
“I’ve been busy,”
Glenn admits. “But if we don’t preserve the past, how is the
future ever going to know what we had? It’s important to preserve the
past to better understand the present and future.”
He
also feels that community service is a duty. Every year in his almost 35
years at the university, he has held some position in public service,
whether it is “to rally the troops” or “work in the
trenches.”
“I
very much believe in what President J. Reuben Clarke said: ‘It
matters not where you serve but how,’ ” Glenn said. “I
hope that over those years I have helped build some bridges of friendship
toward both the Church and school across this state by serving on some of
the organizations that I did. Most of all I am happy that I could give back
to this community, state and even this nation. I would gladly to it all
over again.”
Glenn
plans to retire in December and teach part-time at BYU-Hawaii in the
religion department beginning in January.
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