| Roger Cook played baseball, basketball and football at Carbon High from 1988 to 1990. Cook will be inducted into the College of Eastern Utah Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday. |
At its annual Founder’s Day dinner and awards program slated for Saturday, March 19, College of Eastern Utah will induct two former Carbon County athletes into its Sports Hall of Fame, recognize donors to the college and honor one organization for its service in the community.
A posthumous award inducting him into the hall of fame will be presented to the family of Tom Steele who participated in all sports at the college from 1948 to 1950.
Steele was born and raised in Monticello where he graduated from high school in 1948. He played both baseball and basketball in high school and received a scholarship to play basketball at Carbon College.
While at the college he participated in all sports: track and field, baseball, football and basketball. He excelled in basketball, where his passion was.
At Carbon College he was captain of the basketball team; captured every conference scoring record except one; was named All Conference center in the Intermountain Collegiate Athletic Conference; and received unanimous votes placing him on the all-star team of the southern division.
Steel helped the Golden Eagles win the 1949-50 ICAC southern division championship, a first for both the college and Jackson Jewkes, who coached the team at the time.
Steele’s love of sports stayed with him throughout his working years. He played Amateur Athletic Union ball, served as referee and was active in city leagues, where he played softball and basketball and coached both senior and junior teams. In 1977 Steele was diagnosed with cancer and succumbed to it that December.
The college will also recognize Dr. Roger Alan Cook, who attended Carbon High from 1988 to 1990 and played college football at Dixie State College and Weber State University.
Cook is considered by some to be one of the best athletes to ever come out of Carbon County. He attended Carbon High from 1988 to 1990 where he played baseball, basketball and football. In 1990 he was named First Team All-State in all three sports.
After serving a two-year mission for his church, he attended Dixie College where he was a football star. His leadership skills were recognized as captain of the team.
His skill and talent were recognized when he was selected to the all-conference first team and recognized as 1993 MVP by the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Cook was recruited to play for the Weber State Wildcats and in 1996 was named team captain and Big Sky Conference Division IAA Honorable Mention.
He graduated from Weber State University in 1997 with bachelor’s degree and then attended the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. He is currently an anesthesiology resident at West Virginia University.
College of Eastern Utah will present the Eagle Award to the Carbon County Small Business Alliance at the annual Founder’s Day dinner and awards program.
The Eagle Award is presented to an individual or organization in recognition of outstanding service to the community.
Formed solely by volunteers, the Small Business Alliance exists to promote community development by increasing the economic conditions and profitability of business throughout Carbon County and surrounding communities.
Business owners to be recognized include Tony Basso, Neil Breinholt, Jerry Carlson, Sam Farlaino, Angelo Kiahtipes, Dave O’Brien and Frank Peczuh Jr.
The college will also recognize donors who have completed their pledges to the CEU Gold Circle during 2004.
Members of the Gold Circle include benefactors who have contributed more than a specified amount to the college.
Those receiving the bronze eagle statue sculpted by James Young, professor emeritus, include Jay and Jan Bryner, Helen Garr and TLI Engineering.