| Thomas “J” Hilton |
| Loretta Abeyta Jewkes |
| Clyde F. Marx |
College of Eastern Utah will recognize four former students with a Distinguished Alumni Award at the annual Founder’s Day dinner on Saturday, March 19.
The college will present a posthumous award to the family of Thomas “J” Hilton, who was born and raised in Carbon County. Hilton attended school in Castle Gate and graduated from Carbon High School in 1949 and Carbon College in 1951.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955 during the Korean Conflict aboard the USS Edmonds. In 1960, he graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
Hilton is recognized for his many innovative and sometimes “classified” mechanical and electrical engineering feats.
His resume includes assisting in the discovery the of an early Roman shipwreck near Tunisia referred to as Isis, assisting in the discovery of the German Battleship Bismark, assisting in the discovery and exploration of the RMS Titantic and assisting in the exploration of the nuclear submarine, the USS Scorpion.
He retired as President and CEO of Colmek Systems Engineering in 2001.
Hilton married Marilyn Allred of Sunnyside. Both valued their years growing up in Carbon County. They have five children and 13 grandchildren.
Loretta Abeyta Jewkes grew up in East Carbon, graduated from Carbon High in 1956 and Carbon College in 1958.
After establishing a home and family, she returned to school at the University of Utah, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1976 and a master’s degree in educational administration in 1989.
Jewkes is recognized for her excellence in education. She served most recently in administrative positions and was a dedicated classroom teacher.
Her resume shows a special emphasis in working with student minority groups; junior high and high school dropouts; high risk students; and tobacco, alcohol, drug prevention classes for teens.
She served in a variety of administrative roles including assistant principal at Churchill Junior High School from 1993 to 1997, Principal of West Kearns Elementary School from 1997 to 2001 and Prevention Specialist for Granite School District and Utah State Health Department from 2002 to 2004.
She and her husband, Tom, are the parents of three children and have three grandchildren. She is now retired and lives in Washington.
Clyde F. Marx is a native of Carbon County who graduated from Carbon High in 1957 and Carbon College in 1959. He earned bachelor’s degrees from Brigham Young University and the Illinois College of Optometry where he completed his education with a doctor of optometry degree.
The College of Eastern Utah recognizes Marx for his ongoing commitment to the college through recruitment of students and for outstanding leadership in his community and profession.
He served as president of the Utah Optometric Association for three different terms and served on the board of directors of the American Optometric Association from 1979 to 1981.
Marx received awards for Optometrist of the Year in 1978, Meritorious Service Award in 1976 and Presidents Award 1986. He is active in the Layton Rotary Club and served as president from 1977 to 1978 and 1994 to 1995.
His charitable activities include chair for United Way, Cancer Drive and Heart Drive. He also served in the Lake Bonneville Council of the Boys Scouts of America.
He and his wife, Dorothy, reside in Kaysville and have four children and 16 grandchildren.
Fern Tollis Wilkerson is a native of Carbon County and graduated from Carbon High in 1957. She returned to the College of Eastern Utah in 1969, graduating with honors in 1971.
She then went on to graduate magna cum laude from Utah State University with a bachelor’s degree in 1972 and a master’s in education in 1978. She has also completed courses toward a doctorate at Brigham Young University.
Wilkerson was selected for recognition for her excellence in education, an honor which is not her first. She has been named Utah Association of Elementary School Principals Innovator of the Year; Utah Rural School Elementary Principal of the Year, Carbon County Woman of the Year and Carbon County Teacher of the Year.
She has served on numerous advisory boards for education and community organizations. From 2001 to 2002, she was Director of Utah Principals Academy and is currently principal at Backman Elementary in Salt Lake City.
Wilkerson also taught in elementary schools in Carbon County from 1972 to 1978 and was principal at Petersen Elementary, Durrant Elementary and Castle Heights Elementary from 1978 to 1995.
She was an administrator in the Carbon School District from 1995 to 1997 and principal at Grand County High School from 1997 to 2001.
Wilkerson is the mother of four children and has eight grandchildren.