R.J. Snow. In Memoriam Utah

Friends and colleagues hailed the life of former Brigham Young University and University of Utah vice president R.J. Snow, who died Tuesday night in a car accident near his Provo home.

Reuben Joseph Snow was 68 and preparing to teach his final term as a political science professor this summer before retiring. He held critical positions responsible for sports and student life and played a major role in the political science departments at BYU and the U. Since 2005, Snow had been a member of the Board of Trustees at Dixie State College, where he was a former student.
"Three Utah institutions of higher learning are mourning a great leader," BYU President Cecil Samuelson said. "R.J. changed the lives of generations of students, both in the classroom and through his thoughtful decisions as an administrator . . . He has been a personal friend and colleague for over 30 years with whom I was privileged to serve in both the church and the academy."

Tributes have been numerous and well deserved.

From Wayne Holland, Jr., Utah Democratic Party Chairman:

It is with enormous sadness that Democrats across the state of Utah mark the passing of R.J. Snow. R.J. was a state treasure. His thoughtful eloquence on any issue was always a source of inspiration to any person whose life touched his. As a former director of the Hinckley Institute at the University of Utah, and in his many years as a professor, and with his work in The Church, R.J. had the unique ability to make contact and have a positive effect on the lives of his students, his missionaries, and his colleagues. He had an indefinable quality that encouraged both friends and acquaintances to higher and higher levels of achievement. R.J. Snow will be sincerely missed.

From Professor Richard Davis of BYU:

RJ Snow was one of the friendliest, most accepting people I have known. He was the embodiment of civility and graciousness. But he was also endowed with a deep commitment to public service. I have known RJ for the past ten years or so, but we acquired a friendship in the last couple of years as we served on committees together and talked frequently about the state of politics in Utah. I will miss his warm smile, hearty laugh, and keen intellect. RJ was a credit to his church, BYU, the state of Utah, and the field of political science. He was also a Utah Democrat who loved his party and wanted to see it return to the status it once held among the Utah electorate. He was approached to run for Congress last year but declined due to his health. Had he run, he would have been the type of candidate Utah Democrats would have been proud of. Had he won, he would have been a model member of Congress. He decried the bitter partisanship that exists in Congress now. He spoke of his experience with a different type of Congress - one where partisanship did not preclude friendship and bipartisanship was common. He would have helped return Congress to a place of political civility. He counted among his friends both Democrats and Republicans. All who knew him will miss him dearly.

Leo Brown | June 12, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: R.J. Snow. In Memoriam Utah

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