17 Facts About Olene Walker

Olene Walker was an American politician who served as the 15th governor of Utah from 2003 to 2005, succeeding the governorship after Mike Leavitt's resignation.

Olene Walker is the shortest serving Governor of Utah, serving for only a year and two months.

Olene Walker received her bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in 1953, her master's from Stanford University, and her doctorate in education administration from the University of Utah.

Olene Walker's began her career in the Utah House of Representatives, including a term as Majority Whip, during which she helped create Utah's Rainy Day Fund.

Olene Walker served in the Utah House from 1981 to 1989.

Olene Walker served as the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Utah for the 10 years prior to becoming governor.

Olene Walker founded the Salt Lake Education Foundation and served as its director.

Olene Walker served as director of the Utah Division of Community Development.

Olene Walker has chaired the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, the Utah State Housing Coordinating Committee, the Governor's Commission on Child Care, and the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors.

Olene Walker served as governor until the end of the term on January 3,2005.

Olene Walker created the Read With a Child Early Literacy Initiative, visited classrooms often to read to children, and vetoed a proposal for vouchers for private schools with the reasoning that the proposal would take funding away from public schools.

Olene Walker signed legislation ending the use of firing squads for execution in Utah and worked to preserve Utah wilderness and to create affordable housing.

Convention delegates defended their choice by claiming that many of the delegates were already pledged to other candidates, because Olene Walker had served only six months as Governor before the party convention.

Olene Walker had waited until two months before the nominating convention to choose to run for re-election, giving her rivals a head start to build their campaigns.

Olene Walker was married to Myron Olene Walker; they had seven children.

Olene Walker died of natural causes on November 28,2015, thirteen days after her 85th birthday.

Olene Walker was one of the first co-chairs of the Utah Debate Commission.