No. 803 James Lynn Crane, 2011

File — Box: 74, Folder: 20

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Mr. Crane was born on August 1st in Murray, Utah. His family lived in Herriman, Utah, where he has lived for the majority of his life. Mr. Crane served as mayor of Herriman from June 1999 at the time of the incorporation of Herriman into a city. He served as mayor for just over ten years. Mr. Crane describes his childhood living in Herriman and also spending summers, and eventually his high school years, in Idaho working with a sheep ranching operation in which his father was involved. He was in the army for three years during the 1950s and discusses his experiences. He also served a LDS mission in the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming. He graduated from Brigham Young University and worked in the education field. Mr. Crane provides a history of the founding and early development of Herriman, beginning with Mormon pioneer settlers. His historical account continues to current day, and includes a detailed history of water and water issues in the city. He relates a history of the governance of Herriman, from earlier days when Mormon church leaders were also de facto town leaders, to organization of various water and civic groups that assumed broader leadership roles in the town, to the current day city structure with elected leaders. He gives a detailed accounting of the process of incorporation that includes organizational, financial and structural considerations of establishing a city. Mr. Crane provides information about relationships, both personal and governmental, with individuals, other cities, Salt Lake County, and governmental and quasi-governmental service agencies, along with insight into key networking opportunities and the necessity of such involvement. He talks about the organization of unified fire and police departments that were created during his tenure as mayor and are now serving Salt Lake valley, providing insight into key players and events of those activities.
Project: Mayors oral history project.
Interviewer: Becky B. Llloyd

Dates

2011

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.