Ted Olson, longtime chairman of the Intermountain Power Agency Board of Directors, passed away unexpectedly January 23, 2021, at the age of 71. He was first elected to the IPA Board in 1989. Ted served on the Ephraim City Power Board for more than 40 years and was active in other public power organizations, including Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems and the Intermountain Consumer Power Association. In June 2019, he received the American Public Power Association’s Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award, which recognizes elected or appointed local officials for their contributions to public power.
Born in Mesa, Arizona, Ted moved with his parents frequently in his early years, living in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Much of his time was spent in ranger stations in Manti, Monticello, and Ephraim, where he developed a great appreciation for the outdoors by working with his father.
Ted graduated from Manti High School in 1967 and Snow College in 1969, after which he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Taiwan. In 1972, he married Vickie Reid in the Manti Temple and lived in Salt Lake City until completing his education at the University of Utah. In 1976 he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master of Science Degree in Geophysics. He then accepted a position as a member of the faculty at Snow College, where he taught mathematics and physics for 42 years before retiring in 2017.
In addition to serving on the Ephraim City Power Board, Ted also represented local communities on the boards of multiple other public power organizations (ICPA, IPA, and UAMPS), where he was elected to multiple terms as Board Chairman. Among his many passions and interests were seismology, church service, music, and riding ATVs with the “Professor Posse.” Ted also provided local weather information with colorful commentary each morning on radio station KMTI. He dedicated much of his life to the service of others in many capacities—as Scout Master, Elders Quorum President, Bishop, Stake President, and Mormon Miracle Pageant Presidency.
Ted is survived by his wife, Vickie, 6 children, and 22 grandchildren.
