WALL OF FAME

Wall of Fame nominees will have made an “extra effort” through the contribution of time, talent and financial support in professional and personal endeavors to enhance quality of life in Weber County.

The Wall of Fame is a forum to honor those who have given back to the local community, versus honoring those who have brought acclaim to the area through contribution to the arts, medicine, politics, etc. It is not necessary to honor the recipient’s spouse unless the spouse has also participated in making significant contributions.

Nolan Karras

Nolan Karras is one of 5 boys raised by Orlen and Afton Karras in Roy.  He has been married to his beautiful wife Lynda Purrington for 56 years; they have three children each of whom married a wonderful spouse and provided them with 13 gifted grandchildren and 4 special great grandchildren. 

Nolan graduated from Weber High, received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Weber State and an MBA from the University of Utah. 

After graduation, he went to work with a major international CPA firm, earning his CPA designation and maintaining that designation for 50 years.  After several years in public accounting, Nolan worked for 4 years for the Jack B. Parson Companies as their chief financial officer and then started his own investment advisory business where he continues to be involved today.  His career included the opportunity to serve on the Boards of Merit Medical, Utah Power, PacifiCorp, Scottish Power (Glasgow, Scotland), Beneficial Life, and American General bank.

Nolan served in the US Army Reserve for 6 years.   

He has served his Church as a Bishop and Stake President.  For the past 9 years, he and Lynda have served as Specialists supervising JustServe.org in Northern Utah.  JustServe is a community service initiative where the entire community can find voluntary opportunities to assist those in need and enhance the quality of life in the community.

Nolan was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 1980 where he served as Majority Leader and Speaker of the House.  He sponsored the legislation which funded the building of the Olympic facilities and the enabling legislation to host the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.  As Speaker he helped guide the legislation that made Weber State a university. 

He served as the Chair of the Utah State Building Board for 5 years. 

He was appointed to the State Board of Regents where he served for 12 years, 4 of which he was Chair of the Board.  He then served for 8 years as a Weber State University Trustee where he also served as Chair.   He was the Chair of the Richard Richards Institute and Chair of the Olene Walker Institute at Weber State. 

Nolan served on the Board of Trustees and Management Committee for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games where he served as Chair of the Finance Committee. Currently, he is a member of the Governing Board and is vice-Chair of the Finance/Audit Committee for the Salt Lake Bid Committee for the 2034 games.  

He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Dixie State College and the College of Eastern Utah.

For the past 12 years he has served as a director of a Political Action Committee known as Education First which supports public and higher education issues in Utah.  He also currently serves on the Board of the Success in Education Foundation.  He is a member of the Education Committee for Envision Utah.

He previously served as Chair of the Carmen Pingree Center for Autism, the University of Utah Hospital Board and was a member of the Maliheh Clinic Free Clinic Board.

For the past 9 years, Nolan has served on the board of Family Promise of Ogden which hosts families experiencing homelessness.  He served as Board Chair and currently serves as the Chair of the Capital campaign.