Bio of Jerry Spangler

Family: Spouse: Donna Kemp Spangler. Children: Jessica - 23, Jeanette Spangler Walton - 21, Bryan - 18, Samantha - 15 and Dylan - 13. My children have all grown into wonderful human beings, each different but each dedicated to the principles taught them in their childhood. My oldest child is an enigma, albeit a beautiful one. She is exceptionally bright (how many kids you know can quote all the lyrics to Dylan's entire early catalog) but has struggled in college. She is currently on her second hiatus, working at the Post Office until next winter term. My second oldest was recently married in the Salt Lake Temple, and now lives in Provo where her husband is finishing up prior to grad studies at MIT (something to do with mapping genomes, but it's way above my head). She is in the nursing program at the Y. My middle child is preparing for his mission, managing a restaurant and saving up money. Samantha, 15, is a dream child, straight As, dance club, never distracted by boys (yet) and focused on being the best person she can be. Dylan, my youngest, is gift. He is mentally handicapped and attends a special school. Being around him, you are washed in the most unconditional love imaginable.

I was divorced in the early 1990s and stayed single for many years. Three years ago, I married a co-worker at the Deseret News (I know it sounds like a cliche). She is the love of my life and we spend every day, 24-7, together (we have not spent a night apart since our wedding). The Deseret News even put our desks next to one another, bless 'em. She is not LDS, but one of the most inspiring people I have ever known.

Church: Done just about everything at one time or another. Right now, my children and my marriage (and making it the best I possibly can) are the focus of all my energies.

Education: Graduated with a BA in journalism from BYU in 1980, and an MA in anthropology in 1993.

Work: I am currently the special projects writer for the Deseret News, where I have been employed for the past 23 years. As such, I do a lot of investigative reporting (I also do a lot of political/legislative and environmental reporting but it's not nearly so much fun). Four times, my work has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, but alas, the most coveted prize in journalism has eluded me. The older I get, the less I care about prizes. Maybe wisdom is the greatest prize. During my tenure, I have seen and done things most people cannot even imagine. I have witnessed executions of condemned killers, I interviewed a president (OK, it was only Clinton but still a president), and I have garnered the respect of those outside the faith, as well as the faithful, as someone who reports the truth without fear or favor. And I have traveled the world plying my craft. As the Apostle Paul observed, to some are given certain gifts. I was given the gift of writing, and I thank God daily for that.

As a licensed archaeologist, I am also one of three project directors for an exciting archaeological project in eastern Utah. A colleague, one of the most respected anthropologists in the nation, calls it the most important archaeological discoveries in North America in the past 50 years. It is an honor and pleasure to be involved in the nationally recognized research. Because of this research, I will not be able to attend the reunion (I will be hosting some big-donor VIPS at the field camp), but my thoughts will be with you all. My mission experience and the brotherhood I felt there has rarely been rivaled in subsequent years. As such, it will always remain a treasure I hold dear.

Hobbies: Writing books (new one this fall co-authored with my wife), traveling, hot springs, cooking and long philosophical discussions, preferably over campfires. And Coen brothers movies.

Community Service: Those who live in the Salt Lake area probably have heard me from time to time on radio and television commenting on some particular issue of the day. Sometimes, if the issue is big enough, I am on NPR or some PBS talking-head show. Why anybody would care what I have to say escapes me. But it is kind of a rush to have the governor call me up at home to ask my opinion or someone in the presidential cabinet call me to offer perspective on something I have written. You quickly realize in this business that what you write can and does make a difference by shaping the discussions (or at least influencing the decision makers). I am also actively involved in the preservation of Utah's fast-disappearing cultural heritage.

Comps: Rodarte, Wing, Malone, Beard, Baldi, LeFever and many, many more (my journals were lost in a flood, so apologies to those who did not spring to mind)

Areas Served: Panama City, Nicoya, Managua, Choluteca, Alejuela, San Jose