Eddie P. Mayne Senior Center

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon and members of the Salt Lake County Council have a new name for the Kearns Senior Center.  Its new name is the Eddie P. Mayne Senior Center, in honor of the late Senator Ed Mayne.  Mayor Corroon said, “We rarely dedicate buildings after people, but Ed certainly deserved this honor.”   Senator Mayne, his wife, and his father were instrumental in establishing the center.

His wife, Senator Karen Mayne, said her husband “always felt he had a charge to take care of the people here and make sure their needs were met.”

Read all about it in the Taylorsville/Kearns Journal.

His legacy continues…

The Utah Housing Coalition held its 12th annual Utah Housing Matters Conference October 7 and 8.  The Award Luncheon was dedicated to the late Senator Ed Mayne, who passed away about eleven months ago.  The Utah Housing Coalition’s mission is to strengthen Utah communities through education, advocacy, and cooperative partnerships that preserve and promote an increase in housing that is accessible and affordable.The printed program for the event featured these tributes to Senator Ed Mayne:

 ”Eddie,” as Mayne was known to all who knew him, was a character.  But also a man of character.  Elected as the then-youngest state president of the AFL-CIO in his early 30s, Eddie was a fixture on Capitol Hill long before he won a Senate seat in 1994 from his much-beloved Salt Lake County west side.  A fighter for the “working man and woman,” Eddie, a big man with a big heart, would drive up to the Capitol in a huge, American/union-made car and walk the halls in a swinging motion, talking to everyone. 
Bob Bernick Jr., Deseret Morning News

Since the death of Senator Ed Mayne on Sunday, praise for his accomplishments and his compassion for the less fortunate has been streaming in from friends and colleagues.  But few have as personal a memory for the Democratic lawmaker and labor leader’s big heart as Jennifer Boone.  She was kidnapped and raped 10 years ago when she was 15.  Her assailant was caught nearly five years later trying to kidnap another child.  She picked him out of a lineup and he was convicted of kidnapping her.  But she felt like a victim a second time when she learned that he would not be charged with raping her because the four-year statute of limitations on rape had expired.  She became an advocate for a longer statute of limitations on rape, talking to legislator and state officials, who ignored her–until she contacted Mayne.  “He really cared,” she said this week.  He introduced a bill to extend the statute of limitations to eight years.  When he brought Boone to the Legislature to testify on behalf of the bill, the legislators were so moved that even the fact it was sponsored by a Democrat didn’t deter it from passing.  “It was too late for my case,” she said.  “But he empowered me.  He gave me the closest thing to justice I could get.”
Paul Rolly, Salt Lake Tribune

“The absence of Ed will be a huge void in my life I’m not sure I’ll ever get over,” says Allan Ayoub of the AFL-CIO of Utah.  Ed Mayne’s office is empty, yet still alive with reminders of a life of meetings with presidents, influential leaders and of special honors, but his passion was always the workers of Utah.  Jeff Worthington of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers says, “He wanted a fair wage for everybody, wanted everyone to have health and welfare.”  Ed Mayne was born and raised in Utah.  He married his love Karen and grew his family here.  He was a hard rock miner for 14 years.  At the age of 31, he was the youngest person ever elected to head a state AFL-CIO.  For 30 years, he rallied laborers and helped strengthen unions in a state not friendly to organized labor.  “People began to accept organized labor in a totally different manner,” says Ayoub.
KUTV 2 News

Ed Mayne Stadium

The football stadium at Hunter High School, home of the Wolverines, has been renamed the Ed Mayne Stadium in honor of the late Senator Ed Mayne.  Our current Senator Mayne, Karen, and her family attended the ceremony renaming the stadium.

Senator Karen Mayne said, “As I looked into the bleachers and saw friends and family coming together to celebrate this good man, I know he would have been overcome with appreciation and pride.”

Senator Ed Mayne was a loyal Wolverine fan and was instrumental in securing lighting for the stadium a few years ago.

Honoring Senator Ed Mayne

A special monument in honor of the late Senator Ed Mayne was presented to his wife, Senator Karen Mayne, last month by the Polynesian Youth Group as part of the Samoan Heritage Festival. The monument will have a permanent home at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center. Senator Karen Mayne spoke at the event. For full details, click here to view a recent article published in the West Valley Journal.

A Deserving Father of the Year

by Senator Ross Romero
District 7

Tonight the American Diabetes Association, through its Utah Chapter, will recognize and honor Senator Ed Mayne as a 2008 Father of the Year. While I did not know Senator Mayne as well as many (having served only 2 years with him in the Senate), I was deeply touched by his family’s openness and love which was evident during the funeral services. It was during these services I came to learn more about Senator Mayne, the husband and father. My respect and admiration for Senator Mayne, the father, grew as I heard from his children during the services as I saw how much they cared for him as a father and how well he had helped guide them to where they are. Similarly, having had the opportunity to serve with Senator Karen Mayne, I have come to see and hear in her the strength and support laid by the foundation and service of the late Senator Mayne. It is therefore truly befitting that the American Diabetes Association is recognizing Senator Mayne as a Father of the Year.

As we approach Father’s Day in a little over a week, it is my hope that we will not only honor our fathers but encourage their good health and exercise. The American Diabetes Association’s website www.diabetes.org offers a lot of important information about diabetes prevention and nutritional recommendations. Some of the recommendations include eating fish 2-3 times a week, drinking water and diet drinks, moderating portion sizes, taking the stairs and not the elevator, taking brisk walks, and reading food labels so you can measure what you are eating. Encouraging our father’s to think about their health through exercise and good health may be the best gift you can give and one that will ultimately be more appreciated than the tie that is returned because it was not the “correct size.”

Again, congratulations to the Mayne family for Ed’s recognition, and thank you for supporting him as he served to benefit all of Utah’s families. I would also like to thank the American Diabetes Association not only for its excellent award selection but for reminding us about the importance of good health.

Senator Mayne’s Funeral Services

Below is information about funeral services for Senator Ed Mayne who passed away yesterday. The public is welcome. Please call the Utah State Senate at 801-538-1035 if you have questions. (The “Roast and Toast” banquet for Senator Mayne scheduled for December 4th is still on.)

Visitation/Viewing
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
6:00-8:00 p.m.
UNION LABOR CENTER
2261 South Redwood Road
Salt Lake City

Visitation/Viewing
Thursday, November 29, 2007
6:00-8:00 p.m.
SENATE CHAMBER
State Capitol Complex, West Building, First Floor
Salt Lake City

Funeral
Friday, November 30, 2007
11:00 a.m.
UTAH CULTURAL CELEBRATION CENTER
1355 West 3100 South
West Valley City

End of an Era - The Passing of Senator Ed Mayne

by Senator Mike Dmitrich
Senate Minority Leader

Earlier this year, we reported that Senator Ed Mayne, Assistant Senate Minority Whip, had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Senator Mayne passed away yesterday morning (Sunday, November 25, 2007) at the age of 62, while serving in his fourth Senate term. We express our sincere condolences to his wife Karen, his children and grandchildren, his parents, and all members of his family.

His passing marks the end of the Ed Mayne Era in the Utah Legislature. He fought the good fight for Utah communities his entire life, and in the past several months, he has concurrently fought his own personal battle against a formidable opponent–cancer. We are so sorry the disease has prevailed.

It has been a privilege and honor to serve with Senator Ed Mayne, advocate of working families in both his profession and his public service. He led and inspired all who knew him. Ed was passionate and compassionate, a loyal friend, and a fierce contender, right to the very end. The void created by his passing will never be filled.

“Ed was a champion,” Senator Gene Davis, Senate Minority Whip, remarked. “When Ed spoke, he spoke for and to the working men and women of Utah. He stood up for families be it a working wage, health care, education, or seniors. Senator Mayne championed the common person.”

Senator Ed Mayne’s legacy dictates that we, the Utah Senate Democrats, attempt to continue to carry Ed’s Olympic Torch on behalf of the men, women, and children who reside in the great state of Utah.

Thank you, Paul Rolly, for your endearing tribute to Senator Mayne. Click here to read the article. Click here and then click on the link “View a collection of photos here” to view an outstanding slide show/photo album of Senator Mayne assembled by his son Paul.

More Birthdays

Senator Goodfellow and Senator Mayne had birthdays in August and September. We hope they both celebrated their special day with family and friends doing just exactly what they enjoy most! (Well, second most for Senator Mayne–it’s not duck hunting season yet.)

Doing Well

We reported earlier this year that Senator Ed Mayne is fighting lung cancer. (see prior posts: Health Update, He’s at the Capitol, He’s Up for the Battle, and What Happened To Senator Mayne’s Mane?) Another update on Senator Mayne is found in today’s Tribune article entitled “Survival is Senator’s New Cause” written by Tribune reporter Matt Canham. Pick up a paper or click the link above for the update on Senator Mayne. Included in the article are two terrific photos of this terrific state senator. In one of the photos, he’s catching up on his constituent e-mail and reviewing his schedule while receiving his chemo treatment.

What Happened to Senator Mayne’s Mane?

We reported that Senator Ed Mayne shaved his head at the Taste of Kearns event earlier this month. Senator Mayne has lung cancer and was losing his hair as a result of chemotherapy, so he decided to have a little fun with it.

With the loss of his mane, Senator Mayne joins other members of the Senate Democrat caucus who also happen to be “maneless.” Three plus one equals four. Who are the other three?

This photo was taken last Interim Day in the Senate Chamber. Like Bagley’s “captionless” cartoons, this is a “captionless” photo. Any ideas? Here are a few.

The Bald Eagle Forum
Great Balds of Fire!
And me without a cue stick?
No Do’s is Good News
Capitol Domes of Utah