Richard Holzworth

Devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, brother, uncle, the “Flood Czar” and family Santa passed away January 29, 2015 at his sons home in Herriman, Utah surrounded by family.
He was born December 8, 1937 in Glendive, Montana to Dick and Doris Holzworth. He met his soulmate Perrylee in 1954, in South Salt Lake City, Utah. They were married on June 21, 1959 after he graduated with a Bachelors of Sciences Degree in Civil Engineering, as a member of Lambda Chi Alpha at the University of Montana.
They moved to Long Beach California and he began working as a Civil Engineering Assistant for the Los Angeles County Engineer Survey Division. In 1960 he was called into service with the United States Army at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Where he was assigned as a Civil Engineering Assistant. In 1962 they returned to California and he resumed his employment with the Los Angeles County Engineer Survey Division. In 1963 he was reassigned to the Waterworks and Utilities Division with Los Angeles County until 1964 when he accepted a
Civil Engineer position with Santa Cruz County Public Works Department. In 1970 he accepted the position of First Staff District Engineer with Salt Lake County Water Conservancy District and moved his now family of six to Utah and settled in West Jordan. In 1979 he was appointed as Director of the Salt Lake County Flood Control and Water Quality Division. He became known as the “Flood Czar” in media circles during the 1983 floods in Salt Lake County, Utah when he turned State Street in downtown Salt Lake City into a river. In 1985 he received the honor of being recognized as one of the top ten Public Works Directors of the Year. Governor Norman Bangerter named June 20, 1985 as Terry Holzworth Appreciation Day. He was named Citizen of the Year for the City of West Jordan in 1984. He served as Director of AWWA from 1988 to 1989. While working for Salt Lake County he was given the opportunity to return to school and study for a Master’s Degree. In 1990 he proudly accepted his Master’s Degree in Public Works Administration as an Honorary Member of Phi Alpha at the University of Utah. From 1991 thru 1992 he was the City Manager in West Jordan, Utah and participated in the ground breaking ceremony for the new City Hall. From 1992 until he retired in 1997 he worked for CUPCA in Orem, Utah. He was also a member of the Rotary Club for many years. Music was a big part of his life. He began playing clarinet in grade school and continued playing through college. He played with the Santa Cruz California Symphony and the West Jordan City Band. He also loved to sing with the Mountain Vista United Methodist Church Choir whenever he had the chance. He was a very spiritual man and very devoted to his Mountain Vista United Methodist Church family. He was a driving force on the Building Committee and very proud of the church he helped to build in West Jordan, Utah. Family vacations were always an adventure. Especially, when he just had to find out where that dirt road went to.
The last suit he wore was his Santa suit. He was known to many as grandpa ho ho and Papa Santa. He touched the hearts and souls of so many and will never truly be gone. He was prededed in death by his father Dick Holzworth, mother Doris Holzworth and baby brother Duane. He is survived by the love of his life wife Perrylee and Children, Kim (Cathy) Holzworth, Karen (John) Anderson, Doug (Laura) Holzworth and Brian (Christie) Holzworth. Grandchildren Kyle (Nicci) Holzworth, Amanda (John) Shepherd, Carissa (Nick) Atwood, Cody Anderson, Shannon (Alex) Haag, Shawn (Elizabeth) Dixon, Joshua Holzworth, Zandra Holzworth, Preston Holzworth, Clark Holzworth and Zach (Brittney) Harner. Fourteen Great Grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Siblings David (Roslyn) Holzworth, Virginia Watts, Pat Martin and Donna Hoffman and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Redwood Memorial Mortuary 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah at 10:30 am. Terry asked that no one wear black or neckties. Please wear bright colors. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The American Cancer Society or The Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Perrylee wishes to thank Pastor Olga Hard and all those who brought meals for our family and helped us through this difficult time. God Bless