Jim Matheson: “with the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games just a few days away, today the Olympic torch will pass through Parowan…”

“with the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games just a few days away, today the Olympic torch will pass through Parowan, Utah. Parowan is the hometown of Alma Richards, Utah's first Olympic gold medalist. When it passes through that southern Utah town, it will be held by one of Parowan's greatest daughters, my great aunt, 93-year-old Carol Wright. Aunt Carol has lived in Parowan her whole life and is the second cousin of Alma Richards, the 1912 gold medalist in the high jump. She made a career in the banking industry and today holds a place of honor as the one selected to run the torch to Alma Richards' home. The torch will stop at his home for 2 minutes as the community holds a ceremony honoring Alma, Aunt Carol and the Olympic spirit. Parowan is a small town. In small towns everybody knows everybody. Aunt Carol was chosen to run the torch not only because of her relation to Utah's first Olympic gold medalist, but also because she is well respected and, indeed, beloved in her community. So I am proud of my aunt and proud of Parowan, the place where my Utah roots began, a city with a long tradition of Olympic spirit, and I am very grateful for this honor. I ask that the Members of the House of Representatives join me today in honoring Carol Wright and the city of Parowan as the Olympic torch passes through that city.”