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Donated to BYU on July 15, 2001, by Mr. Sterling Colton.
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Hugh Wilkens Colton was born to Sterling Driggs Colton and Nancy Wilkens Colton on 11 January 1901, in a family home on Ashley Creek, Maeser, Vernal, Uintah County, Utah. He died 14 April 1990 (89) at home in Maeser, Vernal, Utah. He was the youngest of ten; his mother was 48 when he was born.
Following a mission to the Eastern States (1920-23, 27 months) he married Marguerite Maughan, on 23 September 1925, in the Salt Lake City Temple. Together they had four children (Sterling Don (donor), Nancy Carol (Bradley), Hugh Maughan, and John Phillip).
He attended Uintah county public schools until he went to Brigham Young high School and graduated in 1920. Following his mission he earned a pre-law degree from the University of Utah (1924-25). He then attended George Washington University Law School from 1925-1928.
His church service includes: missionary, Sunday School Teacher, Young men’s President, Counselor to Bishop, President of Washington D.C. branch, Uintah Stake High Council, and Stake President’s counselor.
His professional career includes: Secretary for the United States Public Building Commission; partner of J. Willard Marriott, to start Hot Shoppes (forerunner to Marriott International); and Uintah County attorney. He practiced law in Vernal, Utah, from 1929 until his death (an expert in grazing, water, and natural resource law). He has a life-long interest in livestock.
He was called to military active duty as commanding officer of company B, 115th Engineer Battalion, a National Guard unit. He became commanding officer of the 1104th Combat Engineer Group and was promoted to the rank of colonel by General Dwight D. Eisenhower soon after the D-Day landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy. He fought in various battles throughout World War II.
He was very active in his community on a local, state, and regional spectrum.