Susie and Dwane Van Hooser moved to Utah in 1978 and immediately fell in love with the great state of Utah and the city of Ogden. Dwane worked for the research branch of the US Forest Service for 38 years, retiring as the manager of the Interior West Resource Inventory and Monitoring Program. Susie was an educator to hundreds of students for over 30 years and still loves seeing her second graders even though most of them have families of their own.
One of many notable things that we should all look up to is their dedication to Ogden and their passion for serving their community. They both joined the Ogden Pioneer Day’s committee in 1979 and have served in a multitude of roles over the years.
Dwane was the chairman of the Ogden Pioneer Days Parade Committee from 1984-1992, Vice Chairman of the Ogden Pioneer Days Committee in 1993 and Chairman from 1994-1995.
Susie founded the Utah Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Union Station featuring art and memorabilia exemplifying the western way of life. Susie also founded this very Hall of Fame in which she and Dwane are being nominated. She continues to serve as an Ogden Pioneer Days committee member today.
They have both served on the Miss Rodeo Ogden and Miss Rodeo Utah committees and have supported the Hospitality Cabin at the Ogden Pioneer Stadium.
They were also honored to be the Grand Marshals of the Ogden Pioneer Days in 2014.
In 2006, Susie was appointed to the Ogden City Council and was elected to the same seat in 2009. She served as the Council Vice Chair in 2010 and had significant involvement in Ogden’s demolition by neglect ordinance and other historic preservation initiatives.
She has been a member or chairperson of many boards in Ogden including: Ogden City Landmarks Commission, Salvation Army Board, Egyptian Theater Foundation Board, Crossroads of the West Advisory Committee, Utah Heritage Foundation and Weber County Heritage Foundation.
As the Vice President of the Egyptian Theater Foundation Board Susie led the restoration of the Egyptian Theater (one of Ogden’s treasures) and as a past President of the Weber County Heritage Foundation was instrumental in the restoration of the lime kiln in Ogden Canyon.
In 1996 Dwane was asked to serve on the Governor’s Sesquicentennial Celebration Coordinating Council, which provided oversight to the activities commemorating the 1847 arrival of the Mormon Pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley.
In 1991, Susie and Dwane received President George H.W. Bush’s “Point of Light” Award for their volunteer activities.
The Van Hooser’s have been married for over 58 years and have three grown children (Randy, Kelly and Courtney) and many grandchildren living in the Ogden area.