Citizen of the Year
David O. Cook
David O. Cook was born in 1950 to Vernon O. and Ila Clyde Cook. He grew up in Springville until age 15, when his family moved to Salt Lake City. He attended Grant Elementary, Springville Junior High and Highland High School in Salt Lake City. He is married to Rebecca (Becky) Inman of Salt Lake City and they have six children, 25 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
They moved to Hawaii to attend Church College of Hawaii (BYU-Hawaii), and Dave graduated from BYU-Hawaii with degrees in accounting and business administration. By professional designation, he is a CPA, and he has worked in the management of various businesses. He was president of Utah Service, vice president of Sunroc Corporation and vice president of administrative and corporate communications at Clyde Companies. He is now retired.
He has been active in the community and held various volunteer positions, including president of the Springville Volunteer Ambulance Association, treasurer and president of the Springville Museum of Art, financial director of the Springville World Folkfest, member and chair of the Springville Arts Commission, and precinct chair and audit committee member of the UCRP. He served in the Boy Scouts of America as a scoutmaster, a varsity coach, an Explorer advisor, chair of the BSA Hobble Creek District, the Scouting America’s chair of the Silver Sage District and as property management chair for the Utah National Parks Council. He has served as president of the Springville Kiwanis Club and is a member of the Springville Planning Committee.
He is active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served two full-time missions with his companion as area auditors for the Europe East Area, assigned to the Russia Moscow Mission, and in the Utah Provo Mission as member leader support and assistants to the president for senior missionaries. He completed a three-year service mission in the Church Auditing Department in Salt Lake City. He has served as a youth advisor, an Elders Quorum president and counselor, a stake Young Men president, a high counselor, a bishop’s counselor and a bishop. He is currently a Valiant activities leader and a Provo City Center Temple ordinance worker.
David’s first love is hanging out and traveling with his family. When he can’t be with his family, he is involved in genetic genealogy and family history and research. He loves to be outdoors hiking. In 2016, he joined his brother and hiked to Mount Everest Base Camp. He trained for the hike by exploring the mountains around Springville, which he has enjoyed doing since early childhood.
He expressed his love and gratitude to his companion, friend and spouse, Becky. She has been his editor in chief and has joined him in numerous activities with family and community. She has always encouraged and supported him in his business and community activities.