In partnership with Deseret News, we’re proud to honor the following Utah companies that have been in business for over 50 years—paving the way for the future, massively impacting the state’s economy and inspiring businesses across the Intermountain West. Congratulations to the 2021 Legacy Award honorees!
Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle can trace its roots back to 1950 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Don Carlos Edwards and his sons, Ralph and J.R., had a few new ideas unheard of in the food industry. The three of them created fry sauce—which they initially called “‘pink sauce”—because of the pink tint the sauce had after mixing ketchup and mayonnaise with a handful of secret ingredients. After some experimentation, they settled on the fry sauce recipe that Arctic Circle still uses today.
The family created other original recipes, like Arctic Circle’s famous Brown Topper ice cream cone, a soft drink called the Lime Squeeze, and the famous Ranch Burger. The Edwards also debuted meals specifically for children, known as “Kid’s Meals.” These food items have been available at Arctic Circle since it opened and are still available today. Arctic Circle’s operations now span seven states in the west with 70 total storefronts.
O.C. Tanner
O.C. Tanner is the global leader in software and services that improve workplace culture through meaningful employee experiences. Its Culture Cloud employee recognition platform helps people feel appreciated, do their best work and contributes to employee retention. O.C. Tanner drives positive business results by helping millions of people thrive at work.
RC Willey (not pictured)
With a story that’s unparalleled in the home furnishings industry, RC Willey was founded in 1932 by Rufus Call Willey. At the height of the Great Depression, Willey began selling Hotpoint brand appliances to his friends and neighbors. Soon, his side hustle became a full-time business, and Willey’s pickup truck became his showroom. In the early 1950s, Willey built a 20-foot by 30-foot cinder block store next to his home in Syracuse.
After Willey passed away in 1954, his wife Helen enlisted the help of her son-in-law, Bill Child, to run the company. It flourished, and Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Company purchased RC Willey in 1995. With the area’s largest selection of furniture, mattresses, appliances, electronics, and flooring, RC Willey is a convenient one-stop-shop for everything you need for your home. In 2022, the company will celebrate its 90th anniversary of serving customers in Utah and the Intermountain West.
Zions Bank
Scott Anderson, President & CEO | Zions Bank photographed by SpyHop for Utah Business
The day Zions Bank opened for business in Salt Lake City on Oct. 1, 1873, the Deseret News reported: “Zion’s Savings Bank and Trust Company promises to be one of the most important and beneficial institutions ever established in the Territory or in this part of the Union.” Nearly 150 years later, Zions Bank continues to bolster the financial success of families, businesses, and communities throughout the Intermountain West.
Utah’s oldest financial institution, Zions Bank operates 96 full-service branches throughout Utah. Zions Bank also operates 25 branches in Idaho and one in Jackson, Wyoming, as well as nearly 200 ATMs throughout Utah and Idaho. Dedicated to supporting economic development in the communities it serves, Zions Bank is a consistent market leader in US Small Business Administration loans. Zions Bank is a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC.