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In Memory

Robert Harding - Class of 1913

Five year-old “Robbie” and friend stepped aboard his handmade raft and enjoyed a ride on the river near his home. Luckily, a man on a bridge spotted and rescued the novice sailors just before they were carried into the open sea. Inquisitiveness was a built-in trait of Robert George Harding’s. Because of it, he became a problem-solver extraordinaire.

Born in Waipawa, New Zealand to English pioneers George William Harding and Catherine Ada Cavanaugh Aug. 30, 1895. Following the death of his beloved mother, Robbie and siblings Emma, Bill, and Charles, were shipped to Utah to be raised by missionaries their parents had adored. Suspected of being Mormon recruits, the children were denied disembarking in San Francisco until Church authorities pled their case. Younger sister Kate and father came to U.S. later.

He lived with the Charles Stephens family in Idaho where he tested out of 8th grade, played high school basketball, and gave the welcome speech at his graduation from Montpelier High. Serving in the Army in WWI, he was valued as a trainer, marksman, and leader. Living by his motto, “Do all for one's self before bothering the Lord” RGH supported himself through college, graduating from U of U in 1920. He worked as a surveyor in Uintas and was a member of the army reserves.

He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Imogene Winters. Their first baby died, Their second child was Robert S. Harding, Their third son was buried in the arms of his mother who died at the birth.

He met and married Kathleen Bridger-Brooks Harding in Butte, Montana. They had five children--Elaine, Dona, Frank, Lynda, and Doug. The family lived in home built by RGH. The farm and orchards were dubbed “Sunny Brook Farm,” were located in east Bountiful, Utah and provided the setting where a strong, loving family worked, played, and progressed together.

His other loves were good books, camping, writing, learning, geology, travel, Native Americans, genealogy, golf, and archeology. Bob Harding loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a gospel teacher, Elders quorum president, building chairman, and boy scout leader. He touched many lives with his bold testimony. He served in the church welfare program where he investigated new methods of growing and preserving food during the great depression. He fulfilled a prophecy by Elder Robert L. Simpson by engineering water systems for 30 cities in UT, ID, and WY. An avid explorer of the Book of Mormon, he authored the book "Gadianton Robbers".

He was a field engineer; town planner; and sewage treatment designer for Paris City, ID. He also served as Bear Lake County Engineer and was employed by the Utah Copper Co. Anaconda where he “succeeded in solving problem … increased tonnage by 30% and “designed a new furnace.” He was also employed by the Mesabi Iron Co. and Ray (later known as the Kennecott) Copper Co. Employed by a contractor on the Hoover Dam; he was “Chief Engineer in supervising all manufacturing building, powder magazines, roads, railroad spurs, utilities, power plant, water piping, sewers, telephones and electric distribution lines.” He served as President of American Civil Engineering and other societies; SLC Consulting Engineer; self-employed; Geneva Steel; Industrial Uranium Co.; Moonlight Mine V.P. At age 66 Robert G. Harding received an Honorary Professional Degree of Engineering from U of U. This is a partial list of his accomplishments. Like the “Old Sentinel” tree which overlooked Bear Lake, Bob Harding was physically stricken time and again. After losing the use of his right hand due to a stroke, RGH harvested the wood from the crumpled Old Sentinel which he had watched for years. Using that wood he crafted a mantel and picture frame. Inside the frame he placed a picture of the tree from which the frame was made, perhaps symbolizing that his own legacy, as well as that of the tree, stands for goodness, integrity, and spiritual strength for his posterity. The mantel, frame and photo stand today at the Bear Lake cabin (Harding’s Haven) he helped build for his family.

He died October 13, 1972 and was buried in the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park in Salt Lake City.