S.B. 37 George E. Wahlen Memorial Highway Designation

What this bill does

This bill would officially name a stretch of road in Weber County the George E. Wahlen Memorial Highway. The sponsor says it would make no changes to how the road is operated or funded.

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Every vote

• 4 yes, 0 no, 4 absentSenate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee: vote to approve it · Jan 22, 2026Who voted how
• 25 yes, 0 no, 4 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Feb 2, 2026Who voted how
• 24 yes, 0 no, 5 absentFinal Senate vote · Feb 9, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Jan 22, 2026 Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (10 turns)

  1. Sen. Wayne A. Harper (Chair, presiding)21:35

     Senate Bill 37. We have a handout that's being distributed. We had some nice recognition on this last year. So In the Senate. So, go ahead.

  2. Sen. Calvin R. Musselman21:47

     Um, Mr. Chair, we had actually presented this during interim committee and it was a unanimous vote in interim committee. I, to be honest with you, I don't know the internal structure sometimes as to why things land in committee and why they don't. But this could have been a pass, but it didn't. So we're here again, I'm just looking for you to tell me how much of the presentation you'd like me to reiterate or if you would like to expedite.

  3. Unknown speaker22:14speaker not certain

     Yeah, I think we, we know this, we've heard it. We appreciate his service, so yeah.

  4. Sen. Calvin R. Musselman22:20

     Okay. I'm then, then I'm, I'm at the will of the committee.

  5. Sen. Wayne A. Harper (Chair, presiding)22:24

     Okay. Does that conclude your presentation? It does. Okay. Is there anyone at the public who wishes to address this fine bill or online saying none. Senator Winterton,

  6. Sen. John D. Johnson22:38

     I would recommend that we favorably send this to the Senate floor Senate bill 37.

  7. Sen. Wayne A. Harper (Chair, presiding)22:44

     Okay. Discussion to the motion saying, none. Senator Musselman, for summation,

  8. Sen. Calvin R. Musselman22:50

     I'll Waive. Senator

  9. Sen. Wayne A. Harper (Chair, presiding)22:51

     Wilt or Winterton waive. All in favor of passing out Senate Bill 37 to the floor with a favorable recommendation. Say aye. And you opposed? I'll rule that passage unanimously. Senator Riebe, all in favor? Well, hold on. You are making a motion to adopt the minutes of March 4th, 2020. Okay. All in favor of that motion, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? That passage unanimously. Now, Senator Wind rebi for the other one. Okay. All in favor of the motion to adjourn, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? We stand adjourned. Thank you very much. Okay.

  10. Unknown speaker23:32speaker not certain

      You did it.

• Feb 2, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (11 turns)

  1. Sen. Calvin R. Musselman17:25

     the veterans or, or the military as, as it stands right now. Our VA hospital is named after George Wallen. And in addition to that, our, uh, there's a retirement center in Weber County that deemed after George Wallen. And he is a Weber County, was a Weaver County resident, and of course, um, uh, grew up there and he, and he served in the military in actually three different conflicts. But most particular, um, the reason that many might recognize George Wallen, um, is because of some heroic acts in I yoa. Um, and it was through the, the, the awards that came from that, that, uh, and coupled with his work within the veterans world, especially as it pertains to our, our, um, uh, wounded veterans, um, that those two places were named after him. The issue that was brought to my concern was that even as I say that I recognize who he is and I think a lot of veterans do, but the general public may not know. And to that end to recognize what him as a symbol of maybe the greatest generation, I say I shouldn't have said maybe the greatest generation, um, as a symbol of that. And I recognize there's lots of veterans we could recognize. There's lots of heroic acts, there's a lot of, of individuals that are sacrificed. His sacrifice during World War II in Ima was particularly, um, uh, stands out particularly. Um, it was, it was really something else. Um, and to that end, he was given the Medal of Honor and there's Medal of Honor is a rare, a rare award. And, and, but it's, it's coupling that award with much of what else he did in the community and my desire to often in our, our society, uh, individuals are recognized maybe as heroes that maybe, I don't know, maybe they shouldn't be, um, just because they're celebrities or otherwise, when the true heroes quietly go about their business and make true sacrifices. So with that, there's a stretch of, um, of, uh, of road in, in Northern Weber County or Weber County that runs parallel to I 15 north and south of I 15, um, 1900 west that we're proposing be renamed to or named to the George E. Wall and Memorial Highway. And in so doing, hopefully to bring his name as it already is held in high regard in the veterans community. And if you're involved with the veterans, you'd see that. But to the general public, I should make one note. There is a small park that most people refer to as North Park instead of Georgie Juab Park and Weaver County. But by doing so, his name will be put on in prominence. And hopefully in so doing, we will raise, um, uh, in our minds and our memories, the sacrifice of that greatest generation. With that, I conclude my presentation.

  2. Senate President (presiding)20:42

     Thank you for that presentation. Is there a discussion to this, to this bill? There is none. So Senator Musman back to you for summation or motion.

  3. Sen. Calvin R. Musselman20:55

     Uh, I would move that this SB 37 Georgie Wall Memorial Highway be heard for the third time.

  4. Senate President (presiding)21:01

     And the question is, shall Senate bill 37 be read for a third time? Roll call vote.

  5. Unknown speaker21:06

     Senator Vickers Baldy Lein brammer aye. Bus Aye. Comore Aye. Escamia Fillmore Grover Aye. Grover Aye. Harper Aye. Kins Aye. Ipson Aye. Johnson Aye. Quan McKay Mikel Aye. Milner Aye. Musselman Aye. Owens pitcher Plum Rebe Rebe Sandal Stevenson Stratton Vickers Aye. Weiler Aye. Wilson. Aye. Winterton, president Adams

  6. Senate President (presiding)22:13

     Senate Bill 37, having received 25 yay votes, zero na votes four being absent will be read for a third time. Senator Musselman.

  7. Sen. Calvin R. Musselman22:23

     Thank you Mr. President. I would move that, uh, SB 37 Georgie Wall Memorial Highway. Be heard on the time certain calendar on February 9th at two 30.

  8. Senate President (presiding)22:34

     Okay. The motion is to lift from third in place on time. Certain at which, which day?

  9. Sen. Calvin R. Musselman22:40

     February 9th at two 30

  10. Senate President (presiding)22:43

      For February 9th at 2:30 PM Discussion, that motion saying none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? All rule that passes. The bill is placed on the time certain

  11. Senate President (presiding)23:05

      amendments. Senator Wilson.

• Feb 9, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (4 turns)

  1. Sen. Calvin R. Musselman19:20

     after George Wallen in a memorial status. So, state Route 1 26 in Weber County, which is known to 1900 West of most of the individuals that live locally under this bill, would be named to the George Wallen Memorial Highway. This bill simply adds that honoree designation. There's no operational or funding changes necessarily. Um, but I want to give you a little quick background. I've done this before in committee and on second reading, but I want to reiterate it. George Wallen was a Utah native from Ogden. He was also a Medal of Honor recipient for extraordinary heroism during Yo Jima in World War ii. By way of reference, there's only five medal of, uh, honor members, medal of Honor, uh, recipients in the state of Utah. George Juab was one of them. He last served in Korea and Vietnam, or he later served in Vietnam, uh, Korea and Vietnam then retired as a US Army major. He was a lifelong advocate of Utah veterans, and thus the naming of those of the hospital and the, uh, retirement center. But again, what we were trying to do is, is bring recognition to the rank and file members of especially Weber County and the state for that matter of what true heroism is. And, and sometimes that can be lost, I suppose, if it's designated specifically for things like the VA hospital va veterans like myself, of course, know who he was and know what the name means when I see the VA hospital or the retirement center. But many people don't ever come in contact with the VA Center. They don't ever come in contact with a retirement center. But hopefully they'll maybe, uh, they'll ask the question, who was George Wallen when they see those memorial, um, naming of the highway and in, and not just in celebration of him, but uh, who he represented. And, uh, it wasn't just, uh, uh, the greatest generation, possibly the, I think the greatest generation, but also just, uh, uh, those that have sacrificed. I don't, I don't cry. So you're not seeing me cry sometimes. Uh, things are tender. With that, I'll conclude my presentation.

  2. Senate President (presiding)22:13

     Thank you. Thank you, Senator Musselman. Uh, let's recognize if we can the family. And Blake, if you'll stand up and let, let's recognize the family here. Sorry for that. With that, let's open it up for discussion. Here again, we have, uh, the, the bill in front of us, uh, Senate Bill 37. Do we have discussion of the bill? If not, Senator, I'm gonna go to you for some summation. Let's go ahead And vote. Please call the question Mr. Thank you, Mr. The question is, shall Senate bill 37 pass Roll call vote.

  3. Senate clerk (roll call)22:53

     Senator Vickers Baldie. Lewin Aye. Brammer aye. Bus. Aye. Comore has Camilla Fillmore Grover Aye. Harper Kinins Aye. Ipson Aye. Johnson Quan McKay. Mikel Milner Musselman Owens pitcher Plum Rebi Aye. Sandal Aye. Stevenson Aye. Stratton Aye. Bickers Aye. Weiler Wilson Aye. Winterton Aye. President Adams Aye.

  4. Senate President (presiding)23:47

     Senate Bill 37, having received 24 yay votes, zero nay votes, five being absent, passes this body and will be sent to the house for their consideration. Again, I think we ought to, uh, we recognize the family one more time. As I think as you, you see the Senate coin this year. We see the, uh, the, the Iwo Jima monument in Washington DC and we all honor that, but we, uh, we wonder, we, we wonder what happened those days. But Georgia was actually there as a medic, as I understand. And, uh, and what a, what an honor to have his family here today an honor to recognize you and him and, uh, Senator Musselman. Thank you for allowing us to do that again. Thank you again. And we'd like you to get a coin too. I'll get you one of those. Thanks. Appreciate you being here. Uh, Senator Harper.