Spencer F. Eccles (1934 - )
Over the past half-century, Spencer Fox Eccles has distinguished himself as one of Utah's most influential key contributors - as a business leader, philanthropist and elite-level alpine competitor.
A native of Ogden, Utah, Eccles first made tracks at Snowbasin Ski Area and later cut a wider swath for the University of Utah Ski Team, as both captain and All-American. On the broader stage, his numerous honors included being first alternate to the U.S. 1958 FIS World Championships Ski Team; placing third in the Canadian National Championship slalom; placing second in the U.S. National slalom and third in the combined, and winning both a silver medal in Aspen's famed Roche Cup slalom and a bronze in the combined.
Eccles' passion for skiing thrived during his banking career as CEO of First Security Corporation and leader of its Wells Fargo merger. His personal time and contagious enthusiasm guided an extraordinary amount of support and funding to numerous ski and Olympic related endeavors. In 2002, the International Olympic Committee awarded him its highest honor, the Pierre de Coubertin Medal, recognizing his exceptional service to the Olympic movement.
He continues as a member of the board of the Utah Sports Commission as well as the USSA and Utah Olympic Legacy Foundations. While numerous well-deserved awards and honors serve as testaments to his community-minded philanthropy, the skiing legacy of Spencer Fox Eccles reflects his unprecedented contributions that have forever enhanced the sport.
