The Mt. Nebo Chapterbrof the Sons of Utah Pioneers had the privilege of hearing Douglas T. Snarrbrshare several experiences of his remarkable life during its September meeting.
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The Mt. Nebo Chapterbrof the Sons of Utah Pioneers meet at the Mervyn Sharp Bennion Veteran’s Home inbrPayson. It was the perfect setting for the presentation. Snarr was raised on anbrIdaho farm. He suffered from a speech impediment that presented challengesbrthroughout his life.
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He was a successfulbrboxer in high school, losing only one fight in four years. He was influenced bybrhis boxing coach and received both boxing and life coaching from him.
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Snarr was talented inbrdrawing and art work. As a young man he worked for the best sign painter inbrIdaho and learned from him.
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He started his ownbrsign painting business while still in high school. His sparring partner becamebrhis business partner and spokesperson. Snarr went to Indianapolis for helpbrcuring his stuttering. Through hard work and faith Snarr finally learned tobrcontrol his speech.
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Over time he became abrnational positive thinking speaker, traveling the country with men such as PaulbrHarvey and Norman Vincent Peele.
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Snarr desired to servebra mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was called tobrthe England/Irish mission field. He came home from the mission field morebrconfident and left behind a great deal of his heart and his swinging indexbrfinger. He could talk with confidence and believed in himself.
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After returning homebrSnarr married his high school sweetheart and then proceeded to build hisbrhighway billboard empire and his fortune. He created eye catching signs forbrmany major corporations including Harrah’s Casinos, Phillips Petroleum, Farr’sbrIce Cream and many others.
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He sold the signsbrbased on balsa models and a high standard of business. When President Johnsonbrpushed through the “Highway Beautification Act” Snarr’s business was affectedbras were all outdoor advertising companies.
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Snarr negotiated abrfair price for his signs and for other companies affected. He became a lobbyistbrfor the industry in Washington DC.
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After three long yearsbrSnarr was responsible for legislation that enabled the sign industry and thebrstate and local governments to remove the signs with fair compensation to thebrowners and no lawsuits.
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Snarr was called tobrAlaska as Mission President even though he had not been in any church callingbrother than bishop. He realized that more church buildings were needed in Alaskabrfor the church to grow. He worked with the building committee, a lumber companybrin Seattle, and local congregations to facilitate the construction of 22 newbrchapels in Alaska within three years.
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The design was a newbrconcept that could adjust the size of the building to the size of congregationbrand allow for growth.
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Chapter members werebrenthralled with Snarr’s presentation and could have listened to him for severalbrhours. He presented each chapter member with a CD of his speech “PositivebrThinking Works” which he presented at the 1978 “ATTITUDE RALLY”.
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The Mt. Nebo Chapterbrof SUP meets on the fourth Thursday of each month with their wives for anbrenjoyable catered meal and guest speaker. They also take treks to variousbrhistorical places about twice each year.
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Anyone interested in finding out how to join the SUP shouldbrcontact Dan Howlett at 801-361-0108. (Serve Daily submission by MikebrBowen.)
