Carol Wennergren Clay

LOGAN, UTAH: First woman to hold an elective office in Logan City Caroline (Carol) Wennergren Clay, age 95, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2015 due to natural causes. She was married to John E. Clay, who passed away in 2007. Carol was the first woman to hold an elective office in Logan City. Twins Caroline Mae (Carol) and Theodore McNeil (Ted) Wennergren were born on March 30, 1920 at the home of their parents, Irene (Izatt) and Dr. Oscar Wennergren, located at 355 North Fourth East, Logan. Both attended the Whittier School for the elementary grades, graduated from Logan High with the Class of 1938, and graduated from Utah State Agricultural College, now Utah State University. Carol served as President of her sorority, Theta Upsilon, and was a delegate to the national convention in Asheville, North Carolina, traveling by train from Ogden. At that time, travel by air was not an option. She was a member of Spurs, a USU service organization. Carol met John E. Clay while attending Utah State. They were married on May 2, 1941 and graduated together in 1942. Carol was employed for a short time as Logan City Secretary before moving to Salt Lake City where John worked, studied, and earned his C.P.A. Four years later they moved back to Logan where John established the first C.P.A. firm in Cache Valley. While raising four children, she returned to USU, and in 1964 received a second degree in social work, graduating as a member of Phi Kappa Phi. Carol and John were inducted into USU’s Old Main Society in 1988. Dedicated to community service, Carol served on the Cache County Mental Health Board and Child Guidance Center. These organizations convinced the County Commission to establish a comprehensive mental health facility. She also served on the Cache County Planned Parenthood Board and helped organize the first county-wide United Fund, serving as its first President and the Executive Director. Carol was a member of the Cache County Women’s Legislative Council and served as president for two bienniums. She served on the Utah State Board of Women’s Legislative Council and attended several Governors’ Conferences as a member of the Council. Carol took an active role in local politics. In January 1973, Carol served on the committee to change Logan City Government from a three-man commission to a council-mayor system. The initial vote failed by a slim margin. However, in 1975 she chaired the committee that ultimately succeeded. She was also an active participant in the successful 1983 initiative to change the three-man commission form of Cache County Government to the county executive- council form. In 1975 Carol was elected to serve on the new Logan City Council, the first woman to hold an elective office in Logan City. Her interest in civic affairs continued throughout her life. While she ran unsuccessfully for other public offices, Carol wrote frequent letters to editors of state and local papers concerning public issues. She was a strong advocate for a single government to serve all of Cache County, believing in cooperation, not competition, to achieve optimal public policy and economic efficiencies for Cache County citizens. In a 1966 ceremony in Park City, Carol was selected by the Utah Chapter of University Women as being one of Utah’s 100 most outstanding women. In 1977, a Herald Journal poll named her as one the most powerful women in Cache County. Carol served on the first USU Women’s Resource Board, and in March 1990 the Board honored her, along with five other women over 65-years of age, “…who have, during their lifetime, used their expertise, energy, and more than a little elbow grease, to improve the quality of life for many here in Cache Valley and beyond.” Carol was a member of the Logan Golf and Country Club for more than 50 years, serving as President of the Ladies Organization. She was an avid golfer and played at Country Club tournaments throughout the state. She enjoyed playing bridge with her host of friends. She loved her family, her Mormon pioneer heritage, and living in Cache Valley. She valued the special business and social relationships that she and John shared with Norma and Junior Miller. Carol is survived by Judy Ann (James) Hammond, Denton, Texas; Nancy (Dan) Tandberg, Albuquerque, New Mexico; retired Air Force Brigadier General John L. (Beverly) Clay, Ogden; and Marianne Lanuti (Ray Shreder), Henderson, Nevada. She has nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband John in 2007; her parents; her brothers Claude (Louise) and Ted; her sister Ruth (Phil) Spencer; a grandson, Ted Lanuti; and son-in-law, Joseph Lanuti. At her request, she will be cremated and a family memorial service will be held at a later date. Her ashes will be placed beside her husband at the Logan City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary.
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