George Herbert "Herb" Champ

George Herbert "Herb" Champ, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away on May 11th, 2015 at Logan Regional Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.
Herb was born on November 18th, 1924 in Logan, Utah to Frederick Percival and Frances Winton Champ. He attended Logan City Schools and New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico before serving in the infantry during WWII. Despite being ineligible for military service, he volunteered for the infantry. He saw combat during the Battle of the Bulge where he evaded capture after a German advance, permanently suffering frostbite in the process. He later participated in the liberation of Norway.
After the war Herb returned to Logan to attend Utah State University where he earned a degree in Commerce in 1949. Herb remained a lifelong Aggie, always supporting the business school and athletics programs, and remaining a loyal fan of the football and basketball teams. He was a member of the Old Main Society, received USU’s Distinguished Service Award and its College of Business Distinguished Executive Award, and was a Life Member of the USU Partners Program. Several days before his 90th birthday, Herb and Helen were awarded USU’s Spirit of Old Main Award for lifetime dedication to the university.
After graduation from USU, Herb began his career at the Boise, Idaho branch of Champ family-owned Utah Mortgage Loan Corporation ("UMLC"). It was during this time that he met and fell in love with Helen Mae Adams, who he married in 1952. Herb and Helen returned to Logan in 1957. He became company manager two years later and then CEO in 1965. Herb then oversaw the sale of UMLC to First Security Corporation in 1967. Herb had such an established reputation for leadership that First Security was only interested in the sale if Herb would stay on as CEO, a position he held until his retirement in 1983.
Herb was proud of his family heritage and successfully continued its legacy of professional success, charitable giving of talent and money, and great care and respect for all others. Herb knew that UMLC's success relied on its employees and treated them with respect, dignity, and compassion. His former employees love to tell his grandchildren what a great boss he was.
Herb loved serving others, especially by volunteering on the boards of numerous charitable organizations and assisting them to success. Among these he was particularly devoted to the Sunshine Terrace Foundation and St. John's Episcopal Church. Herb was passionate about Sunshine Terrace after his mother spent several years there where she received exceptional care. Herb later served as director of the foundation. St. John’s originally brought the Champ family to Logan, and Herb’s support of the church honored that tradition.
Herb was also a longtime member of the Bluebird Coffee Club, Past President of the Logan Rotary Club, Past President of Logan Golf and Country Club, and a past Master of Harmony Lodge of the Masonic order.
After his retirement Herb devoted himself to his family and community. He traveled with his children, adventuring to all corners of the globe, such as Tibet and the Soviet Union. He also traveled with the USU athletic teams as far as Japan — twice! Herb loved spending time with his five grandchildren, teaching them chess and golf and showing them the wider world with trips to New York and Washington, D.C. He and Helen spent winters in Palm Desert, California where they went out to lunch daily, Herb played golf, and they were visited by their family.
In the last years of his life, Herb loved to go for car rides. The day before he was admitted to the hospital, he went for three. One of his last gestures was seeing one of his drivers and looking at his watch to see if it was time to go for a ride.
Herb was always a pleasure to be around, and everyone loved seeing his big, infectious smile. He was a Cache Valley icon and will be missed by all.
Herb is survived by his wife, Helen; daughter, Tere Champ-Major, husband Rick Major, their children, Charles and Nicholas; and his son, George F. Champ and children Adam, Katie, and Sarah.
He was preceded in death by his sister Mary Champ Nielsen and brother Frederick Winton Champ.
Services will be held on Friday, May 15th. Burial will be at Logan Cemetery at 1:00 PM. A memorial service at St. John’s Church will follow at 2:00 PM. Please join the family for a celebration of Herb’s life at the Champ Fellowship Hall of St. John’s Church from 3:30-6:00 PM. St. John’s is located at 85 E 100 N in Logan.
Herb’s family extends warm thanks to all who cared for Herb at Terrace Grove, the drivers and caretakers with Right At Home, and the excellent care of Dr. Michael J. Stones. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are encouraged to the Sunshine Terrace Foundation, 209 W 300 N, Logan, UT 84321 or the Champ Memorial Fund at St. John’s Church, 85 E 100 N, Logan, UT 84321.