| Judge Stan Truman at the new court facility in Castle Dale. |
Emery County recently lost a good friend. Judge Stan Truman passed away on June 7. He was the justice court judge for 29 years. Services were held for Judge Truman on June 11 in Huntington. Many tributes were paid at this time.
Truman’s daughter Loretta Nielson spoke at the funeral recalling many wonderful stories about Stan. Stan loved animals, but especially horses and dogs. One particular paint horse named Lady was always stopping in front of her mom Karen’s house during Stan and Karen’s courting days. Stan loved spending summers on the mountain and could sleep through any thunder and lightning storm. During his years in school he had many friends and was active in FFA and played basketball. He loved to hunt. One year during the deer hunt it was storming and people were stuck all over the mountain, but Stan just kept driving. Loretta said her Dad could do just about anything. He enjoyed leather work, tying flies and he could fix anything. He believed that you should do things right the first time.
Stan loved attending sports activities and following the grandkids in their many sporting events over the years and he was proud of all of his family. Stan was there cheering when one of his granddaughters, Nicole, played for a state championship. Stan enjoyed being a member of the Huntington Men’s Glee Club and their performance of the Christmas Cantata and the July 4th patriotic programs were his favorites.
Stan enjoyed the time he spent camping together with his family. Stan very seldom lost his temper. He loved family barbeques where he would tease all of the kids. He enjoyed fishing trips to Strawberry and Lake Powell. Stan would go shopping with the ladies, but he sat on the benches in the mall and watched the people go by and followed his group from store to store, bench by bench.
Stan was always proud of his wife Karen and all of her many accomplishments. He always showed her love and respect. He was a great listener and always there to offer love and support.
Stan was always fair in his professional life as a judge and there were times when people would come back to thank him for the help he was to them in their lives. “Dad loved the gospel. He was always there to give blessings and baptize his grandchildren,” said Loretta. Stan loved to watch western movies with his dog at his feet. Stan was living his dream come true with his horse ranch. He loved raising horses and watching the baby colts.
Also speaking at the funeral was Lynn Cox, longtime friend of Stan and Karen. Lynn said he loved Stan’s sense of humor. He said he first met Stan when he was Chief of Police for Sandy City. At age 26, Stan was the youngest chief of police in the state and Lynn was a rookie cop. Stan was an imposing figure and all the other officers were just a bit afraid of him. Lynn remembered many hunting trips with Stan and how Grandma Truman used to tell Grandpa Truman, (Stan’s parents), that he was too old to go hunting. But, one day Grandpa shot a deer way down in a canyon and it took all day to drag it back out of there. Lynn said he loved working and playing with Stan and mentioned the only sport that he could beat Stan at was golf. Often they would stay after work and play pool in the basement of the sheriff’s department, until the wives figured out where they were and put a stop to it.
He said Stan had a wonderful career in law enforcement. Stan said being in law enforcement was a dream come true where he could carry a gun and be a cowboy.
Lynn told how Stan moved his family from Salt Lake back to Huntington so he and Karen could raise their children in a small town. He described the Truman home as a gathering place for family and friends. They had a group of friends that stayed together and called their club the Breakdowners and Stan’s jeep was always the worst for breaking down just when a camping trip was planned.
Lynn remembered one time how they had to pick up hay on an entire field before they could all head off camping. Lynn described Stan as a real life John Wayne who was a good guy. Stan had a deep affection for John Wayne and met him one time at an American Coal picnic. Lynn said, “I love you as a friend and a brother.” Lynn finished by reading a poem which said, ‘I will hold you in my heart,’ “You are not gone, Stan you will be in our hearts. He was our friend and so long until we meet again,” said Lynn.
Stan’s long time friend Judge Scott Johansen also remembered Stan. He said he was a man he honored and revered. They spent 26 years working together and also spent time together on their horses. Scott said he and Stan shared the same values. Stan was a man of integrity and sometimes had a problem with being too forthright. Stan was honest and direct; he did what was right without caring about what people thought. Without honesty our society would disintegrate into chaos.
Stan judged people with perspective and objectivity in his court. He had the integrity to do the right thing. “It is a privilege to know Stan and Karen,” said Scott. “We must maintain our perspective. Death is a comma, not an exclamation point. Death is an interruption, the door has closed for now, but one day it will be flung open again with rejoicing and we will see Stan again,” said Scott.
Judge Truman will be missed by all those who knew and loved him. Emery County has lost a great public servant who will not soon be replaced.
Judge Truman was buried in the Huntington Cemetery.