USPS Book of the Year
Utah State Poetry Society Annual Book Award
In 1965 Nicholas Morgan and Paul Pehrson initiated a revolving fund to publish a book by the poet whom the Utah State Poetry Society, following a statewide contest, designated Utah Poet of the Year. Under the loving and artistic direction of Kathryn Kay the venture flourished and gained status as a prestigious annual publication. As production costs increased for this limited edition hardback printing, the USPS, assisted by the Utah Arts Council, supplemented the fund. Others have devoted time, talents and materials to sustain the dream. In 1985, Pearle M. Olsen, made a generous monetary donation. Subsequently, the Olsen family has made further contributions to ensure continuation of this unique publication.
2008 Helen Keith Beaman Edges Disappear
2007 Ned Colwell Snell Hand Me My Shadow
2006 Sue Ranglack Shouting From the Book of Orange
2005 T Kevin Clark Song of an Oquirrh Son
2004 Maurine Haltiner A Season and a Time
2003 Judy Johns If I Could Speak in Silk
2002 **Evelyn Hughes Furnace of Affliction
2001 Rita Bowles God in Assorted Boxes
2000 Kolette Montague Easing Into Light
1999 Marilyn Bushman-Carlton Cheat Grass
1998 Mikal Lofgren Trudi Smiles Back
1997 Marilyn Darley Williams The Red Rooster Cafe
1996 Nancy Hanks Baird The Shell In Silk
1995 Elaine L. Ipson Where Ghosts Are Garrisoned
1994 Muriel Heal Bywater Stretching Toward Wild Swans
1993 Margaret Pettis Chokecherry Rain
1992 Brad Roghaar Unraveling The Knot
1991 Robert Frederickson Being There
1990 Elaine Christensen At The Edges
1989 **Maryan Paxton Downwind Toward Night
1988 **Sherwin W. Howard Sometime Voices
1987 Kathryn Clement Riddlestone
1986 Dorothy Logan, Child In A Sculptured Bowl
1985 Patricia S. Grimm Timepiece
1984 Joyce Ellen Davis In Willy’s House
1983 **Bonnie H. Behunin Wake The Unicorn
1982 LaVon M. Carroll The Shrouded Carousel
1981 Frank M. DeCaria Songs Within The Sounds
1980 **LaVerde M. Clayson Furrows Of Renewal
1978 **Pearle M. Olsen Frame The Laced Moments
1977 Clarence P. Socwell Intrinsic Tapestries
1976 **Caroline E.Miner Lasso The Sunrise
1975 Helen Mar Cook Shape Of Flight
1974 **LeRoy Burke Meagher Beyond This Hour
1973 Geraldine R. Pratt Bell On The Wind
1972 **Maxine R. Jennings A Lamp To Shine
1971 **Alice Morrey Bailey Eden From An Apple Seed
1970 **Max Golightly A Morning of Taurus
1969 **J. A. Christensen The Deep Song
1968 **Betty W. Madsen The Amaranth
1976 **Berta H. Christensen Walk the Proud Morning
1966 Lael W. Hill A Legacy Of Years
1965 **Vesta P. Crawford Short Grass Woman
**deceased
Examples of poems from Book of the Year poets: USPS_BOY_Poems.pdf