Pillar of the Valley

For decades, Alan and Suzanne Osmond have worked to provide family-oriented entertainment, job opportunities, charitable assistance and more to their neighbors and friends in the Utah Valley community and those in need worldwide.

In recognition of their efforts, the Osmonds will be presented with the Pillar of the Valley award during an award gala Nov. 16 at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Hosted by the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Pillar of the Valley award gala was created to honor individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the business, civic, social, educational and cultural climate of Utah Valley.

Previous honorees include John Valentine, the Woodbury Family, Rebecca D. Lockhart, Steven R. Covey, Wilford Clyde, Dallin H. Oaks and former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

While the musical talents of Alan Osmond and his family members are famous worldwide, the most well-known contribution Alan and Suzanne have made to the Utah Valley area is arguably the Stadium of Fire. Held annually at LaVell Edwards Stadium as part of America’s Freedom Festival at Provo, this patriotic production features major musical performers and a spectacular fireworks extravaganza. The Stadium of Fire was created to replace a smaller event being held at the stadium as part of the Freedom Festival.

“They were going to close it; they weren’t getting very big crowds,” Alan said. Then Carl Bacon, a member of the Freedom Festival’s board of trustees, suggested the Osmonds take over the event and move it to the next level.

Alan and his brother Merrill Osmond accepted the challenge in 1980, and the Stadium of Fire has continued ever since as one of the largest patriotic events in the nation.

“We represent God, family, freedom and country,” Alan said. “It’s not something that you just go hear; it’s something you go see. It’s an experience. It’s something unexpected, and that’s why it’s so great.”

From the beginning, Alan wanted a show that was big, highly visual and appealed to all ages. “I also said it needed a new name,” he said, adding that “Stadium of Fire” popped into his head during a brainstorming session.

With fire in mind, he went to the Provo Fire Department and asked for advice. He was invited to the controlled burn of a house where he saw flames shoot out of a “fire tree” hooked up to a propane tank. His follow-up question: “Can we make it bigger?”

This was the origin of the large torches that have burned brightly during the Stadium of Fire while accompanied by the event’s theme song, which was written by Alan.

After the event’s inaugural year, Merrill suggested that Alan, as the “Dick Clark of the Osmonds,” was the one that needed to own and run the show. As a result, Alan and Suzanne took over full responsibility for the Stadium of Fire in 1981. Alan used his network in the entertainment business to attract big stars to perform at the event.

Suzanne said for several years, the family had to travel to Canada immediately after the Provo show because their sons, who were performing as The Osmonds - Second Generation, were scheduled to appear at the Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada. “I would have a motor home ready

Alan & Suzanne Osmond

Pillar of the Valley Award Gala

Nov. 16, 2021 7 to 9 p.m. Utah Valley Convention Center Tickets: thechamber.org

to go and we’d be signing checks until 2 in the morning paying everybody (after the Stadium of Fire),” Suzanne said. The family would then go home, pile into the motor home and leave for Canada.

Alan and Suzanne also contributed to the valley’s entertainment industry through Osmond Studios, a television production studio in Orem where the “Donny & Marie” TV variety show and other productions were filmed. Alan, who served as producer for “Donny & Marie,” said when ABC wanted to renew the show’s contract, he agreed but added the show would be moving to Utah.

A few experts from outside Utah were brought in to help produce the show, but most of the work was done by locals, including performers. Alan said the Osmonds enjoyed the Utah Valley lifestyle and wanted to live here, and they also believed it was important for their employees to be close to their families.

Alan and Suzanne Osmond’s charitable work has included being involved with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a nonprofit organization that has raised more than $7 billion for children’s hospitals to help cover medical care costs for millions of children.

The couple also founded One Heart, A Charity for Orphans. Through this nonprofit, royal families in countries around the world invite entertainers and others to events where money is raised for an orphanage of the royal family’s choice.

Alan said the Osmonds have a philosophy that people need to give back to their community. Alan summed it up through a quote from his mother, Olive Osmond: “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if no one cares who gets the credit.”

“If you’re blessed, you’re expected to give back … and we’ll keep doing that until we have no more to give,” Alan said. “But we’re not alone, our whole community is like that.”

Through it all, the Osmonds have considered their greatest accomplishment to be their eight sons. All eight performed at Stadium of Fire events during their youth. Their sons, along with their grandchildren, have carried on their legacy of giving back to the community, no matter where they live.

Past Pillar of the Valley Award Recipients

2019: John Valentine and Ray (posthumously) and Janette Beckham 2018: Bill Hulterstrom and JoAnn Losee 2017: Gov. Gary Herbert 2016: Woodbury Family and Becky Lockhart (posthumously) 2015: Wilford Clyde and Hal Wing (posthumously) 2014: Dallin H. Oaks and Ray Noorda (posthumously) 2013: LaVell Edwards and Stephen R. Covey (posthumously) 2012: Alan and Karen Ashton 2011: Blake M. Roney

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