Honoring Clement “Jake” Kester

Clement “Jake” Kester was born in a Log Cabin, in what is now a garage at 455 S. Center St. His early education was at the Chieftain Grade School and Junior High in Santaquin. His high school years were spent at Payson, Utah, graduating in 1955. He went to college at the University of Utah and received a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. While there, he entered the ROTC program and served in the Army for 6 years attaining the rank of Captain.

During his military service, he was stationed in Germany where he met and married Helen. Helen was working as a Dept. of the Army recreation director. She is from NYC. Upon returning to the U.S., Jake wanted to settle in Santaquin and Helen, who had always loved horses and could never have one in NYC, had no objections. They moved here together in 1968. In 1969, Jake started a weekly entertainment program on Sunday evenings at Squash Head Park that lasted for 3 years.

Jake went to work as a metallurgist for Kennecott Copper at the Burgin mine in Eureka and worked there until 1970 when his father passed away. He then took over the family-owned business, the Santaquin Calcite Co. which was founded by his dad in 1937. Calcite is a mineral that is very important to the poultry industry. It provides the calcium necessary to keep eggshells and bones hard. He and Helen ran the company until their retirement in 2006. He sold the business to his brother; thus, the company is still in the family, and is still going strong.

Jake served a four-year term, 1976-1979, on the Santaquin City Council under Mayor O. Doyle Crook. He was chairman of the Flood Control Committee during the flood of 1983 and high waters of 1984, coordinating the activities to save the city and surrounding areas from flood waters. He has been an active member of the American Legion in Santaquin since 1968 and has served as Commander for 10 years as well as adjutant for another 10. He has served a three-year term as a board member on the Santaquin Chieftain Museum Board.

Concerned that Santaquin’s ancient heritage might disappear forever, he coordinated with the city engineers to create a GPS location map of all ancient Indian petroglyphs that had been shown to him by other elderly citizens over the years.

Over the years, the Kester’s have enjoyed square dancing, have participated in two national conventions; extensive traveling; and they love fishing together. They are now active in the Santaquin senior citizens.

The Kester’s have been married for 56 years, and have 3 daughters and 2 grandchildren.