A Legacy of Learning and Stewardship

The Quinney family’s dedication to education, community, and the natural world continues to shape Utah State University in the S. J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

If you’ve ever lived in Utah, the Quinney family’s influence has likely touched your life, even if you didn’t realize it. Their impact spans from mountain slopes to concert halls, from courtrooms to classrooms, and from the state’s farms to its wildest landscapes.

They helped launch Utah’s ski industry, turning snow-covered mountains into destinations for people from all over the world. They support the arts, bringing world-class performances to local stages. Many of Utah’s civic and legal leaders began their professional journeys at the law school that bears the Quinney name. And some of the nation’s most respected conservationists and land stewards trace their roots to programs funded by foundations established by members of the Quinney family.

That legacy continues at Utah State University with the newly formed S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, which unites two long-standing colleges and one foundational department under a name that, for many, already symbolizes a commitment to higher education and care for the land.

Just as Seymour Joseph “Joe” and Jessie Eccles Quinney believed in strengthening communities through knowledge and stewardship, this new college carries forward their shared vision of helping prepare future generations to explore, feed, sustain, and protect our world.

A Visionary Life

Joe Quinney was born in Logan in 1893 and graduated from the Utah Agricultural College (now Utah State University) in 1916. A Harvard-trained lawyer, he built a distinguished 60-year career in Salt Lake City, practicing law until his death at age 90. He guided many of Utah’s major businesses and organizations, leaving impacts that reached far beyond the courtroom.

Joe co-founded Alta Ski Area — regarded as the state’s first commercial ski area — and drafted the laws that shaped winter sports nationwide. Known for his integrity and generosity, he served the state with a sense of fairness that defined both his career and his philanthropy.

Jessie Eccles also grew up in Logan and graduated from the Utah Agricultural College, where she met Joe. She graduated in 1916, and the two were married the following year during Joe’s time at Harvard. While he studied law, she pursued Russian literature at Radcliffe College. She shared his love of learning but also brought her own strengths of poise, determination, and a deep commitment to community service.

Together, Joe and Jessie became devoted supporters of Utah’s growing arts community. They were early patrons of the Utah Symphony, and Joe served on its board beginning in 1940. They also supported Ballet West from its early days, recognizing that access to the arts could enrich lives and inspire fellow Utahns and others.

They later established the S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation to carry forward their values into Utah communities. Through its support of education, arts, culture, and environmental stewardship, the foundation has strengthened communities and expanded opportunities across the state. Its mission is simple but enduring: to use knowledge and generosity to make life better for people and the places they call home.

Stewards of the Land

Whether running the Colorado River, skiing Alta’s slopes, or sailing at Bear Lake, Joe Quinney could be found out in nature almost as often as behind his desk at the law firm he founded. The beautifully varied landscapes of Utah held a special place in his heart—not just as a source of recreation but as part of his life’s work.

In the mid-1920s, Joe first became interested in skiing. He was driving his son, David, and his friends to nearby mountains to hike up and ski down. Not wanting to sit on the sidelines, Joe bought himself a pair of skis to join the youngsters and quickly fell in love with the sport. From then on, he and his family spent their winters exploring the Wasatch Mountains.

As a founder of Alta Ski Area and longtime leader of the Salt Lake Winter Sports Association, Joe helped turn Utah into a global skiing destination and a cornerstone of the state’s economy. He became known as the “Father of Utah Skiing” and was inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame in 1975.

Perhaps the Quinneys' favorite spot in Utah was their summer home at Bear Lake. They spent as much time there as possible, where they cooked over a coal stove, listened to music, sailed their wooden sailboat, enjoyed the vibrant water and striking lake sunsets, and spent time with friends and family. Joe believed that time in nature restored the human spirit, and he actively supported efforts to protect Utah’s natural beauty.

New Horizons

The Quinney Foundation’s partnership with Utah State University spans more than 50 years. Support from the foundation helped establish the Quinney Scholars and Fellows Program in 1989, allowing hundreds of students to pursue research and service focused on sustainable land and water management. The Quinney Natural Resources Library was established in 1992, providing a space for collaboration and discovery that continues to serve students, faculty, and the community today.

In 2012, a historic $10 million gift to the College of Natural Resources led to the college’s renaming in honor of the Quinneys. The funding created scholarships and professorships,

expanded hands-on learning opportunities, and strengthened research in wildlife, water, and land management.

Now, with two colleges uniting under the Quinney name, the foundation's mission aligns with the college’s vision. Both are rooted in the same principle: progress means working together for the good of people and the planet. Agriculture and natural resources are connected by a shared responsibility to feed, sustain, and protect—and this new chapter is poised to foster deeper interdisciplinary collaboration and stronger academic programs.

Inspiring Leadership

Joe and Jessie’s daughter, Janet Quinney Lawson, carried her parents’ values into a new generation. Born in 1922, she grew up surrounded by her family’s love of learning, art, and the outdoors. Like her father, Janet was an accomplished skier and an early trailblazer for women in the sport. She competed in regional ski races and was recognized for her athletic skill and determination at a time when few women were seen on the slopes.

She also ventured into running many of the rivers in the western United States. She traveled widely, studied the world’s cultures, and brought home a deep appreciation for people and

nature alike. Janet became a thoughtful philanthropist, supporting education, conservation, and community programs.

A statue of her stands near the entrance of USU’s Natural Resources Building, commissioned and donated by her son, Frederick Q. Lawson, following her death in 2008. Her foundation also supported creation of the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water & Air at USU in 2021, which aims to share research that informs sound policy decisions about natural resources and communities statewide.

The $5 million gift this year that created the Janet Q. Lawson Endowed Deanship in the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources honors her legacy and provides lasting support for the college to advance strategic priorities and respond to rapidly changing needs. It fuels student scholarships, faculty research, internships, fieldwork, and community engagement—supporting programs in the college and enhancing USU’s land-grant mission and statewide impact.

The Legacy Lives On

The new college that bears their names embodies everything Joe, Jessie, and Janet believed in—learning, leadership, and love for the land. Their generosity planted seeds that will keep growing as long as there are students ready to learn and a world to care for.

Joe once wrote that the purpose of life is to find joy by discovering what we love to do and losing ourselves in the work of it. Through their foundations, the Quinney family has—and will continue to—help thousands of students do exactly that.