MWCN names philanthropist Spencer F. Eccles Entrepreneur of the Year

MountainWest Capital Network (MWCN) has named Spencer F. Eccles, former chairman and CEO of First Security Corp. and current chairman and CEO of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, as the recipient of its 37th annual Entrepreneur of the Year award.

MWCN said that each year, it recognizes entrepreneurs who create “industry-shaping businesses in Utah, inspire others with their entrepreneurial vision and give back to the community.”

Eccles spent nearly two decades as the head of First Security Corp., the oldest multi-state bank holding company in the United States until its merger with Wells Fargo in 2000. He has also served on the boards of numerous organizations including Union Pacific, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Parks Foundation, Wells Fargo and Intermountain Healthcare.

“My connection to Utah runs deep through generations of the Eccles family, and I’ve dedicated my life to ensuring the vitality and growth of our great state,” said Eccles in response to the honor. “From banking to philanthropy, my goal has always been to support and advocate for the people of Utah. I am humbled by this recognition from MountainWest Capital Network, which reflects not just my efforts, but the collaborative spirit of our entire community.”

Eccles’ impact on Utah has continued long after his decades in the banking industry, MWCN said in its biography of Eccles.

“As chairman of five Eccles family foundations, including the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, he has championed countless initiatives in education, health and wellness, the arts, community development and preservation and conservation of Utah’s beautiful landscapes and historical places,” the statement said. “His dedication to higher education, and the University of Utah in particular, has been transformative, as has his commitment to youth sports and the Olympic movement, earning him the IOC’s prestigious Pierre de Coubertin award.”

Eccles is a member of a number of boards, including the UofU’s National Advisory Council and the David Eccles School of Business National Advisory Board.

“Spence Eccles embodies the very essence of entrepreneurial leadership and community building that our Entrepreneur of the Year award celebrates,” said Ryan Dent, chairman of MWCN and managing partner of PwC LLP. “His vision and dedication have not only shaped Utah’s banking landscape but have also created lasting positive impact through his leadership and philanthropic initiatives that will benefit generations to come.”

MWVN’s Entrepreneur of the Year program is a key feature of MWCN’s outreach “to foster business relationships and recognize outstanding members of Utah’s business community,” the organization said.

Former Entrepreneur of the Year recipients since the award’s inception in 1983 include Robert Redford, David S. Layton, Sam and Kacie Malouf, Hanko Kiessner, Dr. Steve Neeleman, Fred Lampropoulos, Ryan Smith, Jeremy Andrus, Aaron Skonnard, Peter and Nicole Mouskondis, Tom Dickson, Todd Pedersen and Josh James.