Who We Are
John’s vision for the Lehi Historical Society carries on today
Grand Marshals of Round-Up Week 2017, John and Jeanette Haws ride in the Lehi Round-Up Rodeo Stock Parade with their grandson, Tyson Haws, on June 22, 2017.
John’s Vision
After a lifetime of collecting and preserving all things Lehi, John Knollin Haws, Jr., founded the Lehi Historical Society and Archives in 2016.
Armed with four boxes from Lehi historian Richard Van Wagoner and the many items he had collected himself, John first formed Friends of the Archives in 2014 with Judy Hansen, Rhea Lewis, Lynette Harris and Mike Southwick as founding members.
Thanks to John’s vision, the Friends of the Archives morphed into the Lehi Historical Society and Archives, a 501c3 nonprofit, known as the Lehi Historical Society today. Thanks to his passion for collecting, the society boasts thousands of cataloged items, ranging in topics from individuals, businesses, happenings and schools to family histories, artists, more than 100 years of Lehi newspapers and artifacts.
John Haws rejoices with Melvin Anderson, local businessman and fellow advocate for Lehi history, as the Lehi Historical Society and Archives receives its marker at 34 S. 100 North, Lehi, on April 14, 2017.
John Haws thanks Cameron Watts for the artifact shelves he made for an Eagle Project for the Lehi Historical Society and Archives.
About John’s Life
John Knollin Haws, Jr. was born Jan. 13, 1954, to John Knollin and Shirley Messersmith Haws. John loved the family and old Lehi he grew up in. He participated in every club there was in high school and served as student body president of Lehi High School from 1973-74. During this time, John developed a love for history.
After high school, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England. When he got back, at age 21, he ran for the Lehi City Council as a Progressive Party candidate and ended up being the first non-Democrat to win since 1967. His platform was that his youth could bring a fresh new approach to city government. He served from 1975-84.
John worked for the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems and Kohlers. At age 56, he went back to school, fulfilling a lifelong dream of obtaining a degree in history education and graduating magna cum laude from Utah Valley University.
He became the debate teacher at Lone Peak High School. His team was named School of the Year by the National Forensics League (NFL), won sweepstakes at the NFL National Qualifier Tournament and took second at State.
John Haws with his wife Jeanette after winning an award.
Sadly, John passed away from cancer in 2017, just as his dreams for a Lehi historical society and archive were really beginning to come to fruition. Although no longer with us, the Lehi Historical Society continues to move forward with his vision.
He left behind his loving wife, Jeanette, and seven children.