News
Check out what has been happening in Utah Golf.
UGA Past President Karl Thalman Passes Away at Age 88
Karl J. Thalman
May 7, 1928 – January 30, 2017
By Megan Terry, Programs Administrator
Karl Thalman grew up in southwest Provo and attended Franklin Elementary, Dixon Junior High, where he served as student body president, and Provo High. Despite his soft-spoken personality, Karl was BYU’s head cheerleader during his college days.
He devoted much of his leisure time to golf and served as president of the Utah Golf Association in 1992 and 1993 as well as president of Riverside Country Club.
Karl was a highly skilled jeweler and watchmaker. After returning home from spending 17 months in Germany during the Korean War, Karl used a $500 loan from his mother to start Thalman Jewelers with just one jewelry showcase and his trusted jewelers tool chest. Karl invested all he could in his business and Provo, Utah, to help grow and develop the community.
In 2000, Karl’s son, Jeff Thalman, became president of the business and hit the ground running. Two years later, Thalman Jewelers became involved in the 2002 Winter Olympics and produced the official commemorative award. The design was a hit and transformed the company into Recognition Source, a leader in crystal awards.
As the company grew and the need to expand became evident, Travis Taylor, Karl’s grandson, took over as president and relocated Recognition Source to Arlington, Texas, where they moved into a 17,000 square foot build-to-suit facility. Because of Karl, high-quality awards and gifts are given to clients worldwide, using specialized techniques for engraving of fine crystal and glass.
Read Karl J. Thalman’s complete obituary below:
Berg Mortuary Obituary
Karl J. Thalman passed away January 30, 2017 in Provo, UT. He was born May 7, 1928 to Emil and Helen Thalman. Karl married Carol Paxman on May 26, 1949 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Karl was drafted during the Korean War and spent 17 months in Germany. He was a talented jeweler who founded Thalman Jewelers in 1952. He was a well-respected figure in the city of Provo, having accomplished much in his life including serving as the president of Provo Youth Baseball Club for over 29 years, presiding over the Utah Golf Association for two terms, achieving a baseball complex dedicated in his honor after 30 years of service for the Boys and Girls Club and serving as president of Riverside Country Club.
He is survived by his daughter, Joan (John) Taylor; brother, Wayne (Nadine) Thalman; 5 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Carol; son, Jeffrey; brother, Dean and grandson, Brandon.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, February 6, 2017 at the Berg Drawing Room Chapel, 185 East Center Street, Provo, Utah. Friends may call from 9:45-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in Eastlawn Memorial Hills. Condolences may be expressed at www.bergmortuary.com.