Alumni and Friends Directory

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Biography

Gary Black grew up in Bountiful, Utah. He is the current owner of Black Agri Land and SL-TB Holdings. He is also the founding member of International Fresh-Cut Produce Association in Arlington, Virginia. He currently sits on the United Fresh Produce Association in Washington, D.C., and is a current member of the McDonalds Produce Council.

Mr. Black graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor of science degree in economics in 1963 and is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He received the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business Distinguished Executive Alumnus award in 2002.

Mr. Black is married to Karen Walton, who attended USU in 1961 and is the founder and owner of Basket of Treasures, a business she has operated for more than 25 years. She is also the owner of Karen's Ceramics and is on the board of directors for Condies Foods. Ms. Walton is very involved in the community. She is a past PTA president, past guild president of the Children's Museum of Utah, past board member of Children's Museum of Utah, and past board member of Ronald McDonald House. She is currently involved with the Festival of Trees and sits on the founders committee for the Children's Museum of Utah. Ms. Walton has received the "Hearts and Hands Award" twice, and she was the Ronald McDonald House "Volunteer of the Year" in 2001.

With deep roots at Utah State University, they met while attending USU and all of their four children attended Utah State: Brittany Ann Black (Attender HASS 2004), Lorie Angela Longaker (B.S. in personnel human resource management 1990), Scott R. Black (B.S. in marketing 1991), and Traci Kay Smith (Attender HASS 1991). They are strong supporters of Utah State. In 2005 they established the Gary Black and Karen Walton Black Scholarship in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. They make their home in Salt Lake City, Utah.