• Jim and Zoma Painter will serve as Co-Grand Marshals for Mammoth Parade

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Jim and Zoma Painter were chosen to serve as co-grand marshals for the 71st Ute Stampede Mammoth Parade. They have both been avid Ute Stampede fans from the very beginning in 1935, where Zoma served as the Jr. Attendant with the first Miss Nephi, LaMarr Hawkins.

In 1944, Jim moved to Nephi where he worked with his uncle and father at 196 South Main, a Sinclair Service Station. The business was called Painter Motor Company. This was right after World War II. The family business included locating, buying, repairing, and painting used cars and trucks. The money to fund the business came from the family's home in Ogden, after it's sale. Nephi's first used car operation was started. A new modern building was constructed in 1944 at 140 South Main and was used for 33 years. Painter Motor Company relocated again to its present site at 1100 North Main in 1977.

Jim and Zoma were involved in a variety of civic and church activities. Jim served as president of Nephi Enterprises for a number of years. In 1978, their first business client came to town and started a sewing plant under the name Janelle Manufacturing, Inc. It was housed in a building next to the bank, which was later torn down. They invited area citizens to purchase shares of Nephi Enterprises stock at $50.00 per share. They provided the working capital for this company to start business in Nephi, and the loan was later paid off by Bud Simons of Spanish Fork. Many people benefited from there investments.

Jim and Zoma were also able to assist two other businesses with loans: Nephi Dental Clinic and Harmon Tire. Both businesses helped support the local economy and are still providing jobs and services for area citizens.

The Painters recognized the need for an industrial park in Nephi, so they purchased 50 acres of land from Alice Bailey for $50,000. Unfortunately, the land was not suitable because of its location. They then decided to develop the land into a subdivision which is now known as Nebo Heights. Lots were purchased for $1,000 each by Nephi Enterprises shareholders and other interested people. Improvement costs were about $4,700 per lot which included underground power, curb, gutter, sidewalks, city water and sewer. Lots sold quickly and the money was used to purchase the land where the industrial park is now. Many businesses now had the opportunity to locate to Nephi.

While Jim served as the president of the Nephi Kiwanis Club, he and Frank Pew brought Little League Football to Nephi. He was involved in many sporting activities for youth including serving as president of Little League Baseball. They helped save the water wheel from being melted down at Geneva, and it is now located at the Old Mill Park on Main Street. Both served many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.

Jim and Zoma are the parents of 10 children, 37 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren with twins due in December. They enjoyed raising their family in the area. They love Nephi and are honored to come home and serve as co-grand marshals of the Mammoth Parade.