The Rt. Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish delivers her acceptance speech after being named A Giant In Our City

Last night, the Rt. Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish officially became the first woman honored as a Giant In Our City. As she pointed out in her acceptance speech, she isn’t the first woman to be a Giant In Our City, she’s just the first to be so honored.

The Giant In Our City award is presented by the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors and is recognized as the most prestigious business award given in Utah. Bishop Irish is the first woman to be honored so honored in the 40-year history of the award.

Chamber President and CEO Lane Beattie said: “Those who have been named as A Giant In Our City are more than just successful business people. Bishop Irish has overseen a remarkable business, served as a spiritual leader and greatly enhanced our community. She is the very definition of A Giant In Our City.”

Bishop Irish has succeeded in the business, she’s the chair of the board of directors of the O.C. Tanner Company, which was founded by her father, Obert Tanner. But succeeding in business isn’t by itself enough to be named a Giant In Our City. Bishop Irish has contributed to the community as a spiritual leader. She is the 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, the first female leader of a major denomination in the state.

‘The real Giant is the enormous community that forms and sustains our lives, and we are all a part of it,” said Bishop Irish. “There is a whole network of relationships in this gigantic community to which we belong—mutually giving and receiving for the common good.  Each of us does our part, often in critical times or in hidden ways.”

Bishop Irish’s ability to reach out and build a sense of oneness between the religious and the secular, commerce and community, makes her A Giant In Our City.

Also during the award ceremony, Beattie took time to honor former Giant In Our City B.Z. “Bud” Kastler who passed away in November. Kastler served as Chamber president in 1977, a position now equal to chair of the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors. A decade later, in 1987, he was awarded the Chamber’s highest honor, being named a Giant In Our City.  Kastler was director and former chairman, president and CEO of Questar Corp., Mountain Fuels Supply Co. and its subsidiaries.

Beattie also took a moment to honor Fred Ball, who served as Chamber president for 26 years and was also named A Giant In Our City in 1995. Ball recently retired from Zions Bank where he was the voice of the popular “Speaking on Business” segments.

The Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors established the Giant In Our City award in 1969. The award was created to honor the lives of exceptional and distinguished public service and extraordinary professional achievement. It is considered the Chamber’s most prestigious award and is given periodically by the Chamber Board of Governors. Bishop Irish is the first individual woman to be named A Giant In Our City.