Pub. 12 2017 Issue 1

15 Issue 1 2017 / UCLS Foresights www.ucls.org J ohn Stahl is from Glasgow, Mon- tana. He earned an Associate of Applied Science in Land Surveying from Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell, Montana. The map shows these places are about 50 miles from the Canadian border. John transplanted to Utah. He started his own business in 1988 and is the owner of Cornerstone Professional Land Surveys, Inc., A Professional Corporation. For decades, John has devoted his time as an adjunct professor of land survey- ing at Salt Lake Community College. I met John in 1997 when I enrolled in his bound- ary law class. As an attorney, I was intrigued to learn about boundary law because it was not taught in the law school where I attend- ed. John taught us howmonuments on the ground can control over distances recited in a deed. Those who have studied under Mr. Stahl know he is an impassioned and knowl- edgeable teacher. Hundreds of surveying students have benefitted as he has insight- fully taught a new generation of surveyors the principles of boundary law. John lives in Sandy, Utah, with his wife Becky. I recall attending a barbeque at his house. His pet dogs hoped we would share meat and his house-trained rabbits hoped we would share chocolate. Land surveyors are on the front lines in protecting our citizens’ property rights. Over the years, many of us have sought John’s input on important matters that af- fect the profession of land surveying. John has delivered presentations at the surveying conventions in several states, served as state chair of UCLS, and served as our delegate to the Western Federation of Professional Surveyors. He was the 2009 recipient of the UCLS surveyor of the year award, and is a Certified Federal Surveyor. John has made significant contribu- tions to the professions of surveying and of law, by sensibly applying legal principles to boundary matters, to follow the footsteps of the original surveyor. He has qualified as an expert in a wide variety of boundary cases. He has been recognized by various courts as having shed light on challenging boundary questions. His impact has been felt on 1) outcomes of trial courts, 2) devel- opment of boundary law in the Utah courts of appeal, and 3) on those cases which never went to court because John was in- strumental as a peacemaker. Although we pause to recognize a life of great achievement, John Stahl is far from finished with what he has yet to achieve. t 2017 Thomas W. Harvey 2017 John B. Stahl 2016 Ken Hamblin 2015 Phylip Leslie 2014 Max Elliott 2013 Robert W. Knox 2012 Richard Sorenson 2011 Dean Hill 2010 Lawrence Kay 2009 Val Schultz 2008 Bud Rhodes 2007 Jack Balling 2006 Clyde Naylor Vaughn Butler JOHN B. STAHL BY MARK GREGERSEN Past Lifetime Achievement Award Winners Utah Council of Land Surveyors 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award