Nolan Karras

Nolan Karras is a neighbor and a friend. We have known each other for years and have served together in our community, church, and youth camps. For the past seven years, Nolan has been my leader at JustServe.org, a platform where organizations post volunteer opportunities and volunteers find meaningful ways to serve. Nolan has been instrumental in launching and growing this initiative in all of Northern Utah, helping thousands find ways to make our community better. Nolan has a rare gift for making everyone feel valued and included.

He is a friend to all, naturally engaging others and making them feel seen. He has never met a stranger. I recall watching him interact with a group of 16 to 18 year-old Explorer Scouts at a leadership camp. He instantly connected with them. Oftentimes teens don’t relate to adults, but these young men loved and respected him. Nolan taught them how to be an effective leader by his example. At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, I served as a chaperone for the Utah Youth Delegation. As we waited to enter the Closing Ceremonies, Nolan approached our group and immediately engaged the youth, asking them questions and getting to know them personally. I’ve witnessed him do this same thing over and over again.

He is always ready to serve, listen, and lift. He will go out of his way to help youth. Nolan, with his big wonderful smile welcomes all into his life. He serves. He cares. He makes others feel important. He holds acquaintances, business associates, friends, members of the community, members of all political, ethnic, and religious groups in high esteem. He finds ways to help and support the downtrodden, homeless, and the burdened. He is selfless and kind. Nolan is a joy to be around and to know.

He is a blessing to our community. Nolan, along with his wife Lynda, have devoted their entire lives to service. It is an honor to recommend Nolan Karras for this prestigious award. He truly is the Spirit of Utah.

Pat Medell - Layton Multi-Coordination Council JustServe Specialis

On behalf of Family Promise of Ogden (FPO), it is with great pleasure and deep appreciation that I write this letter of recommendation for Nolan Karras to be considered for the Service Award. Nolan has been an extraordinary volunteer and supporter of FPO, and his unwavering dedication has made a meaningful difference in the lives of families experiencing homelessness in our community.

Nolan served on the Board of Directors for FPO for seven years, providing consistent insight and strategic guidance. His service on the board helped shape the direction of our organization during pivotal moments of growth and development. Currently, he continues to serve as a member of our Capital Campaign Committee Board, where his vision and experience are instrumental in helping us secure the resources that we need to expand our mission. Nolan has consistently gone above and beyond in his commitment to our mission.

Whether serving as a host for our families or stepping up when we needed extra support, Nolan has always been ready and willing to lend a hand. His reliability, compassion, and integrity have made a big difference in our community. Nolan has also played a critical role helping us to sustain our program through his efforts in finding funding sources, connecting us with donors, and securing grants.

His insight and initiative have helped us strengthen our foundation and expand our ability to serve those in need. Nolan is incredibly responsive and dependable. He is someone we can count on as he always has a genuine desire to help. Nolan Karras exemplifies the values of community, generosity, and civic responsibility. His contributions have had a lasting impact, and I can think of no one more deserving of the Service Award.

Raquel Da Silva - Executive Director Family Promise of Ogden Family

I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Nolan Karras for the past seven years. During this time, I have witnessed his unwavering commitment to service. Nolan leads with love, volunteers without seeking recognition, and actively collaborates with cities and towns, interfaith groups, and individuals of all ages to foster a spirit of volunteerism that strengthens Utah. Although born in Ogden, Nolan proudly calls Roy, Utah home.

His public service career includes nearly a decade in the Utah House of Representatives (1981–1990), where he served as Speaker of the House from 1989 to 1990. He holds a B.S. in Banking and Finance from Weber State University and an MBA from the University of Utah. Since 2013, he has served on the Board of Trustees for Weber State, holding the position of Chair since 2015. Among Nolan’s many accomplishments, he considers his greatest achievement to be marrying Lynda Karras and raising their three children and 13 grandchildren.

While his political and public service contributions are notable, it is his personal and private acts of service that I have come to admire most. For the past nine years, Nolan has dedicated himself to volunteering with JustServe, a free online platform that connects volunteers with nonprofit service opportunities. He has worked tirelessly to support JustServe specialists across Utah, helping them post projects, encouraging volunteer participation, and leading open and inclusive discussions at conferences and workshops.

Nolan has a remarkable ability to make everyone feel seen, heard, and valued. His broad network of connections has allowed him to reach diverse communities, and yet, he treats each person as a friend. Not only does he advocate for service—he actively participates in it. Nolan Karras exemplifies the values of servant leadership. Through his efforts, he has built stronger communities and inspired hope for future generations. It is with great enthusiasm and admiration that I nominate Nolan Karras for this prestigious award.

Shannon Wright

What an honor writing a support letter for Nolan Karras in consideration of the Distinguished Service Award and inclusion in the Utah Guide Hall of Fame. Nolan and I worked together implementing and growing the JustServe* initiative in Northern Utah for almost nine years (2016-2025). It is the only time in either my professional or public service career that I knew my ‘boss’ was working for me. Nolan supported me in every way — from instantaneous email replies to attending my endless planning meetings to ensuring I always had the proper supplies and resources. He treated all ideas respectfully and then found ways to support in their implementation.

I have never served with such an amazing leader who gets it all. He is a visionary who dreams up innovative concepts and then works hard to make them become reality. I watched in awe as Nolan led JustServe from its infancy growing it into a vibrant part of our communities. Nolan is equipped with the charm, diplomacy and communication skills to navigate and work with all comers — fellow JustServers and nonprofit, business, community and faith leaders too. I watched him build bridges of understanding, respect and love throughout Northern Utah. He has that innate quality to lead quietly and love all people.

Nolan is also a highly-respected and dedicated faith and community leader. And a devoted Greek family man. Serving others is embedded deep within his DNA. Nolan will continue shaping and lifting community everywhere he goes.

Caitlin Gochnour

*NOTE: JustServe.org is a website connecting volunteers with organizations needing help with service projects. This free website/app, provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, helps individuals find volunteer opportunities and organizations post needs.

For more than four decades, Nolan has quietly and consistently devoted his life to guiding and blessing the lives of individuals, families, and communities throughout our state. Whether through his service in education, civic leadership, mentoring youth, or strengthening local institutions, Nolan’s unwavering commitment to the well-being of others reflects the very essence of this honor.

Nolan’s leadership has never been about recognition—it has been about results, relationships, and resilience. He has mentored countless young people, helping them find purpose and direction. He has championed education as a foundation for personal growth and societal progress. He has brought wisdom, humility, and grace to every boardroom, classroom, and neighborhood meeting in which he has served.

His neighbors in Roy know him not only as a civic leader, but as a true friend and guide—someone who shows up in times of need, quietly offering support without seeking attention. From organizing local events to volunteering in schools and community initiatives, Nolan has led by example—proving that a life of service is a life of meaning.

What sets Nolan apart is not only the length of his service, but the depth of his influence. Generations have been uplifted by his counsel, his integrity, and his tireless dedication to the common good. His story is one of selfless devotion to others, marked by humility, compassion, and a steady belief in the potential of every individual.

For these reasons and many more, we wholeheartedly recommend Nolan Karras for this extraordinary recognition. His life’s work exemplifies the spirit of the Utah Guide – Hall of Fame, and his legacy deserves to be celebrated and remembered for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Alan E. Hall - Chairman / P. Jeanne Hall - President
Alan and Jeanne Hall Foundation