About Us
In 1995, Antelope Island Friends, Inc. was formally organized for the purpose of promoting, preserving, and improving the “visitor experience” at Antelope Island State Park. Several fund-raising efforts occur throughout the year that give the organization the financial strength to make improvements on the Island.
The organization is led by a volunteer board of individuals who donate their time and resources in support of Antelope Island State Park. Over the years, “Friends” has been involved in hundreds of improvement projects and events related to the Island, such as:
Improving facilities and trails
Sponsoring fund-raising activities and events for improvement projects
Protecting wildlife and its natural habitat
Expanding the educational use of Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake ecosystem
Promoting the recreational use of Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake
Antelope Island Friends works closely with many State and local partners: Utah State Parks, Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, Davis County, and many local private businesses.
Our Mission
Antelope Island Friends is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and enhancing Antelope Island State Park in Syracuse, Utah. In partnership with Utah State Parks, we support the park’s Resource Management, Wildlife, and Interpretive Plans. We also collaborate with the Davis County Tourism Board to promote sustainable tourism. Through volunteerism, education, and fundraising, we ensure the park’s protection and accessibility for future generations.
Testimonials
Bob Stevenson
Chairman | Davis County Commission
“Antelope Island State Park is a major tourist attraction in our County. As the number of visitors continue to increase, we’ll continue to partner with the Island and the State in making valuable improvements that will further enhance the visitor experience.”
Jeremy Shaw
Manager | Antelope Island State Park
“I am very fortunate to get to manage one of Utah’s most unique state parks. I am surrounded by an excellent staff of dedicated professionals and together we work to ensure that future generations will get to experience the wildness and beauty of Antelope Island State Park.”
Jerry Stevenson
Utah State Senate
“I have literally lived in the shadow of Antelope Island for many years and have very fond memories of growing up next to it. Antelope Island is certainly an iconic mark of Davis County, and I’m proud to be one of the few Utah legislators who has such an iconic island in their district.”
Stuart Adams
President | Utah State Senate
“Antelope Island is a close getaway that offers beautiful, unique views of the Wasatch Front, a fun place to observe wildlife, and an exceptional place to hike and bike.”
Volunteer Board Members
President. Barry spent his career working for Davis County government. He spent most of his tenure as Planning Director, but later became the Director of Community & Economic Development for the county. He graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning. He retired in 2018. Barry has three children and six grandchildren.
Barry Burton
Past President. Barbara is a retired educator who spent her life-long career as an elementary school teacher in the Davis School District. She earned her degree at Utah State University in Elementary Education. She served on various committees within the Davis Education Association and was a member of the Kaysville City Planning Commission for nearly 4 years. Barbara has been a long-time member of the “Friends” board and served as president. Her father was one of the main contributors in helping Antelope Island become a state park. Barbara has spent her entire life in Davis County and lives in Kaysville. She is the mother of 4 children and has 15 grandchildren.
Barbara Stephenson
In 2017, Friends of Antelope Island heard about Marty and his daily cycling trips on the Island and invited him to share his passion by serving on the board. Four years later, Marty now serves as president-elect of the board and looks forward to fulfilling the organization’s goal of “enhancing the visitors experience” through fund raising and supporting future improvements on the Island. His profession as a mortgage loan originator doesn’t hold him back from enjoying daily bike rides on the Island. In 2020, he biked over 5,500 miles on the Island. Marty has always loved Davis County and Antelope Island for their unique beauty and the many opportunities they each provide. He and his family currently live in West Point.
Marty Qualls
The Winegar name runs deep in Davis County, dating back to 1917, when Tom’s grandfather, Thomas E. Winegar, founded Winegar’s grocery store in Woods Cross. Today, Tom and his cousins have each spent a lifetime in the grocery business owning and expanding the Winegar name, making it one of the oldest family-owned supermarkets in Utah. Tom retired from the grocery business but continues to own several real estate holdings. Tom’s father, Wayne Winegar, served as Davis County Commissioner and was instrumental in constructing the existing causeway to Antelope Island. Tom has fond memories of riding his horse on the Island and experiencing the beauty and adventure the Island has to offer. He and his wife AKaye live in Layton and have 7 children, 29 grandchildren, and 31 great grandchildren.
Tom Winegar
Secretary. Neka served 24 years in the Economic Development/Tourism office for Davis County. During that time, she spent 9 years as the county tourism coordinator managing and organizing major events such as the Moonlight Bike Ride on Antelope Island and the annual Commissioner’s Cup golf tournament. She also founded the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival, which has been the largest festival of its kind in the intermountain West. She served as chair of the Davis Chamber Transportation Committee and was appointed by Utah Governor Jon Huntsman to serve on the Great Salt Lake Advisory Committee. Neka was elected the first female mayor of Kaysville City and is a current board member of the new Davis Heritage Festival. Neka is also a member of the Utah 2nd District Judicial Nominating Commission. She lives in Kaysville and enjoys spending time with family and traveling.
Neka Roundy
Treasurer. Mark Altom has served as a member and Treasurer of the Board of Friends of Antelope Island since 2014. He also serves as the elected Treasurer of Davis County, and has served in this positon since 1992. Mark has a passion for Antelope Island. He regularly spends his time mountain biking and hiking on the island. He also enjoys sharing these activities with his friends and family. Mark and his wife Debbie are the parents of five children and grandparents to thirteen grandchildren.
Mark Altom
Rick enjoyed a career in community and economic development working for local governments, the state of Utah and as a consultant. He launched his career working on the Davis County Planning staff and eventually became the director of the Davis County Department of Planning and Economic Development. When the original causeway to Antelope Island was eventually destroyed by weather, Rick worked with the Davis County commissioners, the state legislature, and others to obtain funding to rebuild the causeway. Later, he was appointed by Governor Michael Leavitt as Director of the State Division of Business and Economic Development. He finished his career as the executive director of the Utah Defense Alliance which led to helping create the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA). He was MIDA’s executive director until his retirement in 2014. Rick helped organize Friends of Antelope Island.
Rick Mayfield
Ed is an award-winning video, television and concert producer who was invited to join the Board of Friends of Antelope Island in 2012 and served as president in 2018. He was the producer of all broadcasts, projects and concerts of the (Mormon) Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square for more than 40 years from which he recently retired. As an Emmy award winning producer, he has overseen projects around the world including the Salt Lake City winning bid presentation for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the films for the successful University of Utah capital campaign, and the permanent multi-media experience for the collegiate NCAA national Visitor Center “Hall of Champions” in Indianapolis. A long-time resident of Bountiful, Ed and his wife currently reside in Delta, Utah.
Ed Payne
Terry has been a member of the Board of Antelope Island since 2002. Prior to retirement he was an MAI appraiser and worked 19 years for Van Drimmelen and Associates and five days short of 16 years as a review appraiser for Wells Fargo Bank. He is married with five children and 17 grandchildren. Terry’s father, Dale T. Smedley, was asked “how do we get a road to Antelope Island’? “Just start digging” he answered. That’s just what he did. His company teamed up with Davis County and together they built the first six+ miles of the causeway. Terry has loved the Island ever since. He and his wife Susanne love the wildlife on the island and the beautiful sunsets.
Terry Smedley
Served 12 years as Deputy Director of the Utah Travel Council, until his retirement in 2005. He had a successful journalism career working for CBS News in New York and eventually becoming VP of News and Public Affairs for KSL-TV. Kinard is best known as the weekly Sunday morning announcer of Music & the Spoken Word featuring the Tabernacle Choir where he served for 18 years. He has been chairman of the national Radio-Television News Directors Association and was president of the University of Utah Alumni Association (2005–08). He was a member of the University of Utah Board of Trustees.
Spence Kinard
Courtland served 11 years as Director of the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, within the Department of Natural Resources. He served a similar role in his home state of Minnesota and was a deputy director of Arizona State Parks. One of his most satisfying projects was the building and use of Soldier Hollow in the 2002 Winter Olympics for Nordic and biathlon events, and its subsequent transformation into a public-use facility offering a wide range of programs. He graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., and earned a master’s degree in outdoor recreation from Utah State University.
Courtland Nelson
Randy was the Director of Tourism & Events for Davis County before retiring the end of 2018. He founded an internet marketing company, served as VP of Sales & Marketing for a major commercial printer in Salt Lake City, and worked 16 years at KSL-TV in sales and sales management. He was an Honorary Commander at Hill AFB, served on the Davis Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee, and was a member of the Kaysville Rotary Club for 11 years. He graduated in Public Relations from BYU.
Randy Cook
Serves as President/CEO of ChamberWest, which is a regional Chamber of Commerce representing businesses in West Valley City, City of Taylorsville, City of West Jordan, and Kearns Township area. For 9 ½ years, Barbara served as the President/CEO of the Davis Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau promoting tourism in Davis County. She was the Chair of the Davis Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee.
Barbara Riddle
Jeff is the Planning Manager for Davis County. He has a diverse background in planning and has spent over 25 years working with the County and its various cities, and privately. He also focuses on regional transportation, active transportation, and planning efforts that have regional significance. Jeff graduated from Utah State University and is a dyed-in-the-wool Aggie. He has lived in Kaysville the past 21 years where he and his wife raised five children.
Jeff Oyler
Born and raised in North Ogden, Utah, Jeremy now resides in Taylor, Utah with his wife and their two children. His childhood was spent traveling, camping, and fishing across the Western United States with his family—experiences that sparked a lifelong passion for the outdoors and inspired an early goal of becoming a park ranger.
A graduate of Weber High School, he went on to earn an associate degree from Weber State University and a bachelor’s degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Utah State University.
In 1999, he was hired as a park ranger for the state of Utah, launching a 25-year career dedicated to public lands and outdoor recreation. He served as a park ranger and assistant park manager at East Canyon State Park, park manager at Hyrum State Park, and ultimately as the park manager at Antelope Island State Park, retiring from that role in 2024.
An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys horseback riding with his wife, running whitewater rivers with his brothers, and spending as much time outside as possible. His favorite pastime is exploring new places on his adventure motorcycle. In retirement, he continues to support Utah’s flagship state park by serving on the board of Antelope Island Friends, where he remains committed to its preservation and enhancement for future generations.
Jeremy Shaw
Vice President / President Elect. Steve Handy resides in Layton, Utah. He has worked in marketing communications, advertising, and public relations and was the marketing director for both the Standard-Examiner and the Deseret News.
As part of his professional work, Steve authored Lagoon, America’s Largest Family-Owned Amusement Park and co-authored Zions Bank, 150 Years of Creating Value in 2023.
Steve has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in Human Resources Management from the University of Utah and served two terms on the Layton City Council and 12 years (2010-2022) in the Utah House of Representatives from District 16 representing Layton, Clearfield, West Weber, and Hill Air Force Base.
Currently, he serves on the community governing boards of McKay-Dee and Layton Intermountain Hospitals, Chair of the Ogden Pioneer Days Foundation and a board member of the Friends of Antelope Island since 2023. While in the legislature, Steve worked with Friends of Antelope Island and other area legislators to help secure the initial $13 million appropriation for the expansion of the visitor and learning center.
He also serves on the America 250/Utah Commission and as a Commissioner for the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services where he is the current Chair.
Steve has participated in the annual Bison Roundup on Antelope Island for over 15 years.
Stephen G. “Steve” Handy
Doranne has a degree in Parks and Recreation Management emphasizing in outdoor education and over 10 years of experience in parks and recreation leadership roles in various organizations around the country. Most recently she has worked as the Associate Division Director for Recreation within Salt Lake County, overseeing 21 recreation centers, 181 merit employees and thousands of temporary staff. Prior to this, she has worked in various parks and recreation capacities including Park Manager and Park Operations Specialists for NOVA Parks (Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority) in Virginia. Doranne has also been the Executive Director of an Adult Education program and has extensive experience trip leading and programming in the backcountry.
Doranne is extremely excited to be a part of the team at Antelope Island and share her passion for parks!
Doranne Pittz
Jennifer is excited to be a member of the Antelope Island Friends Board. Every opportunity to share the island’s beauty and history with others strengthens her commitment to its protection and future. She is proud to be a part of a passionate community working to ensure Antelope Island remains a sanctuary for generations to come.
Jennifer Kenley
Current & Former Board Members
Mark Altom, Christi Anderson, Bette Arial, Genevieve Atwood, Jack Barnet, Lane Beattie, Nancy Blockinger, Jay Brasher, Barry Burton, Duane Burton, Jay Christianson, Randy Cook, Nancy Devenport, Bob Dimock, Bill Dodgson, Kori Ann Edwards, Fred Fox, O. Jay Gatton, Cindy Gooch, Gerald Gordon, Jon Hartog, Max Harward, John Hollenhorst, Robin Watson Hullinger, Julie Jacobs, Vaughn Jacobson, Dan Johnson, Sheldon Killpack, Spencer Kinard, Mitch Larsson, Don Leonard, Rick Mayfield, Diane Maynes, Merrill Miller, Jerry Montgomery, Bob Morris, John Morris, Courtland Nelson, Ann Neville, Brent Overson, Jeff Oyler, Lonnie Paulos, Ed Payne, Dave Porter, Marty Qualls, Cathy Rawstorne, Roger Richins, Barbara Riddle, Howard Rigtrup, Neka Roundy, Gary Sargent, Bill Shaw, Jeremy Shaw, Terry Smedley, Tim Smith, Scott Sneddon, Wilf Sommerkorn, Barbara Stephenson, Gayle Stevenson, Shelleice Stokes, Spencer Stokes, John Sullivan, Jack Tanner, Debra Tanzi, Garth Taylor, Ron Taylor, DeLore Thurgood, Robert Thurgood, Jay Todd, Dan Tuttle, Mary Tullius, Julie Watkins, Wade Watkins, Robin Watson, Dave Williams, Tom Winegar