Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ceremony Jell O topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislature proclaims Jell-O official snack of Utah; Bill Cosby honored in joint session
Summary
In a joint convention Jan. 31, 2001, Utah legislators declared Jell‑O the state’s official snack, heard remarks from Jell‑O executives and guest Bill Cosby, and presented an honorary-citizenship citation to Cosby. Sponsors cited petition signatures and sales figures supporting the move.
In a joint convention of the Utah House and Senate on Jan. 31, 2001, the Legislature adopted a proclamation recognizing Jell‑O and proclaimed a Jell‑O week in the state. Lieutenant Governor Olin S. Walker and Jell‑O representatives presented the condensed proclamation to the joint body, citing more than 14,000 petition signatures gathered in support of naming Jell‑O the state’s official snack.
Jeri Fennard, identified herself as general manager of Jell‑O, told legislators that the product and Utah have a long association: "Frankly, we have a hard time imagining a time when Jell‑O was not closely associated with the state of Utah." Anne Fudge, vice president of Kraft Foods, noted marketing and cultural ties with Utah and thanked the Legislature for the recognition.
Entertainment spokesperson Bill Cosby, introduced as Jell‑O’s long‑time national spokesman, addressed the joint convention and framed the recognition as a celebration of family life in Utah. "We're number 1," Cosby said, praising Utah’s family traditions and noting the state's high per‑capita Jell‑O consumption. The Legislature presented Cosby with an official citation and an honorary citizenship resolution signed by the lieutenant governor, speaker of the house and senate president.
Sponsors and supporters described grassroots efforts behind the campaign, including a BYU student petition drive and local recipe contests. The joint convention dissolved after the presentations and the proceedings were recorded in the legislative journal.
The proclamation and citation were presented as ceremonial recognitions; no statute or regulatory change was enacted as part of the presentation. The joint convention concluded and the House returned to regular session business.
