09/22/2026
Today, we remember and honor Trooper John R. Winn, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our state on this day in 1971.
Trooper Winn represented a unique and vital era of the Utah Highway Patrol. Joining the UHP in 1959 as a Radio Operator, he later earned a degree in Electronic Engineering and was promoted to Radio Technician—a sworn police position at the time, meaning he carried both a badge and a toolbox. He was responsible for building and maintaining the critical radio network that served every trooper on the road, and his deep dedication to his community earned him the Outstanding Citizens Award in 1970.
On September 22, 1971, Trooper Winn was working to expand the patrol's communication capabilities at a new radio tower site atop Lake Mountain in Utah County. While operating a heavy payloader on a steep, rugged switchback, the vehicle slipped out of control, rolling backward and overturning. Trooper Winn was tragically killed in the accident. He was just 36 years old and left behind his wife, Jo Anne, and their six children. Though he was not patrolling the highway when he died, he lost his life building the safety net that continues to protect his fellow officers today.
Please join us in paying tribute to Trooper John Winn today. We invite you to learn more about his life, his legacy, and his dedicated service to the State of Utah by visiting his memorial page here: https://uhp.utah.gov/john-winn/
