JUAB COUNTY, Utah -- Former Utah Congressman Bill Orton, a strong credit union advocate during three terms in Washington and one-time candidate for the NCUA Board, was killed in an ATV accident at Little Sahara Sand Dunes Saturday afternoon.
Orton, 60, was riding a large ATV down a steep sand dune when the vehicle apparently flipped and landed on top of him. Another rider discovered him a short time later.
Orton, a Democrat, represented Utah's 3rd Congressional District from 1991 to 1997. His election in November 1990 was big political news because he was a Democrat and won in what many considered the most Republican district in the nation.
Orton lost his bid for a fourth term when Republican Chris Cannon narrowly defeated him in 1996. After his defeat , Orton who had serve don the House Banking Committee, as it was called then, spent several years in law practice in Washington and was considered a candidate for the NCUA Board because of his strong relationship with credit unions.
