Serge N. Benson papers, 1942-1973

Serge Nelson Benson was born on March 15, 1906, in Whitney, Idaho, to Serge Ballif Benson and Melinda Caroline Nelson. His family moved to Logan, Utah in 1919 in order for Serge and his siblings to attend high school. Serge graduated from Logan High School in 1922 and then attended Utah Agricultural College from 1922-1924. He completed a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1924-1926 and then returned to school and where he completed a bachelor of arts degree in 1928. From 1928-1929, Serge served as the principal for Daggett County High school before moving to Washington, D.C. to work for the United States Tariff Commission as a commodity specialist while attending George Washington University Law School. In 1931, he wed Elizabeth Ruth Horton and together they had six children.

Serge graduated from law school in 1934 and continued to work as a commodity specialist until 1947 when he was appointed to the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee as an advisor on tariff and foreign trade matters. In 1949 he accepted a position with the Senate Finance Committee as an advisor to the Republicans until 1964 when he resigned in order to teach at Utah State University.

Professor Benson taught business law and economics of foreign trade and also served as a university attorney where he gave free legal advice to students. He was honored as professor of the year in 1973 and retired from teaching in 1974.

Serge Benson died in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 28, 1994.