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and written By David Anderson Associate Editor

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After traveling many miles on an ATV on a frozen night looking for a pair of lost men, Doug Peterson and the other members of the Sevier County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue found who they were looking for.

As Peterson made his way back to his truck, his four-wheeler hit a rut in the road. The vehicle threw him off and resulted in some cracked ribs and other bumps and bruises.

This wasn't the first time Peterson has come home worse for the wear after a search, and it probably will not be the last.

"He just won't quit," said Mona Peterson, Peterson's wife of almost 50 years. "If he can help, he will."

Peterson started his life in Glenwood. He became a star basketball player in high school and earned scholarships to virtually every school in the state.

He and Mona moved to Logan so he could play for the Utah State University Aggies. After deciding Logan wasn't where they wanted to be, the Petersons took a seven-year break from school. They then returned to college, this time at Southern Utah State College in Cedar City.

Peterson earned his degree in accounting and physical education, and came back to Richfield to start an oil company.

Then he became involved in the search and rescue organization, which has become a 30year relationship.

"He's tremendously reliable and always there to help," said Sevier County Sheriff Phil Barney. Barney said in the weeks since Peterson's accident, he has turned up at searches to operate radios or do anything else he can to help. "He's saved several lives."

One life he saved was a young man who was threatening to kill himself on Fish Lake Mountain. Peterson knew the boy and was able to talk to him.

"Doug was instrumental in talking him out of doing something terrible to himself," said Barney.

Even with the time Peterson has spent with the jeep posse, his top priority in life has always been his family, according to Mona.

He also volunteers as the president of the Fishlake Cabin Owners Association, the Glenwood Grazing Company and Spring Hill Irrigation Company.

"His co-workers have meant so much to him," said Mona. "He has appreciated his fellow posse members so much, he feels like without them, what can he do?"

Peterson and his wife have raised four children, two boys and two girls; Chet, Mike, Cindy and Mindy. The Petersons also have 15 grandchildren.

This article originally appeared in the June, 11th edition of the Richfield Reaper. We would like to thank the Richfield Reaper for allowing us to reprint this information for you. Please visit their website at Multimedia file viewing and clickable links are available for registered members only!!  You need to or !!