Thank you for visiting this memorial page honoring those who either graduated or would have graduated from Granger High School in 1965. We are honoring as many former classmates as we can find who have passed on. They were our friends, associates, teammates and, in some cases, our lifelong partners and companions. We also honor our veterans and those gallant young men who gave their all, in defense of the country they loved so much. To our MIA, James Schiele, we will never forget you and will continue to look forward to the day your remains are returned to the land of the free, the home of the brave.

Thanks to everyone who helped in the development of this memorial page, especially Diane Day Cooper, who would have graduated a Lancer were it not for her parents relocating their family in 1960. Without her, this would not have been possible. Thom Rich

“And each one there has one thing shared, they have sweated beneath the same sun, looked up in wonder at the same moon, and wept when it was all done, for bein' done too soon.” Neil Diamond

Tuesday, March 31, 1970

Gail Qualls

March 3, 1968

Virgil Gail (Joe) Qualls was a very talented young man who had great promise in this life. He was an accomplished artist, who had won many contests including out of state. He was tragically taken on March 3, 1968 in an auto accident in Magna Utah. He had been out having fun with his buddy and were killed together in the wreckage. Joe loved his car that was totaled in the wreck as well.

He was born to Virgil Gail Qualls and Barbara Leonne Murdock Qualls on July 23, 1947. He was well loved and liked by many. He will live on forever in the hearts of our family. Joe was buried in the Valley View Memorial Park in West Valley City, UT. 

Below is one of the articles written about the accident.

County Youths Die in Traffic Mishap
Two young men who were killed instantly late Saturday, March 3, 1968, when their sports car crashed into the front end of oncoming truck were identified today as Virgil Gail Qualls Jr., 20, of 1475 W 6235 S, and Thomas Glen Kump, 18, of 4790 S 4300 W.

The deaths raised Utahs traffic toll to 30 for the year, compared to 34 at this time last year. Salt Lake County Deputy Sheriff Ned Franson said the two men were passing another car on 2100 South at 6400 West when their auto began skidding sideways.

It veered across the highway into the path of the oncoming eastbound van loaded with furniture bound for Denver. Deputy Franson said the impact was so great the sports car was torn apart and hurled off the south side of the highway.

The van driven by Michael Warren Fisher, 24, of Los Angeles continued down the highway and went off on the other side of the road.

Officers were unable to determine which of the victims was driving the car.

Salt Lake Tribune 4 March 1968
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