Rose Taylor Wray and David Wayne Horsley are the 2025 inductees into the Afton Heritage Hall of Fame.

They were honored as part of the Afton Independence Day Celebration and their portraits will be displayed at the Afton Civic Center.

The Hall of Fame provided the following biographies.

Rose Taylor Wray

A Life of Service, Education, and Community Commitment

Rose Taylor Wray was born on December 2, 1920, in Fairview, Wyoming. As the daughter of a sheepherder, her childhood was punctuated by summers spent in the scenic outdoors of her father’s sheep camps, where she cultivated a strong appreciation for nature and developed an impressive work ethic. These early experiences instilled in her a love for the outdoors that would influence her future endeavors. While attending Star Valley High School, Rose was an active participant in extracurricular activities, showcasing her talents in drama and journalism. She was a member of the school’s first pep star club and the glee club. She demonstrated leadership abilities by being elected as a junior class officer. Her peers recognized her charm and charisma, electing her the most popular student in her senior class.

Rose’s educational journey took a significant turn at the age of 38. As a dedicated mother of four children, she decided it was her time to pursue higher education. With fearless determination, she enrolled at Utah State University, where she successfully earned her Bachelor of Science degree with honors. Continuing her academic pursuits, Rose completed a Master of Arts degree in English during her summers. With her new qualifications, she embarked on a fulfilling career teaching at Star Valley High School for 25 years.

At Star Valley High School, Rose established herself as one of the most popular and highly regarded educators. She was instrumental in setting up the first advanced placement program in English, allowing students to earn college credit while still in high school. Rose devoted countless hours after school to tutor students who needed extra help, reflecting her commitment to their success. Her ability to connect with students on a personal level earned her the affectionate nickname “Aunt Rose,” a direct result of teaching nieces and nephews. She created an atmosphere of encouragement and support in her classroom. Rose was twice elected as President of the Wyoming Association of Teachers and was instrumental in develop the English curriculum use in classrooms throughout Wyoming.

Rose’s impact extended beyond the classroom; she became a vital force in her community. In 1967, she and her husband, Mack Wray, were part of a group of fourteen couples who formed the Star Valley Recreation Association with the goal of building a golf course in Afton. Each couple contributed $1,500 and signed a promissory note to secure a loan of $40,000 for the venture. Through their efforts, they purchased property from Ted Frome and began the construction of a nine-hole golf course. The project, achieved through hundreds of hours of volunteer work, showcased the community’s spirit and dedication. The Wray family was notably responsible for planting many of the trees that now enhance the golf course. Upon completion, Rose and her colleagues worked with Jack Osmond, a legislator for Lincoln County, and the State of Wyoming to obtain a recreation development grant. On July 27, 1971, the beautiful golf course was officially deeded to the town of Afton, enriching the local community with a recreational asset. This golf course not only became a venue for local residents but also provided the infrastructure for Star Valley High School to form girls’ and boys’ golf teams and host regional tournaments.

Above all, Rose’s legacy is defined by her unwavering commitment to education and her instrumental role in fostering community development. Her contributions continue to inspire future generations, as former students frequently express their gratitude, with many citing her as their most influential teacher. Rose Taylor Wray’s life exemplifies the values of hard work, dedication, and a profound love for education and community, making her an enduring figure in the hearts of those she touched throughout her extraordinary journey.

David Wayne Horsley

David Wayne Horsley was born May 1st, 1928, to Rulon and Patricia Horsley. He was the oldest of seven children. He was born into a pioneer heritage as he is the great grandson of pioneer John Brown, who came into the Great Salt Lake Valley in 1847 with Brigham Young.

David was raised by a family of merchants, he literally grew up behind a cash register and was a product of the business world.

As a young man growing up in the Salt Lake area he learned to love being a boy scout as this would get him up into the mountains and camping with his friends. Throughout most of his young life, he went on many adventures with the scouts, some of them even over seas to travel and explore Europe.

When he turned 19, he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Hawaiian Islands. Here he served among the leper colonies meeting some of the most humble people he would ever encounter throughout his life. He loved his mission and learned to love the Gospel of Jesus Christ while serving the native people of the Hawaiian Islands.

In 1953 he married Betty Mae Jones. She grew up in Montana, and was going to BYU when they met at a school dance. As a result of this union, six of the luckiest people to live were born into their care. Starting with Marie “Moe” Horsly (Everson), David “Huffy” W Horsley Jr., Rulon Dennis “Snuffy” Horsley, Gayla “Gaydeeboop” Denise Horsley (Potter), Patricia Corin “Corky” Horsley (Young), and ending with Jennifer “FooFoo” Michelle Horsley (Hansen).

In 1957 David’s parents bought the Valleon Hotel and Cafe in Afton. As a result of that purchase, David and Betty would travel from Salt Lake to Afton as often as they could and fell in love with the Afton/Star Valley area.

In 1959 they learned that the Ford dealership was for sale. They worked out a deal and by that fall David was the new Ford dealer in town. He lived the first winter in Afton by himself as mom had to wrap things up in Salt Lake City. In the spring of 1960 they were all moved into the living area above the dealership. They were home.

Within a year of being in business David saw that there was a strong demand for inexpensive transportation, and in the spring of 1961 he introduced Honda motorcycles to the valley. They were a big hit and became one of the most successful things he did in life.

In 1974 David and Betty bought the Wray Theatre from the Hale Wray family and changed the name to the Ford Theatre.

In 1983 David got involved with the construction and building of the areas first radio station. On May 5th, 1986, KRSV radio hit the air waves with modern country music. It was a very exciting time in the valley and for David.

The first big story came only 11 days later when the Cokeville Elementary School bombing took place.

KRSV corespondent Robin Spurling was on the air with Dan Rather and the CBS evening news. It was a very exciting time and David was proud to be a part of it.

He loved to serve his community. He was always involved in one way or another with Crazy Dayz fish scramble and with the free Saturday Matinees during the Christmas Holidays. He also served as a board member in district #1 for Lower Valley Power and Light. He also served for many years in the local chapter of the Afton Lions Club.

David was an avid fisherman and hunter. A lot of memories where made as we would always set up a hunting camp, usually at Lost Creek on the south end.

When he was younger he was also a very good scuba diver, and he enjoyed going to Bear Lake to do some fishing with his spear gun.

One of his favorite things to do was flying his Mooney airplane. He used that for business to chase down cars in Salt Lake or the Denver areas. He also used it for pleasure as he loved to fly up to the San Juan Islands in the great north west part of Washington. He spent a lot of time there in his later years exploring the islands and treating his family to many adventures with crab traps and killer whales.

David loved what he did for a living, he didn’t see himself as a great salesman. Instead he liked to think of himself as a great communicator. He could talk to anyone and understand their needs. He dealt with bankers and businessmen, with farmers and ranchers, loggers and oilfield workers, and even little old ladies. He could literally talk with anyone and make it fun to do business with him. He loved to see the excitement and joy that people would experience while buying a vehicle, he felt like he was helping them make their dreams come true. As a result he never felt like he was getting up to go to work, he was getting up to go do something he loved.

The Afton/Star Valley area has felt the huge impact of this man’s life. There are many of us who have ridden a motorcycle or an ATV to the top of a mountain, and with a smile on our face have thanked David Horsley, and when you are in your car, singing along with the radio, or listening to the latest news or ball game, again you are feeling the effects of this man’s life. He lived a good one.