Steve Pratt
This has just come to my attention, and I know there are a number of people who would appreciate knowing that Steve died on December 28, 2012 from brain cancer.
Stephen Pratt grew up on a backwoods ranch in the State of Washington. Steve graduated from Brigham Young University with a master’s degree in education. He did further post graduate studies at the University of California at Berkley in the 1960’s. He taught full-time in the public school system for six years and then taught for one year in a private school. Seven years were spent working for the National Center for Constitutional Studies under the direction of renowned historian, W. Cleon Skousen, where Pratt devoted his time to research and teaching in many locations in the United States and two foreign countries. With his wife, Belva Gae, they are the parents of four children and reside on a sixty acre “ranch” at Cove Fort, Utah. For the past 20 plus years has earned a living with his hands in a family business called Pratt Wagon Works, where they build historic wagons, printing presses and other old-fashioned reproductions.
There will be a Life Celebration on January 19 at the LDS 8th ward building 500 E 200 N, Provo, UT, January 19, 2013 at 1 p.m. Please forward this message to those who would be interested. Instead of flowers, you could donate to Parley Pratt, grandson in Primary Children’s Hospital, at Wells Fargo Bank, NCCS.net, or the National Federal Lands Conference.
StephenPrattandoneofhisAlbionprintingpresses.jpeg
I’m very sorry to hear that — Steve was a great asset to the hand press community and there are many of his presses in use and on display around the country. I hope Pratt Wagon Works will continue this work under his son.
Bob
I’m sorry to hear of Steve’s passing. He was a talented craftsman. I remember seeing the Albion he made for Steve Heaver not long after I was an apprentice at The Hill Press. Mr. Heaver was very proud of that press and rightly so- though diminutive in scale, that Albion was a serious piece of equipment equal to any antique that could be found on the secondhand market.
Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY
[Posted at the request of Steve’s family. —Eds.]
On December 28, 2012, the world lost a very special man, Dr. Stephen Pratt. We will miss him dearly, and we thank him for his service to this nation and are forever grateful to him for his contributions to freedom, liberty and education. He will be missed.
Excerpt from his web page, “Liberty and Learning with Stephen Pratt”:
“Stephen Pratt grew up on a backwoods ranch in the State of Washington. His family was still using draft horses until he was about twelve years old. Steve graduated from Brigham Young University with a master’s degree in education. He did further post graduate studies at the University of California at Berkley in the 1960’s. He taught full- time in the public school system for six years and then taught for one year in a private school. Seven years were spent working for the National Center for Constitutional Studies under the direction of renowned historian, W. Cleon Skousen, where Pratt devoted his time to research and teaching in many locations in the United States and two foreign countries.
“During the spring of 2005 Stephen was urged by friends to teach a class devoted to American principles and problems. The very successful 16 week course has developed into a program called “Liberty and Learning.” The lessons focus on understanding our history and how it relates to current events. A web site has been established under the name libertyandlearning.com.
“He and his wife, Belva Gae, are the parents of four children and reside on a sixty acre ‘ranch’ at Cove Fort, Utah. Stephen Pratt is an accomplished craftsman and for the past 20 plus years has earned a living with his hands in a family business called Pratt Wagon Works, where he with his son, Ben, build historic wagons, printing presses and other old fashioned reproductions.”
Steve’s son Ben will carry on his work. You can reach him by email at http://www.libertyandlearning.com.
Just want to update the Letterpress Community that their will be a Celebration of Steve Pratt’s Life on Saturday, Jan 19th at 1 pm at 500 E, 200 N, @ 8th Ward Chapel, Provo. Steve Pratt was an outstanding craftsman of all sorts, but for our world, Steve built amazing working copies of printing presses. Hard to think of anyone in recent times who has remade full-size cast-iron hand presses, and to such a degree of perfection that they work beautifully. He paid great attention to the details of his work. If you knew Steve or are an owner of one of his presses, please take the time over the next day or so to send a comment to the family via Steve’s website at www.libertyandlearning.com