Gregory Bryan Putz has been selected as the Grand Marshal for the 2026 Handcart Days Parade. A long-time Bountiful resident, Putz is known for his commitment to service and his work coordinating community food programs.
Putz moved to Utah in 1979 following a transfer with Chevron to the North Salt Lake refinery. He is a professional civil engineer who earned degrees from the University of California, Berkeley.
Since retiring, Putz has remained active in public service and church work. For the past 16 years, he has helped multi-faith groups of volunteers provide free monthly dinners to members of the community. This effort, which began in 2010 as a partnership with the Bountiful Food Pantry, provides approximately 189 in-person meals and 73 takehome meals each month as of 2025.
Putz coordinates a committee that manages the dinners at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Centerville. The initiative involves volunteers from various local congregations, including several wards and stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as St. Olaf Catholic Church, Bountiful First Baptist Church, and Bountiful Community Church.
The monthly dinners are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. and are open to anyone seeking a meal and fellowship. Putz noted that the community provides significant support through volunteers and donations from organizations such as Costco Wholesale, Banbury Cross Doughnuts, Big Byte Breads, and Nothing Bundt Cakes.
