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History's his game / Browning worker makes, remembers history
By DEANNE WINTERTONGlen Jensen, of Ogden Canyon, recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and although he's making history of his own, he's no stranger to area history. Not only is he the historian at the world headquarters of Browning Arms in Morgan County, while young he rubbed shoulders with Val Browning, one of the namesakes of the company he now works for.
While growing up a few doors down from the Browning family near 27th and Adams, Jensen remembers playing with a young Bruce Browning, Val's son.
During their friendship, which stretched from first grade until high school graduation, Bruce and Jensen would play with the electric trains and pool tables in the Browning basement and sleigh ride on the hills of Ogden.
Jensen even remembers Bruce's father working with guns in his room. It was a legacy started by Bruce's grandfather, John M. Browning, who many claim was the greatest firearms inventor the world has ever known.
Jensen also remembers the Browning's housekeeper and cook.
"They were a pretty prominent family, I guess," Jensen said. "But I didn't know it then. They were just a super nice family."
As Jensen grew up -- working at Armstrong Sporting Goods for 24 years, serving in the Army and Navy, and retiring from employment with the railroad -- he fostered a love for Browning guns.
"For the money, Browning guns are the best you can get. I've always been a Browning man," Jensen said. "My son is a Browning man, too."
As historian of Browning Arms for a decade now, Jensen takes many phone calls, mostly requests to look up serial numbers on various firearms. Over the years, he's also aided with testing, research and development. In all, he's worked at Browning for 18 years.
And, every now and then, his childhood friend Bruce stops in to say hello.
He says it's important for an 80-year old to stay active. He drives 25 minutes one way from Ogden Canyon over Trappers Loop into Mountain Green each day to go to work, but he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I'll stay until they kick me out," Jensen said. "I've got to keep my mind working, doing something. Got to keep busy. Old age is not the best, but it's not the worst thing, either."
And his fellow Browning employees aren't eager for Jensen to leave. They recently threw a surprise 80th birthday party for him during lunch at Browning. Jensen's whole family was on hand for the festivities.
"It was a beautiful party," Jensen said. "I was absolutely beyond myself. It was almost embarrassing."
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Happy Birthday, Glen! I'm your old neighbor, Tom. We lived next door to each other. I remember the time you showed my dad and me a Colt's revolving rifle and an 1857 Smith and Wesson revolver.
Good luck!
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