Citizenship a 'done deal' for English pair

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Mar 18, 2007 | by Jeremy Twitchell Deseret Morning News

MAPLETON -- Mapleton City Administrator Bob Bradshaw and wife Anne may now wear cowboy boots to church, take Diet Coke and cheese puffs to tea time and take advantage of all other rights associated with being an American.

That's according to a mock citizenship certificate presented to the Bradshaws by city officials and staff on Friday, the day the couple passed their citizenship tests. The English natives haven't formally been sworn in yet -- that day is still a few weeks away -- but for all intents and purposes, it's a done deal.

So the city chose to celebrate on Friday with the greatest of all American rites of passage -- the barbecue.

"This is a complete surprise," Bob Bradshaw said of the party. "I don't know how the mayor and staff kept it a secret from me."

Even when the Bradshaws arrived at the Mapleton Community Center, which had a row of flags out front, the couple thought the center had merely been rented out for a wedding reception, which is usually marked by the flags outside.

It wasn't until someone made a quip about it being a very patriotic wedding and the Bradshaws saw the city's staff members gathered in the foyer that they realized what was going on.

"We're thoroughly delighted to be in the United States," Bob Bradshaw said when called upon for a speech. "We've taken a long time coming around this curve, but we feel that we truly belong."

The Bradshaws first began visiting the United States on vacations during the 1980s. But after their four children went to Brigham Young University and ended up marrying Americans, the couple decided it was time to emigrate as well.

"It's always been a desire that we've harbored, to live here on a permanent basis," Bob Bradshaw said.

The couple moved to Springville 10 years ago, where they lived while Bob Bradshaw pursued a master's degree in public administration at Brigham Young University and taught on the side. Upon his graduation five years ago, he worked briefly for Springville City before becoming the city administrator for Mapleton eight years ago.

Anne Bradshaw, meanwhile, has been working on a book of short stories for Latter-day Saint youths, which will be released this summer.

The citizenship process is notoriously long, but Anne Bradshaw, who handled all the paperwork for the couple, said going through that process is a valuable experience.

"It's a good process," she said. "You learn so much, that by the time you're done, you really feel like you belong."

Mayor James Brady, who was the ringleader for the surprise barbecue, had high praise for Bob Bradshaw's role in Mapleton City.

"Without a full-time mayor to oversee things, Bob really is the CEO of our city," Brady said. "He takes responsibility for everything, and everyone responds to him. He has a very diplomatic way. ... he reflects very well on Mapleton."

The Bradshaws will be officially sworn in at an as-yet unscheduled naturalization ceremony in a few weeks.

E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com