 The first was David Lee (January 24, 1997, to December 2002), followed by Ken Brewer (January 24, 2003, to March 15, 2006), Katharine Coles (October 27, 2006, to May 2012), and Lance Larsen, appointed May 3, 2012, by Governor Gary Herbert.The current poet laureate in Utah is Paisley Rekdal, appointed by Governor Gary Herbert in May 2017.The Commonwealth of Virginia has appointed a Poet Laureate since December 18, 1936.