But when Barack Obama accepts his party's nomination, Beverly White, of Tooele, will have to settle for watching his speech on television.

For the first time in over 20 years, White isn't a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

"I will wish I was there every minute," said White, 79. "It looks like it is going to be a fun one."

During an expedition to Antarctica last year, the ship carrying White hit rough waters. For two days and two nights, she was battered around. She suffered a back injury that has limited her movement.

"You have to have two good legs and a good back to go to a convention," she said.

And she would know. White went to her first convention in 1964, the last year Democrats won Utah. The only convention she has missed since then was 1976, and only because she wasn't very keen on Jimmy Carter.

That's a total of 10 conventions for the former 10-term state legislator.

"She has just been a stalwart of the party for many decades," said state Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland. "She has been one of our historians."

To save money, White and the Utah delegation packed into small twin-propeller planes in 1964 and flew to Atlantic City instead of flying commercial. But the return flight got caught in turbulence for hours. The delegation has flown commercial since.

She took her daughter to that first convention, going to meetings at night and walking the Atlantic City boardwalk by day.

"We had eight hours of sleep in about five days," she said.

White has seen the conventions change from major political battleground to prepackaged TV pep rallies. In those early conventions, candidates such as Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern and even Ted Kennedy wooed delegates before and during the conventions. White received flowers and fruit baskets from the presidential hopefuls. She met them and asked questions.

"I loved meeting the candidates and picking someone I could work for," she said. "Now you are lucky if you get anywhere near a candidate, especially if you are from Utah."

Coming from such a conservative state, White, who calls herself a "women's libber," enjoyed being around so many like-minded people, striking up a friendship with some repeat delegates from throughout the country.

But even if that stubborn back of hers heals, White will probably stay in Tooele and watch each convention from now on.

"I've had my turn," she said. "It's been exciting and I've loved it."

mcanham@sltrib.com