George S. Romney
Encyclopedia
George Samuel Romney was the president of Bannock Stake Academy, now Brigham Young University–Idaho
, at the end of the First World War. He was a key figure in helping it to survive the postwar depression
. Before its latest rename it was known as Ricks College.
Romney was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was born in St. George, Utah
. When he was young his family moved to the Mormon colonies in Mexico
so that his father could continue practicing plural marriage
, which was illegal in the United States
.
After marrying and having several children, Romney returned to the United States at the start of the Mexican Revolution
, specifically to flee the disruptive activities of Pancho Villa
.
By 1917 Romney was a faculty member at Brigham Young University
in Provo
, Utah
. In the summer of that year Romney was appointed principal of Bannock Stake Academy to replace Andrew B. Christensen. In 1918, the school was granted state certification. It was then renamed Ricks Normal College. By the time students returned for Fall Semester they not only had a new name, but they were now led by a president.
Under Romney's leadership the school instituted standards of dress and conduct that all students agreed to follow in 1922.
In 1923, the name of the school was changed again to Ricks College, but Romney continued to lead it in its broadened mission. In 1930 Romney was replaced by Hyrum Manwaring
.
After his service as president of Ricks College, Romney served as president
of the Northern States Mission
of LDS Church. He died while serving in this position and was replaced by Bryant S. Hinckley
.
Romney's eldest son Marion G. Romney
became an apostle and a member of the First Presidency
of the LDS Church. Romney daughter, Catherine Romney Cheney, later became a cloistered nun in the Roman Catholic Church. Romney was an uncle of Michigan
governor
George W. Romney
.
Brigham Young University–Idaho
Brigham Young University–Idaho is a private university located in Rexburg, Idaho. Founded in 1888, the university is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and transitioned from a junior college to a four-year institution in 2001, known for the greater part of its...
, at the end of the First World War. He was a key figure in helping it to survive the postwar depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Before its latest rename it was known as Ricks College.
Romney was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was born in St. George, Utah
St. George, Utah
St. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
. When he was young his family moved to the Mormon colonies in Mexico
Mormon Colonies in Mexico
The Mormon colonies in Mexico are settlements located near the Sierra Madre mountains in northern Mexico which were established by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints beginning in 1885. Many of the original colonists came to Mexico due to federal attempts to curb and...
so that his father could continue practicing plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
, which was illegal in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
After marrying and having several children, Romney returned to the United States at the start of the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
, specifically to flee the disruptive activities of Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
.
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in Provo
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. In the summer of that year Romney was appointed principal of Bannock Stake Academy to replace Andrew B. Christensen. In 1918, the school was granted state certification. It was then renamed Ricks Normal College. By the time students returned for Fall Semester they not only had a new name, but they were now led by a president.
Under Romney's leadership the school instituted standards of dress and conduct that all students agreed to follow in 1922.
In 1923, the name of the school was changed again to Ricks College, but Romney continued to lead it in its broadened mission. In 1930 Romney was replaced by Hyrum Manwaring
Hyrum Manwaring
Hyrum Manwaring was the president of Ricks College from 1930 to 1944.At one point, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints tried to give the school to the state of Idaho, but the state refused it...
.
After his service as president of Ricks College, Romney served as president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the Northern States Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of LDS Church. He died while serving in this position and was replaced by Bryant S. Hinckley
Bryant S. Hinckley
Bryant Stringham Hinckley was an American author, religious speaker, civic leader and educator. He served as a prominent mid-level leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 20th century. His books were primarily designed for a Latter-day Saint audience.Hinckley was...
.
Romney's eldest son Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney
Marion George Romney was an apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:...
became an apostle and a member of the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
of the LDS Church. Romney daughter, Catherine Romney Cheney, later became a cloistered nun in the Roman Catholic Church. Romney was an uncle of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
governor
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
George W. Romney
George W. Romney
George Wilcken Romney was an American businessman and Republican Party politician. He was chairman and CEO of American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1962, the 43rd Governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969, and the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1969 to 1973...
.
See also
- Pratt-Romney familyPratt-Romney familyThe Pratt–Romney Family is the name of a U.S. political family. It is linked by marriage to the Smith Family and the Matheson Family.The Pratt–Romney Family is the name of a U.S. political family. It is linked by marriage to the Smith Family and the Matheson Family.The Pratt–Romney Family is the...
- George and Artemisa Romney