Nick Udall
Encyclopedia
John Nicholas Udall usually called Nick Udall (July 23, 1913 – June 15, 2005) was mayor
of Phoenix, Arizona
from 1948–52. He was a member of the Udall political family
and was also a nephew of Spencer W. Kimball
, the 12th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Udall was born and raised in Arizona. His parents John Hunt Udall
and Ruth Kimball were in the same English literature class at the St. Joseph Stake Academy (now Eastern Arizona College
), and when learning about playwright Nicholas Udall
, they joked that if they ever got married, that they would name their son Nick, which they did.
Udall attended Brigham Young University
and the University of Arizona
before enrolling in The George Washington University Law School
, graduating in 1943. After graduation, he returned home to Arizona, where he began his law practice.
He followed in his father's footsteps, and served as mayor of Phoenix from 1948 to 1952. He served with then-City Councilman Barry Goldwater
. From 1952 to 1956 he served as judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court. Nick left the bench to return to private legal practice at Jennings, Strouss, Salmon & Trask
in Phoenix, where he practiced law until retiring in 1992.
A life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nick served in various church positions, including service as a full-time missionary
in the Eastern Central States mission
from 1934 to 1936, as Bishop of the Phoenix Third Ward from 1970 to 1975 ("the most satisfying calling that a worthy priesthood holder can have" because "he is continually helping people"), and as Patriarch of the Phoenix Arizona Stake from 1975 to 1991.
Nick and his wife, Sybil Elizabeth Webb, are the parents of seven children. They are buried alongside each other in Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona. Following Sybil's death in 1998, Nick married Joan Romney in 2001.
His autobiography, "The Wonder of It All," was published by FCP Publishing in 2006.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
from 1948–52. He was a member of the Udall political family
Udall family
The Udall family is a U.S. political family rooted in the American West. Its role in politics spans over 100 years and four generations. Udall politicians have been elected from four different states: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon...
and was also a nephew of Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
, the 12th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Udall was born and raised in Arizona. His parents John Hunt Udall
John Hunt Udall
John Hunt Udall was mayor of Phoenix, Arizona from 1936-38. He was a member of the Udall political family....
and Ruth Kimball were in the same English literature class at the St. Joseph Stake Academy (now Eastern Arizona College
Eastern Arizona College
Eastern Arizona College , is a community college located in Graham County, Arizona. The main campus is in Thatcher, with satellite locations in Gila County, and Greenlee County...
), and when learning about playwright Nicholas Udall
Nicholas Udall
Nicholas Udall was an English playwright, cleric, pederast and schoolmaster, the author of Ralph Roister Doister, generally regarded as the first comedy written in the English language.-Biography:...
, they joked that if they ever got married, that they would name their son Nick, which they did.
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...
and the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
before enrolling in The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
, graduating in 1943. After graduation, he returned home to Arizona, where he began his law practice.
He followed in his father's footsteps, and served as mayor of Phoenix from 1948 to 1952. He served with then-City Councilman Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
. From 1952 to 1956 he served as judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court. Nick left the bench to return to private legal practice at Jennings, Strouss, Salmon & Trask
Jennings Strouss
Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, P.L.C. is a 100-lawyer law firm based in Phoenix, Arizona. Offices are located in Arizona , and in Washington D.C....
in Phoenix, where he practiced law until retiring in 1992.
A life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nick served in various church positions, including service as a full-time missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in the Eastern Central 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...
from 1934 to 1936, as Bishop of the Phoenix Third Ward from 1970 to 1975 ("the most satisfying calling that a worthy priesthood holder can have" because "he is continually helping people"), and as Patriarch of the Phoenix Arizona Stake from 1975 to 1991.
Nick and his wife, Sybil Elizabeth Webb, are the parents of seven children. They are buried alongside each other in Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona. Following Sybil's death in 1998, Nick married Joan Romney in 2001.
His autobiography, "The Wonder of It All," was published by FCP Publishing in 2006.