Richard Headlee
Encyclopedia
Richard Harold Headlee was the author of the Headlee Amendment, a Michigan
law that places restrictions on tax increases without voter approval. He was also the 1982 Republican
candidate for Governor of Michigan
. During 1963 he served as the National President of the Jaycees.
to William Clark and Violet Lunn Headlee and grew up in Richfield, Utah
. He graduated from Utah State University
in 1953. In 1949 Headlee married his high school sweetheart, Mary Elaine Mendenhall. They had four sons and five daughters.
After graduating from college, Headlee joined the US military and was stationed in Mannheim, Germany. He then came to Bountiful, Utah
where he joined the Jaycees
and eventually became the national president in 1963.
In 1964 Headlee moved to Michigan. That year he was appointed by Governor George Romney
to run a program for Michigan servicemen in Vietnam. In 1966 Headlee served as Romney's campaign manager. It was the fact that Romney could outwork him that convinced Headlee to investigate the LDS Church. He was baptized in 1966 and he was sealed to his wife, who was a life-long church member, and children in 1967 in the Salt Lake Temple
.
In 1978 Headlee organized the effort that brought about the Headlee amendment. He was the Republican candidate for governor of Michigan in 1982, but lost to Jim Blanchard.
In 1987, Headlee was the recipient of a heart transplant from a victim of a motorcycle accident in Texas.
In the LDS Church, Headlee served twice as a bishop, ten years in a stake presidency and as a Regional Representative.
Among Headlee's children is Howard Headlee the current president of the Utah Bankers Association.
Headlee was the president and CEO of Alexander Hamilton Life Insurance Co. based in Farmington Hills, Michigan
.
Headlee was very anti-taxes and pro-life.
Headlee also funded the creation by Dennis Smith
and placement of the "Signing of the Constitution" statues in the US embassies in Moscow
and London
in 1988.
In 1992 Headlee his children and grandchildren were involved in a major effort to assist children in Romanian orphanages. This was organized into Project Concern International, which provided 40,000 pounds of supplies to an orphanage in Romania.
After retiring and moving to Park City, Utah
to be near his grandchildren Headlee served as the director of the board of Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins, Utah
.
Headlee died at his home in Cedar Hills, Utah
in 2004.
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"....
law that places restrictions on tax increases without voter approval. He was also the 1982 Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for Governor of Michigan
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:...
. During 1963 he served as the National President of the Jaycees.
Biography
Headlee was born in Fort Dodge, IowaFort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 25,206 in the 2010 census, an increase from 25,136 in the 2000 census. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S...
to William Clark and Violet Lunn Headlee and grew up in Richfield, Utah
Richfield, Utah
Richfield is a city in and the county seat of Sevier County, Utah, in the United States, and is the largest city in southern-central Utah. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,551. It lies in the Mormon Corridor, just off of Interstate 70 about 40 miles east of its junction with...
. He graduated from Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
in 1953. In 1949 Headlee married his high school sweetheart, Mary Elaine Mendenhall. They had four sons and five daughters.
After graduating from college, Headlee joined the US military and was stationed in Mannheim, Germany. He then came to Bountiful, Utah
Bountiful, Utah
Bountiful is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 42,552, a three percent increase over the 2000 figure of 41,301...
where he joined the Jaycees
United States Junior Chamber
The United States Junior Chamber is a leadership training and civic organization for people between the ages of 18 and 41. Areas of emphasis are business development, management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections. The U.S...
and eventually became the national president in 1963.
In 1964 Headlee moved to Michigan. That year he was appointed by Governor George 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...
to run a program for Michigan servicemen in Vietnam. In 1966 Headlee served as Romney's campaign manager. It was the fact that Romney could outwork him that convinced Headlee to investigate the LDS Church. He was baptized in 1966 and he was sealed to his wife, who was a life-long church member, and children in 1967 in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
.
In 1978 Headlee organized the effort that brought about the Headlee amendment. He was the Republican candidate for governor of Michigan in 1982, but lost to Jim Blanchard.
In 1987, Headlee was the recipient of a heart transplant from a victim of a motorcycle accident in Texas.
In the LDS Church, Headlee served twice as a bishop, ten years in a stake presidency and as a Regional Representative.
Among Headlee's children is Howard Headlee the current president of the Utah Bankers Association.
Headlee was the president and CEO of Alexander Hamilton Life Insurance Co. based in Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills is a community in southeastern Michigan. It is the largest city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 79,740 at the 2010 census...
.
Headlee was very anti-taxes and pro-life.
Headlee also funded the creation by Dennis Smith
Dennis Smith (Sculptor)
Dennis V. Smith is an American sculptor. He is a Latter-day Saint and some of his artwork deals with LDS themes.He is most noted in LDS circles for having created the statues that form the monument to women in Nauvoo.-Life:...
and placement of the "Signing of the Constitution" statues in the US embassies in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1988.
In 1992 Headlee his children and grandchildren were involved in a major effort to assist children in Romanian orphanages. This was organized into Project Concern International, which provided 40,000 pounds of supplies to an orphanage in Romania.
After retiring and moving to Park City, Utah
Park City, Utah
Park City is a town in Summit and Wasatch counties in the U.S. state of Utah. It is considered to be part of the Wasatch Back. The city is southeast of downtown Salt Lake City and from Salt Lake City's east edge of Sugar House along Interstate 80. The population was 7,558 at the 2010 census...
to be near his grandchildren Headlee served as the director of the board of Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins, Utah
Ivins, Utah
Ivins is a city in Washington County, Utah, United States. The population was 4,450 at the 2000 census, and it was estimated at 7,205 in 2006. Although Ivins was a town in 2000, it has since been classified as a fifth-class city by state law.-History:...
.
Headlee died at his home in Cedar Hills, Utah
Cedar Hills, Utah
Cedar Hills is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. The population was 3,094 at the 2000 census, and was estimated to be 9,551 in 2008. The city began growing rapidly during the 1990s, with the largest growth rate of any municipality in the state. It is located east of Alpine and Highland on...
in 2004.