The First Presidency has announced the callings of the first of the 1993 mission presidents, expected to be the largest number ever called in a year. The eight new presidents and their wives will be assigned to missions later and will begin their service about July 1. Those called are:
Stephen B. Allen, 42, Taylorsville 33rd Ward, Taylorsville North Central Stake; stake president's counselor, former high councilor, bishop, elders quorum president's counselor, executive secretary and instructor and priests quorum adviser; served in Guatemala El Salvador Mission, 1969-71; director of public programs and media for Church Missionary Department; earned bachelor's degree from BYU; born in Salt Lake City, Utah, a son of Arthur Tranter and June Fowler Allen; married Nancy Billings, six children. She is an assistant librarian, former Young Women president and adviser, Primary teacher, chorister and pianist, visiting teaching supervisor, and ward chorister; attended BYU; born in Provo, Utah, a daughter of Evan Abram and Elda Mae Lewis Billings.Richard M. Austin, 58, Spring Creek 6th Ward, Springville Utah Spring Creek Stake; branch president, former high councilor, stake clerk, bishop and counselor, branch president and counselor, elders quorum president's counselor, Young Men president's counselor, and Sunday School teacher; served in Northern Far East Mission, 1955-58; director of accounting and financial reporting for BYU; earned bachelor's degree from BYU and is a certified public accountant; born in Salt Lake City, Utah, a son of Michael John and Lillian Maxfield Austin; married Sherrie Dixon, six children. She is a spiritual living leader, former stake Relief Society secretary, ward Relief Society president and counselor, Young Women adviser, Junior Sunday School coordinator, Primary president, counselor, and teacher; attended BYU; born in Ogden, Utah, a daughter of Reed Dangerfield and Mary Matilda Hills Dixon.
Josiah W. Douglas, 52, Draper 5th Ward, Draper Utah Stake; Young Men president's counselor, former youth curriculum writer for Church, high councilor, bishop and counselor, Young Men president, and Sunday School teacher; director of curriculum planning and development for the Church; earned bachelor's degree from Utah State University and master's degree from BYU; born in Murray, Utah, a son of Cecil Hoeck and Eloise Welch Douglas; married Linda Lee Hawkes, eight children. She serves in the family records extraction program, former stake mother education leader, ward Relief Society president and teacher, Young Women president's counselor, and Primary president, counselor, and teacher; attended Utah State University; born in Logan, Utah, a daughter of Keith Hobbs and Leone Hendricks Hawkes.
Don E. Fleming, 60, Sharon 6th Ward, Orem Utah Sharon Stake; stake president, former stake president's counselor, high councilor, bishop, seventies president and stake missionary; dean of College of Family, Home and Social Sciences at BYU; earned bachelor's and master's degrees from BYU, and doctorate from Washington State University; born in Ogden, Utah, a son of Donovan Ernest and Isabel Bramwell Fleming; married Mary Ruth Hacking, six children. She is a Relief Society teacher, former Relief Society president and counselor, Young Women president, Sunday School teacher, and Scout advancement chairman; attended BYU; born in Lehi, Utah, a daughter of Howard Clark and Winifred Stephens Hacking.
Roger T. Fuller, 59, Highland 11th Ward, Highland Utah East Stake; high priests group leader and temple sealer, former temple missionary, high councilor, bishop and counselor; associate manager of luggage company; earned bachelor's degree from University of Utah and attended Northwestern University for graduate business study; born in Murray, Utah, a son of Noel Alvin and Matilda Lilly Tueller Fuller; married Janice Walker, four children. She is a Relief Society teacher and temple worker, former temple missionary, stake Relief Society president, ward Relief Society president and health instructor, ward librarian, and gospel doctrine teacher; received bachelor's degree from BYU and attended University of Utah for post-graduate education; born at Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Utah, a daughter of Thomas Arnell and Lucile Allen Walker.
W. LaVon Gifford, 65, Page 2nd Ward, Page Arizona Stake; just released as executive secretary to the Africa Area presidency, former full-time missionary in the England Bristol Mission, counselor in mission presidency, stake president's counselor, bishop, and bishop's counselor; served in the Northwestern States Mission, 1949-51; dentist; graduate of BYU, University of Oregon Dental School; born in Boise, Idaho, to Warner Levi and Mary Ethel Harris Gifford; married Adrienne Marie Peterson; eight children. She was just released as secretary to the Africa Area presidency and is a former missionary with her husband in England, stake Relief Society president, counselor and board member, ward Young Women president, served in Central Atlantic States Mission, 1949-51; attended BYU; born in Richfield, Utah, to Wilford Oscar and Helen Mary Leu Peterson.
Richard K. Sager, 57, Mount Rose 6th Ward, Reno Nevada Stake; high priests group instructor, former stake president's counselor, bishop, bishop's counselor, ward mission leader and elder's quorum president; attorney; graduate of University of Utah and University of Utah College of Law; born in Lehi, Utah, to Ferren Nicholes and Zora Nevada Healey Sager; married Lois Johnson; five children. She is an assistant Relief Society homemaking leader and former stake Relief Society president's counselor and homemaking leader, stake Blazer leader, Young Women president and counselor, and Sunday School teacher; born in Conrad, Mont., to Blaine Walker and Wanda Whatcott Johnson.
J. Merrill Warthen, 47, Hazelcrest Ward, Las Vegas Nevada Paradise Stake, stake president's counselor, former high councilor, bishop, bishop's counselor, ward mission leader, elders quorum president and instructor; served in Brazilian Mission, 1965-67; sales manager of car dealership; graduated from BYU; born in St. George, Utah, to John Edward and Norma Jane Hansen Warthen; married Janice Kay Johnson; four children. She is Primary president, former Young Women president's counselor and adviser, Relief Society instructor, Primary president, counselor and chorister; graduate of BYU; born in Billings, Mont.,to Glen Barnett and Gwen Smith Johnson.
