George W. Romney, 88, former Michigan governor, U.S. cabinet officer and U.S. presidential candidate, died July 26, 1995, at his home of natural causes.
A member of the Bloomfield Hills 1st Ward, Brother Romney was a patriarch in the Bloomfield Hills Michigan Stake. He was called in June 1974 as a regional representative and for several years served regions in Little Rock, Ark.; St. Louis, Mo.; Chicago, Ill.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; and in Michigan.He had also been president of the Detroit (Mich.) Stake, and as a young man served a mission in England and Scotland.
Brother Romney was born July 8, 1907, in a Church colony, Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico, to Gaskell and Anna Wilcken Romney. He grew up in Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah, where he met his future wife, Lenore, while in high school. They married in 1931 and were the parents of four children.
He pursued a business career in the eastern United States, culminating with the chairmanship of American Motors Corp. in Detroit.
His role in a constitutional convention that remodeled Michigan's government helped him to be elected as governor of the state in 1962. He was re-elected in 1964 and 1966.
The latter term was for four years. He served until he resigned in 1969 to join newly elected President Richard M. Nixon's cabinet as secretary of Housing and Urban Development, which post he held until 1972.
He had run against Nixon for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968 but withdrew two weeks before the New Hampshire primary election.
After leaving government service, he became the head of VOLUNTEER, The National Center, a national organization devoted to assisting a network of agencies throughout the country in referring volunteers to areas of service.
Even in his later years, he pursued a vigorous exercise regime, walking eight miles a day with his wife and playing a daily round of golf.
In a 1986 Church News interview, he spoke of the importance of the gospel in his life: "It has been basic in everything I've done. It gives you solid principles on which to measure activity in other fields. It has been a very fundamental part of my activity."
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
First Presidency issues statement
The First Presidency has issued the following statement concerning the death of George Romney:
"George Romney epitomized all that is good in business, church, family and public service. After a successful business career in which he headed a major corporation, he served with dignity as the governor of Michigan, as a presidential candidate and as a member of a presidential cabinet. He later worked tirelesly in an effort to promote voluntarism for the public good. As a lifelong active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in a variety of leadership and other callings where he was able to be of service to both the Church and its members. Although he lived a long and full life, he will be missed by his family, friends and associates. We wish Mrs. Romney and the family well, knowing they will always have fond memories of a devoted husband, father and grandfather who made positive contributions in all facets of his life."
