Elder Victor L. Brown, General Authority emeritus, has been honored as a "Utah Pioneer of Flight" for his contributions to the state's aviation industry and to the Salt Lake International Airport.
A former airline executive, Elder Brown served as the Church's Presiding Bishop from 1972 until 1985. He was first called as a General Authority in 1961, when he was sustained as a counselor to Presiding Bishop John H. Vandenberg. On April 6, 1985, he was sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy and was given emeritus status on Oct. 1, 1989.Elder Brown and three others were recognized as "Utah Pioneers of Flight" during a luncheon Feb. 27 at the Salt Lake Airport Hilton. Utah Lt. Gov. Olene Walker was the keynote speaker and presented plaques to those honored. The others were former Utah Sen. Jake Garn; June Morris, Morris Travel and Morris Air founder; and Louis Miller, executive director of the Salt Lake International Airport.
The lieutenant governor said, "All of us, every time we fly in and out of the airport, can say thank you to these four individuals."
The hotel is naming four of its luxury suites in honor of the "pioneers."
Elder Brown began his aviation career with United Airlines in 1940 as a passenger and reservation agent in Salt Lake City. He had worked his way up to the position of director of reservations by 1961, when he was called to the Presiding Bishopric.
He was named to the board of directors of Western Airlines in 1974 and served until 1985. "He was instrumental in creating the Western hub at the Salt Lake International Airport and keeping the struggling airline afloat during rough times," said Lt. Gov. Walker. "His diplomacy and expertise helped ease the transition when Delta Airlines purchased Western Airlines and took over the Salt Lake hub."
