The first of the 1998 mission presidents have been announced by the First Presidency. The mission presidents and their wives will begin their service about July 1. Their assignments will be announced later.
The new mission presidents are:- Carl Lavon Call, 59, Dublan 1st Ward, Colonia Dublan Mexico Stake; stake president; former Young Men president, high councilor, bishop, stake mission president, president of seventies, and missionary in the Uruguaryan Mission; farmer; studied diesel mechanics at Central Utah Vocational School; born in Colonia Dublan, Mexico, to Charles Helaman and Hannah Skousen Call; married Jean Russell Silver, eight children. She is Primary secretary, former counselor in Primary presidency, Primary teacher, Relief Society president and teacher, YWMIA camp director; received bachelor's degree in nursing from BYU; born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Hiram Clawson and Virginia Russell Silver.
Ewles Marshall McCoy, 63, Centerville Ward, Fremont California Stake; president of the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission (he was called in November and began his service then); former interim president of the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission, literacy missionary in the Santo Domingo East and West and Santiago missions, seminary teacher, family living teacher, Young Men president, stake missionary, bishop; retired junior high school principal; received bachelor's and master's degrees in Spanish education from BYU; born in Salina, Utah, to Milton Nephi and Myrtle Ivy Ewles McCoy; married Suzanne Webb, six children. She is serving with her husband in the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission; former literacy missionary, ward music chairman, Relief Society president and homemaking leader, and Young Women president; born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Ralph Smith and Mildred Whipple Webb.
Rand Hugh Packer, 52, Edgemont 4th Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont Stake; high councilor; former bishop and counselor, Scoutmaster, and Young Men president; Church Educational System area director; received bachelor's degree in health education and master's degree in Church history and doctrine, both from BYU; born in Berkeley, Calif., to Thane J. and Palmyra Bean Packer; married Shirlee Davis, nine children. She is Young Women counselor; former ward music chairman, Relief Society chorister and teacher, stake Young Women secretary, and Young Women adviser; attended BYU; born in Colonia Juarez, Mexico, to John Alvin and Ada Whetten Davis.
John C. Pingree, 57, Yale 2nd Ward, Salt Lake Bonneville Stake; former stake president, ward mission leader, bishop, high councilor, stake Young Men president, gospel doctrine teacher, and missionary in Argentina; self-employed business consultant; received bachelor's degree from University of Utah in economics and a master's in business administration from Harvard University; born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Job Frederick and Marjorie Cannon Pingree; married Carmen Sweeten Boyden, five children. She is co-chairwoman of General Church Committee on Disabilities; former Primary general board member, Relief Society stake board member, Young women president, Primary teacher, and Relief Society president and teacher; received bachelor's degree in history and master's in special education and political science from the University of Utah; born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to John Sterling and Orpha Sweeten Boyden.
Edward Dewayne Smith, 60, Las Vegas 1st Ward, Las Vegas Nevada East Stake; ward mission leader; former Las Vegas Temple ordinance worker, stake president's counselor, high councilor, bishop and counselor, and Young Men president; president of Smith-Christensen Enterprises and Southwest Consultants LTD.; attended Mt. San Antonio College and Long Beach College, received professional designation in insurance from College of Life Underwriters; born in Borger, Texas, to Edward Wilson and Bertha Irene Duren Smith; married Maurine Jackson, three children. She is a Relief Society teacher, stake organ specialist and ward organist; former temple ordinance worker, and Young Women and Primary president; received a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas; born in Toquerville, Utah, to Harvey A. and Irma Slack Jackson.
Madison U. Sowell Jr., 45, Edgemont 13th Ward, Provo Edgemont North Stake, gospel doctrine teacher; former bishop, high councilor, elders quorum president, stake clerk, ward organist, and missionary in the Italy North Mission; BYU professor and department chairman; received bachelor's degree in Italian and comparative literature from BYU, master's and doctorate in romance languages from Harvard University; born in Piggott, Ark., to Madison Upshaw and Ora Hosey Sowell; married Debra Sue Hickenlooper, two children. She is Relief Society president; former stake Relief Society board member, stake Young Women secretary, Relief Society president's counselor and teacher, Young Women president's counselor, and activities committee chairwoman; received bachelor's degree in humanities and French literature from BYU, master's degree in theater history from Tufts University, doctorate in dance history and criticism from New York University; born in Seattle, Wash., to Monte Paul and Susan Owen Nelson Hickenlooper.
Larry Lamar Whiting, 56, Fruit Heights 8th Ward, Fruits Heights Utah Stake; former stake president and counselor, bishop and counselor, high councilor, and missionary in the Northwestern States Mission; director of administration, LDS Church Welfare; received bachelor's degree in sociology from BYU and a master's of social work from University of Utah; born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to L. Lamar and Uarda Ball Whiting; married Kaye Wadsworth, eight children. She is a Young Women counselor; former stake Relief Society board member, stake Mutual organist, Relief Society teacher, Primary chorister, and Young Women president; attended Ricks College; born in Burley, Idaho, to Vaughn Arnold and Nina Norton Wadsworth.
Duane B. Williams, 65, Riverton 6th Ward, Riverton Utah North Stake; patriarch and gospel doctrine teacher; former stake president and counselor, bishop and counselor, high councilor, high priest group leader, Sunday School president, and missionary in the Montevideo Uruguary Mission; retired from American Stores; received bachelor's degree in education from University of Utah; born in Heiner, Utah, to Neldon Heber and Amelia Waterfield Williams; married Maxine Markus, five children. She is a former Relief Society stake board member, Relief Society teacher and counselor, Sunday School and Primary teacher, Young Women teacher and counselor, and stake missionary; born in Midvale, Utah, to Max and Jennie Louise Barben Markus.
