Popular Post smac97 Posted February 2, 2018 Popular Post Posted February 2, 2018 Here: Quote No one could ever accuse Jon Huntsman Sr. of aiming low. Born poor, he sought not to create a business but an international empire. Diagnosed with prostate cancer, he set his sights not only on surviving, but also on creating a research institute to eradicate all cancers. From his gleaming office in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, he saw himself not as Utah’s wealthiest resident (which he was for many years) but as the state’s caretaker, seeking to help the homeless, bolster the state’s colleges and ease tensions between Mormons and non-Mormons. Huntsman, a billionaire chemical industrialist and one of the world’s most generous philanthropists, died Feb. 2 at age 80. I have long admired this man. Just recently I was reading his book, Barefoot to Billionaire, regarding the kidnapping of his son. Fascinating stuff. Thanks, -Smac 8
Popular Post Scott Lloyd Posted February 2, 2018 Popular Post Posted February 2, 2018 A favorite memory of mine about Elder Huntsman (who served for a time as an Area Seventy) is this: For a while the Church had the annoying habit of scheduling our stake conferences near Halloween. Which meant that on more than one occasion, the Saturday evening adult session of conference conflicted with Halloween celebrating. The second time it happened it posed a particular hardship for our family, as the children we had were very young. Not only were we expected to forego the Halloween celebrating that year, but there were no available baby sitters, as every teenager would have had Halloween plans. Finally, the third time it happened, Elder Huntsman was assigned to be our visiting Area Authority. Not only did he schedule the meeting earlier in the day, he shortened it. His expressed reason was that Halloween is family time and it would be good to free up parents to be at home with their children. I have always appreciated this consideration by Elder Huntsman. 10
clarkgoble Posted February 2, 2018 Posted February 2, 2018 (edited) Who is running his philanthropies? I know the SL Trib attempted revigoration is him. I'm curious what happens there now that he's dead. Particularly since this week they just put up the paywall which is a bit of a gamble. Some of us always thought the Trib was a bit unbalanced with non-Mormons thinking it unbalanced the other way. Peter Huntsman is running the main chemical business as I understand it as well as the cancer center. Kathleen Huntsman died a few years back at the young age of 44 from a drug overdose. Jon Jr of course is still working in think tanks. I've not heard much about the other siblings of late. The family has had an outsized influence on Utah, although it sounds like at least several of the kids aren't terribly religious. It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, changes in the state. Edit: My bad. It was Paul not Jon who bought the SL Trib. So I'd expect everything to continue to go as he plans. Edited February 2, 2018 by clarkgoble 2
Jeanne Posted February 2, 2018 Posted February 2, 2018 I have always been so impressed with Mr. Huntsman, Senior. He has left a legacy of many good things. Sorry and condolences to all of his family.
Rain Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 2 hours ago, smac97 said: Here: I have long admired this man. Just recently I was reading his book, Barefoot to Billionaire, regarding the kidnapping of his son. Fascinating stuff. Thanks, -Smac Thank you. I'll put that on my list.
Jeanne Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 17 hours ago, clarkgoble said: Who is running his philanthropies? I know the SL Trib attempted revigoration is him. I'm curious what happens there now that he's dead. Particularly since this week they just put up the paywall which is a bit of a gamble. Some of us always thought the Trib was a bit unbalanced with non-Mormons thinking it unbalanced the other way. Peter Huntsman is running the main chemical business as I understand it as well as the cancer center. Kathleen Huntsman died a few years back at the young age of 44 from a drug overdose. Jon Jr of course is still working in think tanks. I've not heard much about the other siblings of late. The family has had an outsized influence on Utah, although it sounds like at least several of the kids aren't terribly religious. It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, changes in the state. Edit: My bad. It was Paul not Jon who bought the SL Trib. So I'd expect everything to continue to go as he plans. What does terribly religious have to do with anything?
clarkgoble Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 1 hour ago, Jeanne said: What does terribly religious have to do with anything? It affects the choices they make with their billions in the state. It affects biases and a lot more. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with lacking religiosity, although in the case of a few children it would have prevented a lot of suffering and tragedy. But if someone like Jon Huntsman jr doesn’t believe that’s not a big deal. When power brokers in Utah don’t believe that significantly changes the dynamic in the state. Some of course might argue it’s for the better. But I think it’s worth asking what the changes might be. 1
Jeanne Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 8 minutes ago, clarkgoble said: It affects the choices they make with their billions in the state. It affects biases and a lot more. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with lacking religiosity, although in the case of a few children it would have prevented a lot of suffering and tragedy. But if someone like Jon Huntsman jr doesn’t believe that’s not a big deal. When power brokers in Utah don’t believe that significantly changes the dynamic in the state. Some of course might argue it’s for the better. But I think it’s worth asking what the changes might be. Whatever...
Avatar4321 Posted February 3, 2018 Posted February 3, 2018 16 minutes ago, Jeanne said: Whatever... Just curious, why did you ask him if you didn’t care? 2
Five Solas Posted February 4, 2018 Posted February 4, 2018 This quote (from the Salt Lake Tribune) made me smile (and in a good way)-- "Our family goes back with as deep of roots in the LDS Church as anyone I’ve known of. Some of them have been tremendous missionaries, apostles and seventies," Huntsman said. "And others have been terrific saloon keepers and barkeepers and totally inactive in the church. We have a marvelous mix of our folks in our posterity and our heritage and I feel very comfortable with that." --Erik 2
Scott Lloyd Posted February 7, 2018 Posted February 7, 2018 Just ran across this story I wrote some years ago about Jon Huntsman. I'm presenting it here in case it's of interest: http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/47013/A-modest-giant.html
Jeanne Posted February 7, 2018 Posted February 7, 2018 On 2/2/2018 at 3:40 PM, Scott Lloyd said: A favorite memory of mine about Elder Huntsman (who served for a time as an Area Seventy) is this: For a while the Church had the annoying habit of scheduling our stake conferences near Halloween. Which meant that on more than one occasion, the Saturday evening adult session of conference conflicted with Halloween celebrating. The second time it happened it posed a particular hardship for our family, as the children we had were very young. Not only were we expected to forego the Halloween celebrating that year, but there were no available baby sitters, as every teenager would have had Halloween plans. Finally, the third time it happened, Elder Huntsman was assigned to be our visiting Area Authority. Not only did he schedule the meeting earlier in the day, he shortened it. His expressed reason was that Halloween is family time and it would be good to free up parents to be at home with their children. I have always appreciated this consideration by Elder Huntsman. Wow...did your kids get to do Halloween at all?
Scott Lloyd Posted February 7, 2018 Posted February 7, 2018 47 minutes ago, Jeanne said: Wow...did your kids get to do Halloween at all? I rebelled that year. My wife went to the meeting, but I stayed away from it and took the kids trick-or-treating around the block. To this day, I have no regrets. We were up against an impossible circumstance, and we felt no one in authority had given us any consideration. For both of us to attend the meeting would have meant leaving our small children (who, of course, were not welcome at the meeting) home unattended. I figure if I were sick or otherwise incapacitated, I would have stayed home; this was no less of an extenuating circumstance. 2
Jeanne Posted February 7, 2018 Posted February 7, 2018 1 minute ago, Scott Lloyd said: I rebelled that year. My wife went to the meeting, but I stayed away from it and took the kids trick-or-treating around the block. To this day, I have no regrets. We were up against an impossible circumstance, and we felt no one in authority had given us any consideration. For both of us to attend the meeting would have meant leaving our small children (who, of course, were not welcome at the meeting) home unattended. I figure if I were sick or otherwise incapacitated, I would have stayed home; this was no less of an extenuating circumstance. You are a great Papa...I am so glad that you did that...I was almost in tears!!
Scott Lloyd Posted February 7, 2018 Posted February 7, 2018 (edited) Here's another Church News article about Jon Huntsman. It's a report of a talk given by Elder Rasband, now a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. When he was young, he was hired by Jon Huntsman as a salesman. They were going to call on a client. Brother Rasband was dressed in a brown suit and shoes. On the way, they stopped at a clothiers and Brother Huntsman outfitted the new salesman with a gray, pinstripe suit, wihite shirts, ties, belts and the first pair of wingtip shoes he had ever owned. https://www.deseretnews.com/article/700014817/At-CES-fireside-Elder-Ronald-A-Rasband-extols-true-friendships.html Edited February 8, 2018 by Scott Lloyd
Tacenda Posted February 7, 2018 Posted February 7, 2018 I listened to the radio news on the way home today and someone paid tribute to him by saying that years ago while helping at the church humanitarian center he was pulling apart pallets and he started up a conversation with Jon Huntsman Sr. who was there volunteering alongside of him. And then another story was that someone wrote a letter to thank Jon for providing a scholarship fund for someone they knew. Jon turned around and wrote a 3 page letter back.
Jeanne Posted February 8, 2018 Posted February 8, 2018 1 hour ago, Tacenda said: I listened to the radio news on the way home today and someone paid tribute to him by saying that years ago while helping at the church humanitarian center he was pulling apart pallets and he started up a conversation with Jon Huntsman Sr. who was there volunteering alongside of him. And then another story was that someone wrote a letter to thank Jon for providing a scholarship fund for someone they knew. Jon turned around and wrote a 3 page letter back. He wrote back...I love this. So many esteemed people do not take the time to do that.
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