John "Nick" Udall, Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nicholas_Udall

John Nicholas Udall usually called Nick Udall (July 23, 1913 – June 15, 2005) was mayor of Phoenix, Arizona from 1948–52. He was a member of the Udall political family and was also a nephew of Spencer W. Kimball, the 12th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Udall was born and raised in Arizona. His parents John Hunt Udall and Ruth Kimball were in the same English literature class at the St. Joseph Stake Academy (now Eastern Arizona College), and when learning about playwright Nicholas Udall, they joked that if they ever got married, that they would name their son Nick, which they did.

Udall attended Brigham Young University and the University of Arizona before enrolling in The George Washington University Law School, graduating in 1943. After graduation, he returned home to Arizona, where he began his law practice.

He followed in his father's footsteps, and served as mayor of Phoenix from 1948 to 1952. He served with then-City Councilman Barry Goldwater. From 1952 to 1956 he served as judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court. Nick left the bench to return to private legal practice at Jennings, Strouss, Salmon & Trask in Phoenix, where he practiced law until retiring in 1992.

A life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nick served in various church positions, including service as a full-time missionary in the Eastern Central States mission from 1934 to 1936, as Bishop of the Phoenix Third Ward from 1970 to 1975 ("the most satisfying calling that a worthy priesthood holder can have" because "he is continually helping people"), and as Patriarch of the Phoenix Arizona Stake from 1975 to 1991.

Nick and his wife, Sybil Elizabeth Webb, are the parents of seven children. They are buried alongside each other in Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona. Following Sybil's death in 1998, Nick married Joan Romney in 2001.

His autobiography, "The Wonder of It All," was published by FCP Publishing in 2006.

The following information is from Find A Grave.com:

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona ~ June 2005: John Nicholas Udall (known as "Nick"), a third-generation Arizonan born July 23, 1913 in St. Johns, Arizona passed away on June 15, 2005 in Chandler, Arizona. He was the eldest surviving descendant of Arizona Mormon pioneer David King Udall.

Nick married Sybil Webb in Washington D.C. in 1937 an they soon thereafter were sealed in the Arizona temple. They remained devoted companions until Sybil's passing in 1998. During their marriage, both rendered service in numerous religious and civil capacities.

Nick's parents, John Hunt Udall and Ruth Kimball Udall, met while attending school at the St. Joseph Stake Academy. When they attended a class in English Literature, they learned that the first English playwright to write comedy was Nicholas Udall in the 16th century.

John and Ruth jokingly agreed that if they ever married, they would name their first son "Nicholas." They married and honored their mutual pledge. Nick's family heritage was a major influence on him throughout his life for rendering service to God and country. His father was the mayor of Phoenix from 1936 to 1938. Years later, Nick followed in his father's steps by being elected Mayor of Phoenix from 1948 to 1952.

His paternal great-grandfather embraced the message of Mormon missionaries in England in the mid 19th century and immigrated to the United States and settled in central Utah. His paternal grandfather was instrumental in the settling of what is now known as St. Johns, Arizona in the late 19th century.

Nick's mother was a sister of Spencer W. Kimball, with whom Nick had a close relationship throughout their lives. While Nick was still a baby, his mother suffered a terminal illness and passed away in 1915. John Hunt Udall later married Leah Smith in 1916, who was a loving and devoted mother to Nick.

She had ten children born in her marriage to John Hunt Udall-King; Earl (Naomi Tew); Ruth (Dr. Woodrow Evans); Reed (Afton Webster); Jan (Chester Mortensen); Jesse (Ann Evans); Josephine (Dr. Lloyd Webster); Samuel (Helen Druke); Idella (Victor Flack) and Pauline (Brad Perkinson).

Nick and all of his siblings maintained and cherished their close familial bonds during his life. Nick served in the East Central States Mission, attended Brigham Young University and the University of Arizona, and enrolled in law school at George Washington University, graduating in 1943.

He returned to Arizona in 1944 and practiced law briefly before serving as Mayor of Phoenix (elected to three terms). Subsequently, Nick was elected a judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court from 1952 to 1956. He then returned to private practice and joined the firm of Jennings, Strouss, Salmon and Trask for the remainder of his legal career. Later in life, Nick was an LDS bishop for the Phoenix Third Ward for five years and also served as a stake patriarch. Nick and Sybil also traveled extensively later in life.

Nick is survived by his wife, Joan Romney Udall, all of Joan's seven children and their spouses, and all seven of Nick's children with Sybil: John (Roslyn) - Charleston, WV; Kimball (Sharyn) - Santa Fe, NM; Lee (Janet) - Phoenix; Teresa Kniskern (James) - Anacortes, WA; Robert - Phoenix; Laurie Greaves (Brad) - Visalia, CA; and Larry (Nancy) - Chandler; 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Nick has had such an illustrious life and was acquainted with so many famous and outstanding people that his family encouraged him to write his life story, which he completed shortly before his death. Nick's life can best be summed up by the title of his autobiography - "The Wonder Of It All!" Nick has left a great legacy and will be greatly missed by his loved ones.

Viewing at Bunker's University Chapel, 3529 East University Drive, Mesa, Arizona on June 22, 2005 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Val Vista Lakes LDS Chapel from 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. on June 23, 2005.

Services at the Val Vista Lakes LDS Chapel at 1005 North Voyager Drive, Gilbert, Arizona 85234 (South of Baseline and East of Val Vista Road and accessible from Greenfield Road or Guadalupe Road) on June 23 (Thursday), 2005 at 10:00 a .m.

Parents:

John Hunt Udall (1889 - 1959)

Ruth Woolley Kimball Udall (1892 - 1915)

Spouses:

Sybil Elizabeth Webb Udall (1914 - 1998)

Joan Estelle LeDosquet Udall (1925 - 2013)

Siblings:

John Nicholas Udall (1913 - 2005)

King Smith Udall (1917 - 1944)

Elias Earl Udall (1919 - 1970)

Ruth Udall Evans (1920 - 1976)

Reed Smoot Udall (1922 - 1983)

Janet Udall Mortensen (1924 - 2015)

Leah Jo Udall Webster (1927 - 2006)

Edith Udall Flack (1931 - 1998)

Created by: Sharla

Record added: Feb 02, 2013

Find A Grave Memorial# 104545296