A. Walter Stevenson
Born: 6 October 1900
Called as First Assistant Superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association: 1948
Released: 1958
Died: 27 November 1974
Called as First Assistant Superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association: 1948
Released: 1958
Died: 27 November 1974
Image source: Improvement Era, October 1948
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Image source: Church History Website
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Biographical Articles
Green, Doyle L. "Service to Youth through the Y.M.M.I.A. - The Newly Appointed Superintendency." Improvement Era. October 1948. pg. 622, 666, 668.
Service to Youth through the Y.M.M.I.A. The Newly Appointed Superintendency By Doyle L. Green Ass’t Managing Editor How the Lord prepares his servants for leadership in the Church through years of training is demonstrated in the life of Elbert R. Curtis, newly appointed superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. Elder Curtis, who in his forty-eighth year becomes the eighth general superintendent of the Y.M.M.I.A., will carry the torch handed down by some of our great leaders. These include Junius F. Wells, 1876-1880, four Presidents of the Church, and two apostles: Wilford Woodruff, 1880-1898; Lorenzo Snow, 1898- 1901; Joseph F. Smith, 1901-1918; Anthony W. Ivins, 1918-1921; George Albert Smith, 1921-1935; Albert E. Bowen, 1935-1937; and George Q. Morris, 1937-1948. In his new position Elder Curtis will supervise religious and recreational activities of about 67,000 members of the Y.M.M.I.A., and jointly with the president of the Y.W.M.I.A., will direct recreational activities of the entire membership of the Church. Some of his general duties include the supervision of the planning and building of manual and recreational programs, preparation of handbooks and manuals, conducting of conventions throughout all of the stakes of the Church, and managing the affairs of The Improvement Era. The great M Men program, and the program of the Boy Scouts of America in the Church come under his direction. Added to Superintendent Curtis' deep interest in and concern for youth is a rich background of service in numerous positions in the Church, all of which help prepare him for filling his new appointment. In addition, experiences which he has had in business further qualify him for his present responsibilities. Born in Salt Lake City on April 24, 1901, he is a great-great-grandson of President Brigham Young, and a son of Patriarch Alexander R. and Genevieve Raine Curtis. His formal education was obtained in the grade schools, the L.D.S. High School, L. D. S. Business College, and the University of Utah. He is a graduate of the Sales Analysis Institute of America at Chicago. EARLY positions held in the Church were secretary of a ward M.I.A. and superintendent of a ward Sunday School. At the age of twenty he was called on a mission to Great Britain, during which time he served for twenty-two months as mission secretary, working under President George Albert Smith, Orson F. Whitney, and President David O. McKay. In this position he also served as editor of the Millennial Star, mission publication. The training he received under these men proved invaluable in later stake and mission work. His first stake position was that of superintendent of Sunday Schools in Cottonwood stake. Later he became a member of the stake high council. For several years he served as clerk of the Granite Stake before being made a member of the Granite Stake presidency. In 1941, Elder Curtis was called to preside over the Western States Mission, and remained in that position until 1945. On returning home he served as secretary of the Melchizedek Priesthood committee of the Church. He later became a member of the presidency of the Sugarhouse Stake, and at the time of his new appointment is serving as president of that stake. Elder Curtis was married to Luceal R. Curtis in the Salt Lake Temple in June 1924. They have three children, Bruce R„ Kathryn, and Luceal Jean. Bruce is now serving in the mission field where his father first labored—Great Britain. Sister Curtis is the daughter of Samuel Rockwood and Esther Larson. Her grandfather, Albert Perry Rockwood, served as a member of the First Council of the Seventy of the Church, and was also the first warden of the Utah state prison. Sister Curtis attended the East High School and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. She studied dramatic art and elocution under Maude May Babcock and has been prominent for many years as a dramatic arts performer. After finishing her training at the University of Utah, she taught school for two years and has also acted as a private instructor in elocution and dramatic arts. Sister Curtis has also been active in the Church from an early age, having served as a teacher in the Primary, Sunday School, and M. I. A., a counselor in a ward M.I.A., president of the Y.W.M.I.A. of Holladay Ward for four years, member of a stake Mutual board, and member of a stake Primary board. In the mission field she was president of the Relief Society organization, with some fifty-five organized groups under her direction. Along with May Green Hinckley and others she helped organize the Gleaner Girl program for the Church, having first helped to organize the first M. I. A. Gleaner group in the Church in the Sugarhouse Ward of the Granite Stake. Those who know Brother and Sister Curtis intimately say they have always worked together as a splendid team, and have turned down no opportunity to serve the Lord. They are both happy, yet very humble about this new appointment. Brother Curtis, who has been in business most of his life, is already making preparation to arrange his affairs so he can give what time is needed to his new responsibilities. Assistants to Elder Curtis A Walter Stevenson of Ogden and Ralph W. Hardy of Salt Lake City, assistants to Elbert R. Curtis in the general superintendency of the Y.M.M.I.A., come to their new positions from years of service to the Church. Both have filled numerous callings in the Church, including missions to Great Britain, both have outstanding records in community service, and both have succeeded eminently in their chosen fields. At the time of their appointment, Elder Stevenson is first counselor in the Mt. Ogden Stake presidency, Ogden, Utah, and Elder Hardy is bishop of the East Ensign Ward. Ensign Stake, Salt Lake City. Elder Stevenson, who will serve as first assistant in charge of activities, was born in Ogden, October 6, 1900, the son of Alfred and Merribel Bramwell Stevenson. He is a graduate of the Weber Junior College. Among the many positions he has held in the Church are: president of his ward deacons and teachers quorums; Sunday School teacher; missionary to Great Britain, 1921-1923; home missionary, 1923- 1924; member of two Sunday School superintendencies; member of a stake Sunday School board; first counselor (1934-1937) and bishop in the Ogden Twelfth Ward bishopric; second counselor to President William H. Reeder in the Mt. Ogden Stake presidency, 1939-41; first counselor to President Earl S. Paul, Mt. Ogden Stake, 1941 to the present. He is a former member of the Explorer advancement committee of the Ogden Gateway Council, Boy Scouts of America. He is a member and past president of the Rotary Club; member of the Chamber of Commerce; chairman of the local Red Cross; member and past president of the Executives Association in Ogden; a district governor of the Rocky Mountain region, National Stationers Association. Elder Stevenson was married to Effie Peck of Ogden in the Salt Lake Temple in 1925. They are the parents of four children: Mitzi, 22; Patricia, 19; Geraldine, 17; and Walter Peck, 9. Mitzi is a graduate of Brigham, Young University and is now working in her father's business. Patricia is a sophomore at the Utah State Agricultural College, Logan. Geraldine is a senior at the Ogden High School where she is president of the girls' association. Walter is attending grade school. Sister Stevenson is the daughter of Leo and Adeline Benson Peck and a cousin of Ezra Taft Benson of the Council of the Twelve. She has been active most of her life in the M.I.A., Primary, and Sunday School organizations. Her father was, for many years, a bishop at Holbrook, Idaho. Elder Ralph W. Hardy will serve as second assistant in charge of manual work. He was born on May 6, 1916, in Salt Lake City, the son of John Kay and Clare Williams Hardy. He is a great-grandson of President John R. Winder who served as a counselor in the First Presidency under President Joseph F. Smith. In 1939 he married Maren Eccles, the daughter of Royal and Cleone Rich Eccles of Ogden. Four children, one boy and three girls, have been born to bless this union. They are: Ralph, Jr., 7 ½; Claire, 5 ½; Alison, 3; and Maren 1. In his early youth Elder Hardy served as an officer of his Aaronic Priesthood quorums and was active in the Sunday School and M.I.A. organizations. He has been a Sunday School teacher for many years. He is a Life Scout, still passing merit badges, and hopes soon to fill his Eagle requirements. He is a Master M Man, having received this award in 1937. Elder Hardy spent the first two months of his mission to Great Britain, 1935-37, in the London district. He was then appointed to a special assignment and spent the remainder of his mission traveling to many parts of the British Isles giving lectures on the Book of Mormon. Upon returning home, Elder Hardy became a guide on Temple Square and has been serving the Church in this capacity ever since, directing on an average of three companies a week around Temple Square. When the Ensign Ward was divided on February 11, 1941, he was named second counselor in the bishopric of the East Ensign Ward, On December 1, 1942, he became bishop and was at the time of his appointment one of the youngest bishops in the Church. Elder Hardy was employed by radio station KSL soon after returning from his mission and is now executive assistant in charge of public affairs. He is also head of the Public Relations Division of the Salt Lake County Community Chest, vice president of the Utah Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, a member of the advisory council of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Home Service Committee of the Salt Lake County Red Cross. In 1945 he was awarded the Junior Chamber of Commerce distinguished service award, having been selected the city's outstanding young man of the year. Sister Hardy is a descendant of two well-known Utah pioneers. She is a granddaughter of David Eccles and a great-granddaughter of Charles C. Rich. She has been an active Church goer all her life and has spent many years teaching in the Primary and Mutual Improvement Associations. |
A Message From Superintendent Curtis
"I have loved and admired Brothers George Q. Morris, John D. Giles, and Lorenzo H. Hatch through the many years. The Lord has blessed their administration and a great and noble work has been accomplished. "I feel extremely humble in undertaking this assignment from the First Presidency of the Church. I believe in the youth of Zion and have enjoyed my association and contacts with them. "It is at once a great challenge and a magnificent opportunity to labor for their growth and well-being. I shall devote myself to the work and with the help and inspiration of the Lord, feel confident that the work will continue to go forward." —Elbert R. Curtis |