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Romney, George W., 1907-1995

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1907 - 1995

Biographical History

George W. Romney (1907-1995) was a prominent politician, businessman, and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

George Wilcken Romney was born July 8, 1907 to Gaskell Romney and Anna Amelia Pratt in Mexico. In 1913, the family moved to Idaho. In 1926, Romney served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the British Isles. George married LeNore LaFount on July 2, 1931. They had 4 children: Margo Lynn, Jane LaFount, George Scott, and Willard Mitt.

Romney was the president and chairman of the American Motors Corporation. He became Governor of Michigan in 1962. He also ran for United States president in 1968, but dropped out of the race. He served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Richard Nixon.

He died July 26, 1995 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Citation:
His Automotive council statement, 1945.

NUCMC data from Sioux City Public Museum for Huff, T.B. Papers, 1907-1968 (George Romney)

WWAm. Pol., 1985 (Romney, George Wilcken; b. Chihuahua, Mex., 1907; s. Gaskell Romney and Anna Amelia Pratt R.; m. Lenore LaFount, 1931; vpres. Mich. State Const. Conv., 61-62; gov. Mich., 63-69; bd. chman. and pres. Am. Motors Corp., 52-62; home: Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)

LC data base, 5-18-87 (hdg.: Romney, George W., 1907-)

New York Times, July 27, 1995: p. A1 (d. July 26)

Wikipedia, website viewed 8 August 2013 (George W. Romney; George Wilcken Romney; b. July 8, 1907, Colonia Dublán, Galeana, Chihuahua, Mexico; d. July 26, 1995, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Automobile executive; politician; chairman/general managers of American Motors, 1954-1962; 43rd governor of Michigan, 1963-1969; 3rd United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 1969-1973; member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Lattr-day Saints; family fled Mexico during the Mexican Revolution and ended up in Salt Lake City; Romney moved to Detroit in 1939 and joined the American Automobile Manufacturers Association; campaigned for Republican party nomination in 1968 presidential election; headed the National Center for Voluntary Action, 1973-1991)

New York Times, 2011 June 15 (George W.Romney; m. Lenore in 1931; President of American Motors Corporation; Governor of Michigan in 1962; b. 1907 in Mexican colony; served mission to England and Scotland; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Nixon; d. 1995 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; presidential bid in 1968; had four children)

FamilySearch, June 15, 2011 (George Wilcken Romney; b. 1907 July 8 to Gaskell Romney and Anna Amelia Pratt Romney in Chihuahua, Mexico)

Found in 9 Collections and/or Records:

George W. and Lenore Romney political articles, circa 1970

 File — Carton 2: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233605119], Folder: 9
Identifier: MSS 7610 Series 2
Scope and Contents note

Contains numerous photographs of Romney's life and political career. Contains a small journal with transcripts about some of Romney's awards, a copy of the journal Listen with Romney on the cover, newspaper clippings concerning Romney, and a few booklets and newspapers on Lenore's career. Dated circa 1970.

Dates: Other: circa 1970

George W. Romney Institute of Public Management collection on American Motors Corporation, approximately 1942-1977

 Series
Identifier: MSS 7639 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains the papers of George Romney on the American Motors Corporation, when he worked as an executive of the company. Includes speeches given and awards won by Romney, as well as inter-office memos and other correspondence addressed to or from Romney. Dated circa 1942-1977.

Dates: approximately 1942-1977

George W. Romney Institute of Public Management collection on George W. Romney

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 7639
Scope and Contents Materials in the collection include various newspaper and magazine articles, campaign buttons, and publications related to the life and career of George W. Romney. Many newspaper and magazine articles feature the Romney family and contextualize George Romney and his career within his family life. Later materials include articles reporting the naming of the Romney Institute of Public Management after George Romney. The collection also includes speeches given by George Romney and materials...
Dates: 1942-2007

George W. Romney Institute of Public Management oral history and book project, approximately 1949-2007

 Series
Identifier: MSS 7639 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains transcripts of interviews and other research materials for a book project on George Romney. Includes book excerpts in which Romney is mentioned, maps and information on research locations, and deeds of gift. All pertain to George Romney's life and career. Dated approximately 1949 to 2007.

Dates: approximately 1949-2007

George W. Romney Institute of Public Management papers on George W. Romney politics, approximately 1946-2007

 Series
Identifier: MSS 7639 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains the political papers of George Romney, including speeches and clippings from magazines and newspapers. Also includes interviews, funeral service programs, campaign materials, and correspondence. There are some photographs. These pertain to volunteerism, economics, and political issues Romney faced as Cabinet member and Governor of Michigan. A few files also pertain to the political careers and lives of Lenore Romney and Mitt Romney. Dated circa 1946-2007.

Dates: approximately 1946-2007

George W. Romney papers on politics, circa 1943-2007

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7610 Series 2
Scope and Contents note Contains documents related to Romney's political career. Includes numerous speeches given by Romney at political events, photographs of him with various political leaders, national and foreign. Also includes newspaper clippings about Romney's policies. Concerns general politics, Republican policies, the Equal Rights Amendment, and articles on volunteerism, as well as the Michigan Constitutional Convention and Citizens for Michigan. Some of the papers relate to the Senate run of Lenore...
Dates: Other: circa 1943-2007

Lynn Romney Keenan collection of George W. and Lenore Romney family papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8486
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs (prints and negatives), letters, magazines, articles, and speeches relating to professional and political activity of the Romney family in Michigan and Utah. Collection concerns the George W. Romney family, their lives in Utah and Michigan, and their travels to Europe. Also contains family papers from Lenore Romney and church-related materials from callings that George Romney held throughout his life. Materials dated 1926-1998.

Dates: 1926-1998

Lenore Romney newspaper clippings, circa 1970

 File — Carton 2: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233605119], Folder: 8
Identifier: MSS 7610 Series 2
Scope and Contents note

Contains newspaper clippings from the Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press, and other newspapers on George Romney's governorship and Lenore Romney's run for the Senate in 1970. There's a little scrapbook of newspaper clippings concerning the campaign. Also contains photographs of Romney at various events and George and Lenore Romney together. Dated circa 1970.

Dates: Other: circa 1970

George W. Romney personal papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 7610
Scope and Contents note Contains photographs, newspaper clippings, and speeches given by Romney. The photographs and newspaper clippings document events he went to while campaigning. There are speeches about the motor industry, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and other topics that Romney faced during his professional life. The collection also contains some plaques. Contains documents from Romney's volunteerism, the Philadelphia Summit, and the American Motors Corporation. Includes some church...
Dates: approximately 1943-2007