Marion G. Romney    Bruce R. McConkie          MItt Romney            Peter Vidmar   

There are many famous or well-known people across the world in religion, politics, business, music, etc. Are you related to any?  I am!  Let me share several from my father’s side of the family.

Marion G. Romney (1897-1988) Apostle of the LDS church for 47 years.  His grandfather is my great-great Grandfather, Lemuel Hardison Redd.

Bruce Redd McConkie (1915 – 1985) Apostle of the LDS church for 12 years.  His great-grandfather is my great-great Grandfather, Lemuel Hardison Redd.

Mitt Romney (1947- living) Republican Presidential nominee in the 2012 election. Our family connection is again linked back to Lemuel Hardison Redd. Artemesia Redd (Lemuel Hardison Redd’s daughter) married George Samuel Romney, who was a brother to Gaskell Romney and grandfather to Mitt Romney.  Marion G. Romney is Mitt’s father’s first cousin.

Peter Vidmar (1961- living) 1984 US Olympic gold medalist in men’s gymnastics and the highest scoring American gymnast in Olympic history.  Again, we are related through Lemuel Hardison Redd, our great-great grandfather.

What are the commonalities of these men?  They share the same heritage and values. They were taught by their families to love God, work hard, love and respect others and to be a positive influence for good. They learned by watching their parents’ example and by practicing these virtues.  Each had to decide the man they would become and worked to achieve their goals.  Each of these men are descendents of Lemuel Hardison Redd. 

I think of my ancestors and am grateful for the people they were. I see the legacy they left of hard work and determination in their posterity. I am proud of them.  I strive to live so that they too, may be proud of me.

So what’s so special about Lemuel Hardison Redd? Lots!  But that is for another post.