Reuben D. Law
Encyclopedia
Reuben Deem Law was the first president of the Church College of Hawaii (CCH) which was later renamed Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYU–Hawaii).
and raised on a ranch and farm. He married Leda Ethelyn Call in 1925 in Logan, Utah
and they had five children.
While in Logan, Law graduated from Brigham Young College
and Utah State Agricultural College, receiving his bachelors degree in history and education. He later attended the University of Southern California
(USC) where he received a masters degree in education and educational administration, followed by an Ed.D. in teacher education in 1941.
Law's career began as an elementary school principal in Box Elder County, Utah
. After teaching some high school, he became the first principal at the consolidated South Rich High School in Randolph, Utah
. After one year, he became the county superintendent
, here he served for six years in the 1930s. He then briefly served as superintendent in Duchesne County School District before joining the faculty at Brigham Young University
(BYU) in 1936. Law was appointed dean of BYU's college of education
from 1946 to 1954.
felt inspired that the church should establish a college in Hawaii. Although Law had just finished building a new home in Provo, Utah
, he accepted the invitation plan the new school and be its first president and "turn President McKay's vision into a reality." Eric B. Shumway
, BYU–Hawaii's president fifty years later, said Law was "a man of strong character, [who] wielded a firm hand" and held an "absolute and fervent testimony of President McKay's calling as a prophet, seer, and revelator
". Some contemporaries also saw him as a strict or authoritarian figure.
With no preexisting facilities, Law led the survey committee to investigate potential attendance and locations. Although Law recommended the school begin in Fall 1956 in Honolulu, the population center, McKay decided it should be on church-owned property in Laie, and open soon as possible, in September 1955. In the complex work of urgently organizing a new junior college
"from scratch", Law was given "direct access to President McKay on nearly all matters concerning the college, including budget, thus bypassing much of the bureaucracy and red tape of the Church". Law had some private conflicts with Frank Woolley and the LDS Church's Pacific Board of Education about acquiring resources and the scope of academic programs. The school began in temporary buildings with 20 faculty and 153 students, which rose to 250 students by the end of Law's term. Law resigned in 1959 to accept a position in Southern California
, and he was replaced by prolific faculty member Richard Wootton.
Law was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon or LDS Church), in which he served as a bishop, a counselor in a stake presidency, and a member of the church's Sunday School General Board.
Law's wife Leda died in 1973 and later that year he remarried to Lue Groesbeck. In 1981, Law died at the age of 78 in Provo and was buried in Logan.
Biography
Law was born in Avon, UtahAvon, Utah
Avon is a census-designated place in Cache County, Utah, United States. The population was 367 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Logan, Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Avon is located at ....
and raised on a ranch and farm. He married Leda Ethelyn Call in 1925 in Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
and they had five children.
While in Logan, Law graduated from Brigham Young College
Brigham Young College
Brigham Young College was a college and high school in Logan, Utah. It was founded by Brigham Young on 6 August 1877, 23 days before he died. He deeded several acres of land to a board of trustees for the development of a college. This was just two years after he founded Brigham Young Academy in...
and Utah State Agricultural College, receiving his bachelors degree in history and education. He later attended the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC) where he received a masters degree in education and educational administration, followed by an Ed.D. in teacher education in 1941.
Law's career began as an elementary school principal in Box Elder County, Utah
Box Elder County, Utah
Box Elder County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It lies on the north end of the Great Salt Lake, covering a large area north to the Idaho border and west to the Nevada border. Included in this area are large tracts of barren desert, contrasted by high, forested mountains. The...
. After teaching some high school, he became the first principal at the consolidated South Rich High School in Randolph, Utah
Randolph, Utah
Randolph is a city in Rich County, Utah, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 464. It is the county seat of Rich County. Randolph had the highest percentage of people of any city in the country vote for George W...
. After one year, he became the county superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
, here he served for six years in the 1930s. He then briefly served as superintendent in Duchesne County School District before joining the faculty at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU) in 1936. Law was appointed dean of BYU's college of education
David O. McKay School of Education
The David O. McKay School of Education operates one of the largest teacher preparation programs in the nation. The school specializes in improving learning and teaching in the school as well as in the home, church and community worldwide. The McKay School is located on the southwest end of Brigham...
from 1946 to 1954.
Church College of Hawaii
Three years after becoming LDS Church president, David O. McKayDavid O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
felt inspired that the church should establish a college in Hawaii. Although Law had just finished building a new home in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
, he accepted the invitation plan the new school and be its first president and "turn President McKay's vision into a reality." Eric B. Shumway
Eric B. Shumway
Eric B. Shumway was the president of Brigham Young University–Hawaii from 1994 to 2007. After his term of service as president of the university, he was called as president of the Nuku alofa Tonga Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .Shumway was born in Holbrook,...
, BYU–Hawaii's president fifty years later, said Law was "a man of strong character, [who] wielded a firm hand" and held an "absolute and fervent testimony of President McKay's calling as a prophet, seer, and revelator
Prophet, seer, and revelator
Prophet, seer, and revelator is an ecclesiastical title used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is currently applied to the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...
". Some contemporaries also saw him as a strict or authoritarian figure.
With no preexisting facilities, Law led the survey committee to investigate potential attendance and locations. Although Law recommended the school begin in Fall 1956 in Honolulu, the population center, McKay decided it should be on church-owned property in Laie, and open soon as possible, in September 1955. In the complex work of urgently organizing a new junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
"from scratch", Law was given "direct access to President McKay on nearly all matters concerning the college, including budget, thus bypassing much of the bureaucracy and red tape of the Church". Law had some private conflicts with Frank Woolley and the LDS Church's Pacific Board of Education about acquiring resources and the scope of academic programs. The school began in temporary buildings with 20 faculty and 153 students, which rose to 250 students by the end of Law's term. Law resigned in 1959 to accept a position in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, and he was replaced by prolific faculty member Richard Wootton.
Later activities
In the 1970s, Law served on the Utah State Board of Education, which he chaired in 1976 to 1977. He was also a temple worker in the Provo Temple in the 1970s.Law was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon or LDS Church), in which he served as a bishop, a counselor in a stake presidency, and a member of the church's Sunday School General Board.
Law's wife Leda died in 1973 and later that year he remarried to Lue Groesbeck. In 1981, Law died at the age of 78 in Provo and was buried in Logan.
Sources
- Open Library listing for Law
- Shumway, Eric B., "Brigham Young University-Hawaii Campus" in Garr, et al., Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2000) p. 138-139.
- Encyclopedia of Mormonism article on Brigham Young University
- Deseret News, April 24, 1971..