imported>Jevansen: Moving from Category:People from Salt Lake City to Category:Religious leaders from Salt Lake City using Cat-a-lot

2025-06-05T10:34:10Z

Moving from Category:People from Salt Lake City to Category:Religious leaders from Salt Lake City using Cat-a-lot

New page

{{short description|American religious leader and physician}}

{{Infobox Latter Day Saint biography|
| name = Cecil O. Samuelson Jr.
| image = CecilSamuelson.JPG
| caption = Samuelson leading the April 2008 commencement exercises at BYU
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1941|8|1|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Salt Lake City, Utah]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = Sharon Giauque Samuelson
| children =
| website =
| portals = LDS
| position_or_quorum1 = [[First Quorum of the Seventy]]
| start_date1 = {{start date|1994|10|01}}
| end_date1 = {{end date|2011|10|01}}
| end_reason1 = Granted general authority [[emeritus]] status
| position_or_quorum2 = [[Presidency of the Seventy]]
| start_date2 = {{start date|2001|08|15}}
| end_date2 = {{end date|2003|04|05}}
| end_reason2 = Honorably released to become president of [[BYU]]
| position_or_quorum3 = [[Emeritus]] General Authority
| start_date3 = {{start date|2011|10|01}}
| political_office1 = [[List of presidents of Brigham Young University|12th President]] of [[Brigham Young University]]
| term_start1 = May 1, 2003
| term_end1 = May 1, 2014
| office_predecessor1 = [[Merrill J. Bateman]]
| office_successor1 = [[Kevin J Worthen]]
|education=[[University of Utah]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]], [[M.Ed.|MEd]], [[M.D.|MD]])}}
'''Cecil Osborn Samuelson Jr.''' (born Aug 1, 1941) is an American retired rheumatologist<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bergin |first1=M. Sue |last2=McClellan |first2=Jeffrey S. |title=Fit for Office |url=https://magazine.byu.edu/article/fit-for-office/ |access-date=25 November 2023 |work=Y Magazine |date=2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626165840/https://magazine.byu.edu/article/fit-for-office/ |archive-date=26 June 2022}}</ref> and professor of medicine who served as the [[List of presidents of Brigham Young University|12th]] president of [[Brigham Young University]] (BYU) from 2003 to 2014. Samuelson is an emeritus [[general authority]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church), a former dean of the school of medicine at the [[University of Utah]], and a former senior vice president of [[Intermountain Health Care]] (IHC).<ref name = news>{{cite journal | title = News of the Church: Elder Cecil O. Samuelson, Jr. Of the Seventy | journal = [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] | pages = 103–112 | publisher = [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] | date = November 1994 | url = https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1994/11/news-of-the-church?lang=eng | access-date = May 4, 2009}}</ref><ref>[http://unicomm.byu.edu/president/samuelson.aspx BYU - Cecil O. Samuelson] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715073520/http://unicomm.byu.edu/president/samuelson.aspx |date=July 15, 2007 }}</ref> While he was president at BYU, Samuelson pushed professors and students to raise their expectations and encouraged mentored learning. During his presidency, student enrollment limits stayed constant, new sports coaches were hired, new buildings were built, and a hiring freeze during the [[Great Recession]] reduced faculty.

==Education==
Samuelson holds a [[bachelor's degree]], a [[master's degree]] in educational psychology, and an [[Doctor of Medicine|M.D.]] from the [[University of Utah]]. He completed his [[Residency (medicine)|residency]] at [[Duke University Medical Center]] in [[Durham, North Carolina]].<ref name = news/> He is a Brother of [[Pi Kappa Alpha]] International Fraternity.<ref>{{cite book | title=The Utonian Yearbook | publisher=University of Utah | issue=v. 61 | year=1964 | url=https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6zs2x93 | access-date=December 2, 2020 | pages=360 & 361}}</ref>

Samuelson worked at the University of Utah in 1973 as assistant dean of admissions and at the medical school as a faculty member. In 1977, he became acting dean of the University of Utah medical school, and in 1985 was promoted to dean of the medical school. In 1988 he became vice president over health services at the University of Utah, where he gained a reputation as a sensitive negotiator.<ref name=BYUmag>{{cite journal|last1=Bergin|first1=M. Sue|last2=McClellen|first2=Jeffrey S.|title=Fit for Office|journal=BYU Magazine|date=2003|url=https://magazine.byu.edu/article/fit-for-office/|access-date=8 March 2017}}</ref> In 1990, IHC appointed Samuelson as senior vice president and then IHC Hospital president.<ref name=BYUmag/>

==BYU President==
At the beginning of Samuelson's tenure as president of BYU, he invited students and faculty to "raise the bar" in their learning and teaching and in their expectations of student behavior.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Samuelson|first1=Cecil O.|title=A Few Questions and Answers from a BYU President - BYU Speeches|url=https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/cecil-o-samuelson_questions-answers/|website=speeches.byu.edu|access-date=8 March 2017}}</ref> During his time as president, the College of Health and Human Performance was dissolved into existing colleges. The university replaced old student dorms with New Heritage Housing, and built the [[Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center]] (2007), BYU Broadcasting Building (2011), and Life Sciences Building (2014).<ref name=360legacy/> During the 2008 recession, along with the LDS Church which owns and operates the university, BYU instituted a hiring freeze for almost two years, and 70-80 faculty retired or left.<ref name=DNdepart>{{cite news|last1=Walch|first1=Tad|title=Samuelson departs after proving he fit at BYU after all|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865602159/Samuelson-departs-after-proving-he-fit-at-BYU-after-all.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501215407/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865602159/Samuelson-departs-after-proving-he-fit-at-BYU-after-all.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 1, 2014|access-date=8 March 2017|work=DeseretNews.com|date=1 May 2014|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Askar|first1=Jamshid Ghazi|title=BYU ends hiring freeze, will fill jobs gradually|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700090658/BYU-ends-hiring-freeze-will-fill-jobs-gradually.html?pg=all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309063701/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700090658/BYU-ends-hiring-freeze-will-fill-jobs-gradually.html?pg=all|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 9, 2017|access-date=8 March 2017|work=DeseretNews.com|date=10 December 2010|language=en}}</ref> Enrollment limits stayed consistent, and Samuelson pushed for more mentored learning experiences, where professors work together with students on research.<ref name=DNdepart/>

In 2005, the university hired [[Bronco Mendenhall]] to coach the football team, [[Tom Holmoe]] to direct the athletic department, and [[Dave Rose (basketball)|Dave Rose]] to coach the basketball team. In 2011, BYU football signed an 8-year contract with [[ESPN]].<ref name=360legacy>{{cite news|last1=Lane|first1=Rebecca|title=BYU President Samuelson leaves unique legacy in his wake|url=http://utahvalley360.com/2014/03/11/byu-president-samuelson-leaves-unique-legacy-in-his-wake/|access-date=8 March 2017|work=UtahValley360|date=11 March 2014}}</ref> In 2004, students started cheering "Woosh, Cecil" after successful BYU basketball free throws, in an effort to elicit a response from Samuelson, who often attended games. Samuelson acknowledged the cheer with a thumbs-up in 2009, and continued to give a thumbs-up to subsequent free throw cheers. The tradition inspired the BYU Creamery to name an ice cream flavor "Whoosh, Cecil".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lee|first1=Sugene|title=BYU basketball cheer becomes tradition – The Daily Universe|url=http://universe.byu.edu/2013/04/02/byu-basketball-cheer-becomes-tradition/|access-date=8 March 2017|work=The Daily Universe|date=2 April 2013}}</ref><ref name=DNdepart/> In 2006, students created "Cecil is my homeboy" t-shirts, which became part of student culture.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Walch|first1=Tad|title=Sober? BYU is full of drollery|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/650219029/Sober-BYU-is-full-of-drollery.html?pg=all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614091425/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/650219029/Sober-BYU-is-full-of-drollery.html?pg=all|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 14, 2016|access-date=8 March 2017|work=DeseretNews.com|date=30 December 2006|language=en}}</ref>

Samuelson gave a talk in September 2007 to BYU students, quoting statements by [[J. Reuben Clark]] that the Constitution of the United States was not "a fully grown document", and that "we believe it must grow and develop to meet the changing needs of an advancing world." He also stated, in agreement with the doctrine of LDS Church, that the Constitution is a divinely inspired document.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Samuelson|first1=Cecil O.|title=Year of the Constitution|url=https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/cecil-o-and-sharon-g-samuelson_year-constitution/|website=speeches.byu.edu|publisher=BYU Speeches|access-date=8 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308201721/https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/cecil-o-and-sharon-g-samuelson_year-constitution/|archive-date=8 March 2017}}</ref><ref>[http://news.byu.edu/archive07-Sep-samtalk.aspx BYU News – Release] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115132027/http://news.byu.edu/archive07-Sep-samtalk.aspx |date=January 15, 2016 }}</ref>

On March 11, 2014, it was announced that Samuelson would be succeeded by [[Kevin J Worthen]] as the president of BYU, effective May 1, 2014.<ref>[http://www.ksl.com/?sid=29021284&nid=148&title=new-byu-president-named-in-devotional&fm=home_page&s_cid=featured-1 "New BYU president named in devotional"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022084755/http://www.ksl.com/?sid=29021284&nid=148&title=new-byu-president-named-in-devotional&fm=home_page&s_cid=featured-1 |date=October 22, 2016 }}, ''[[KSL (radio)|KSL]]'' March 11, 2014.</ref> In November 2014, he began service as [[temple president|president]] of the church's [[Salt Lake Temple]].<ref>[http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865605046/New-temple-presidents.html?pg=all ''New temple presidents''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022120513/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865605046/New-temple-presidents.html?pg=all |date=October 22, 2016 }}, ''[[Deseret News]]'', 14 June 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.</ref>

==Other LDS Church callings==
Samuelson served in the church as a full-time [[Missionary (LDS Church)|missionary]] in [[Scotland]] as a young adult and has continued church service in his adulthood.<ref name = news/> From 1977 to 1982 he served as [[stake president|president]] of a [[Stake (Latter Day Saints)|stake]] on the campus of the University of Utah.<ref name=news/> He was [[Calling (LDS Church)|called]] to the [[First Quorum of the Seventy]] in 1994, and while a general authority he served as an [[Area (LDS Church)|area]] president, in the [[Presidency of the Seventy]], and as general president of the church's [[Sunday School (LDS Church)|Sunday School]] organization.<ref name=ga>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160804175831/http://www.gapages.com/samueco1.htm Cecil O. Samuelson, Jr., General Authority]}}</ref>

While serving in the presidency of the North America West Area, Samuelson was a signatory to a May 11, 1999 letter to all adult congregants in California which encouraged members to donate time and money to pass [[California Proposition 22 (2000)|Proposition 22]].<ref>{{cite news | author= AP | title= LDS urged to back a ban on gay marriage | date= 5 July 1999 | newspaper= [[Deseret News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Proposition 22 Dominates California Wards' Attention, Divides Members |url=https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/118-86-95.pdf |work=Sunstone |publisher=Sunstone Education Foundation |date=April 2001 |pages= 86–92 |access-date=2017-03-08 }}</ref>

<gallery>
Image:Kerr graduation.JPG|{{center|Samuelson at April 2008 [[BYU]] Commencement with [[Elaine S. Dalton]], [[W. Rolfe Kerr]], and [[David A. Bednar]].}}
Image:Graduation procession.JPG|{{center|Samuelson conducting the April 2008 BYU Commencement.}}
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/leader/cecil-o-samuelson?lang=eng General Authorities and General Officers: Elder Cecil O. Samuelson]
*{{commons category-inline}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-aca}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Merrill J. Bateman]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[List of presidents of Brigham Young University|President]] of [[Brigham Young University]] | years = 2003 – 2014}}
{{s-aft | after = [[Kevin J Worthen]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Brigham Young University presidents}}
{{LDSemeritus}}
{{LDS70pres}}
{{LDSsundayschool}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Samuelson, Cecil O.}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American general authorities (LDS Church)]]
[[Category:American Mormon missionaries in Scotland]]
[[Category:Physicians from Utah]]
[[Category:Duke University School of Medicine alumni]]
[[Category:General presidents of the Sunday School (LDS Church)]]
[[Category:Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church)]]
[[Category:Religious leaders from Salt Lake City]]
[[Category:Health professionals from Salt Lake City]]
[[Category:Presidents of Brigham Young University]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Seventy (LDS Church)]]
[[Category:University of Utah School of Medicine alumni]]
[[Category:University of Utah faculty]]
[[Category:20th-century Mormon missionaries]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah]]

Cecil O. Samuelson - Revision history

imported>Jevansen: Moving from Category:People from Salt Lake City to Category:Religious leaders from Salt Lake City using Cat-a-lot