Wendell Jeremy Ashton

Education

He then attended the University of Utah where he earned a degree in business.

Career

He was the elder brother of church apostle Marvin J. Ashton. Ashton was a graduate of Latter- Day Saints (Mormons) High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ashton served an Latter- Day Saints (Mormons) mission in the British Isles.

During his mission service, Ashton was editor of the Millennial Star, the church newspaper in England.

Prior to his mission, Ashton worked as a reporter for the Salt Lake Telegram for three years. Returning to the newspaper business in Utah, Ashton was the managing editor of the Deseret News from 1947 to 1948.

Ashton was the publisher of the Deseret News from 1978 to 1985. He later served as president of the East Mill Creek Stake (where Hinckley had also been stake president).

He was one of the original regional representatives called in 1967.

Ashton also served as General Secretary of the Sunday School. From 1985 to 1988 Ashton served as president of the church"s England London Mission. At the time of his death, Ashton was a sealer in the Salt Lake Temple.

Wendell and Belva had one daughter.

Belva had previously worked as a secretary to Henry Eyring, when he was director of graduate studies at the University of Utah. Ashton was the National President of the Sons of Utah Pioneers in 1947 and was the main organizer of the 1947 commemoration of the Nauvoo to Salt Lake City journey of the pioneers 100 years before.

Ashton served as head of the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and was a key backer of the Utah Symphony. He was also involved in the relocation of the Utah Jazz to Utah from their previous home in New Orleans.

Ashton also wrote several books, one along with Ab Jenkins.

He also wrote a biography of Aurelia Spencer Rogers. His Voice in the West of a Pioneer Newspaper (New York: Duell, Sloan & Pearce, 1950) has been cited in such places as the Utah History Encyclopedia as an excellent source on the early history of the Deseret News. There is currently a Wendell J. Ashton endowed professorship in communications at Brigham Young University.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Voice in the West;: Biography of a pioneer newspaper

    (The Deseret News is a newspaper published in Salt Lake Ci...)

  • Bigger Than Yourself

    (Hardcover Publisher: Bookcraft Publishing Co. (1966) AS...)

  • Voice in the West Biography of a Pioneer

    (Duell Sloan Pearce 1950 grey hardcover 424pp.)

  • To Thine Own Self...; Short Discussions on More Abundant Living

    (72 brief essays basically about character. Each piece is ...)

  • Theirs is the kingdom,
  • The Salt of the Earth : Ab Jenkins' Own Story of Speed