G. Homer Durham

George Homer Durham (February 4, 1911 – January 10, 1985) was an American academic administrator and was a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1977 until his death.

Early life Durham was born in Parowan, Utah, and was raised in Salt Lake City. As a boy in grade school, he met and became lifelong friends with future LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley. As a young man, Durham served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the British Mission, where he served as president of the mission's Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. At the start of his mission, Durham's mission president was John A. Widtsoe. On his mission, Durham met Widtsoe's daughter, Leah Eudora Widtsoe, whom he would later marry in the Salt Lake Temple. Durham's second mission president, Joseph F. Merrill, encouraged him to pursue graduate education when he returned to the United States.

Education and academia Durham earned a B.A. in political science and history from the University of Utah.

Durham earned a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles. He became a professor at the University of Utah.

Durham and his wife were the parents of three children.

In 1994, Arizona State University renamed their Language & Literature Building the G. Homer Durham Languages & Literature Building.

Durham died in Salt Lake City. His personal and professional papers were donated to the University of Utah's J. Willard Marriott Library.

Publications G. Homer Durham (1944). "Joseph Smith Prophet-Statesman" The Bookcraft Company —— (1944). A Political Interpretation of Mormon History (University of California Press) —— (1983). Arizona State University, 1960-1969: A Personal History —— (1958). Man as a Political Animal (Salt Lake City: University of Utah) —— (1982). N. Eldon Tanner, His Life and Service (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book) Heber J. Grant (G. Homer Durham ed.) (1941). Gospel Standards: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Heber J. Grant (Salt Lake City: Improvement Era) David O. McKay (G. Homer Durham ed.) (1953). Gospel Ideals: Selections from the Discourses of David O. McKay (Salt Lake City: Improvement Era) John Taylor (G. Homer Durham ed.) (1943). The Gospel Kingdom: Selections from the Writings and Discourses of John Taylor, Third President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft) John A. Widtsoe (G. Homer Durham ed.) (1960). Evidences and Reconciliations Wilford Woodruff (G. Homer Durham ed.) (1946). The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, Fourth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft)