Vernon B. Romney

Vernon Bradford Romney (April 27, 1924 – July 13, 2013) was an American lawyer who served as the attorney general of Utah from 1969 to 1977, and the Republican candidate for Governor of Utah in 1976. He was a member of the Romney family and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Early life, military, and education Romney was born to Vernon Romney (1896–1976) and Anna Lois Bradford (1900–1957) in Salt Lake City, Utah, the oldest of eight children. His father was an attorney and the chair of the Utah Republican party in 1944–50 and 1958–62. He is a first cousin of George W. Romney and a first cousin once removed to Mitt Romney.

Romney served in Okinawa and Leyte during World War II as an infantryman in the 96th Infantry Division as a radio operator and an assistant to a Methodist chaplain.

Legal and political career Romney worked as an attorney for the Federal Communications Commission and on the staff of Senator Arthur V. Watkins, both while in Washington, DC. and was reelected to this position in 1972. After a failed bid for Governor of Utah in 1976, Romney was the Highland, Utah City Attorney from 1977 to 1992.

Family Romney married Patricia (Pat) Pingree on December 29, 1951. In 1986, Pat was called as the national president of Lambda Delta Sigma, the LDS Church-sponsored sorority for college-age women. They are the parents to six children.