The First Presidency has announced the calling of 11 new directors of the Church's visitors centers and historic sites. The new leaders and their wives will be trained in the Provo Missionary Training Center and begin their service in February 2002.

The new directors and their wives are:

Phyllis H. and Ralph P. Ashton

New Zealand Temple

Visitors Center

Ralph Paul Ashton, 67, born in Evanston, Wyo., to Ralph Sessions and Grace Marsh Ashton; married Phyllis Hansen; parents of seven children. Members of the Tustin 2nd Ward, Orange California Stake. He serves as first counselor in the California Anaheim Mission and has served as bishop and high councilor. He graduated from Brigham Young University and is self employed.

Sister Ashton was born in Springville, Utah, to Mark J. and Caroline A. Hansen. She graduated from California State University and serves in the ward Relief Society.

Gordon J. and Rella P. Christensen

Los Angeles Temple

Visitors Center

Gordon Johnson Christensen, 64, born in Logan, Utah, to Wilford Emanuel and Jennie Johnson Christensen; married Rella Parisi; parents of three children. Members of the Mapleton 1st Ward, Mapleton Utah Stake. He serves as first counselor in the Brigham Young University 1st Stake presidency, and has served as bishop and high councilor. He earned a doctorate degree from the University of Denver and is a dentist and lecturer.

Sister Christensen was born in Pasadena, Calif., to Attilio G. and Elizabeth K. Parisi. She earned a doctorate at Brigham Young University and serves in the Relief Society.

Phillip B. and Elizabeth C. Christensen

Mormon Handcart

Visitors Center, Wyoming

Phillip Bryce Christensen, 58, born in Indianapolis, Ind., to Phillip Van Buren and Gwendolyn Johnson Christensen; married Elizabeth Carr; parents of five children. Members of the Lakeview Ward, Bountiful Utah Central Stake. He serves as ward physical facilities director and has served in the stake presidency in Oakton, Va. He graduated from Brigham Young University and is director the in Church Security Department.

Sister Christensen was born to James Edward and Helen Farley Carr. She studied at Brigham Young University and serves as a teacher in the Sunday School.

Marilyn W. and Leon A. Davies

Mormon Trail at Winter Quarters

(Neb.) Historic Site

Leon Alfred Davies, 70, born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Clyde Alfred and Hedy Trauffer Davies; married Marilyn Ward; parents of five children. Members of the Bountiful 54th Ward, Bountiful Utah Heights Stake. He serves as adviser of the stake Young Single Adult institute and has served as bishop and high councilor. He graduated from the University of Utah and worked for Lockheed Space Systems.

Sister Davies was born in Malad, Idaho., to Joseph Welton and Gwendolyn Evans Ward. She studied at Brigham Young University and serves as stake Young Single Adult institute adviser.

Richard S. and Barbara C. Fox

Hill Cumorah Historic Site,

Palmyra, N.Y.

Richard South Fox, 70, born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Samuel Ross Sr., and Blanch South Fox; married Barbara Christiansen; parents of six children. Members of the Monument Park 12th Ward, Salt Lake Monument Park North Stake. He serves in the stake mission presidency. He graduated from the University of Utah in law.

Sister Fox was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Rolf and Irene Kleven Christiansen. She earned a degree in elementary education from the University of Utah and serves as an inner city missionary in Salt Lake City.

Del Berrett and Carol H. Garner

Liberty Jail Visitors Center,

Liberty, Mo.

Del Berrett Garner, 63, was born in Ogden, Utah, to F. James and Norma Ione Berrett Garner; married Carol Hipwell; parents of five children. Members of the Raft River Ward, Declo Idaho Stake. He is an officiator in the Logan Utah Temple and has served as mission and stake president. He studied agriculture at Utah State University and is now retired.

Sister Garner was born in Ogden, Utah, to Ellis A. and Mary Staker Hipwell. She has served as missionary preparation instructor and president of Young Women and Primary.

Deslyn T. and David M. Grant

Mesa Arizona Temple

Visitors Center

David Morris Grant, 70, born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to David Lewis and Mary Lucille Greenwood Grant; married Deslyn Renee Edling Triplett; parents of nine children. Members of the Ensign 1st Ward, Salt Lake Ensign Stake. He is a high priests group instructor and has served as a patriarch, stake president and regional representative. He graduated from the University of Utah with a doctorate and is a professor at the University of Utah.

Sister Grant was born in Los Angeles, Calif., to Wilford G. and Relia May Schade Edling. She is a secretary in the Relief Society presidency and received a master's degree from Los Angeles State College.

Leona S. and Loren H. Grover

Idaho Falls Temple

Visitors Center

Loren Homer Grover, 72, born in Rexburg, Idaho, to John Orr and Eleanor Ann Homer Grover; married Leona Dell Stoker; parents of four children. Members of the Rexburg 4th Ward, Rexburg Idaho East Stake. He serves as assistant high priests group leader and has served as a stake president's counselor. He graduated from Brigham Young University and is a retired faculty member of Ricks College.

Sister Grover was born in Junction, Utah, to Lloyd Leone and Hazel Juanita Lewis Stoker. She serves in the Relief Society and is a former temple worker.

Joseph S. and Ann D. Park

Illinois Nauvoo Mission

Visitors Center

Joseph Samuel Park, 65, born in Provo, Utah, to Samuel and Marybelle Adamson Park, married Ann Davis; parents of one child. Members of the Monument Park 19th Ward, Salt Lake Monument Park North Stake. He served as bishop and mission president, and earned a degree from the University of Utah. He is self employed.

Sister Park was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Da Ka Jr., and Sarah Holbrook Davis. She is a Primary president and graduate of the University of Utah.

Milton G. and Rhea B. Wille

Mexico City Temple

Visitors Center

Milton George Wille, 71, born in Milwaukee, Wis., to Frank George and Mary Kapsa Wille; married Rhea Baird; parents of six children. Members of the Elyria Ward, Cleveland Ohio Stake. He has served as mission president, and president of the Guatemala Missionary Training Center. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a doctorate and was a professor at Brigham Young University.

Sister Wille was born in Cowley, Wyo., to Everett and Marie Bassett Baird. She is a former temple missionary and Relief Society president.

Richard J. and Shelly A. R. Williams

Park City (Utah) Family Tree Center

Richard Judd Williams, 60, was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, to Richard Campbell and Marian Grant Judd Williams; married Shelly Ann Roloff; parents of three children. Members of the Silver Creek Ward, Park City Utah Stake. He serves as ward activities chairman and is a former high councilor and temple worker. He graduated from the University of Utah in medicine and was a surgeon in the U.S. Army.

Sister Williams was born in Edgeley, N.D., to Clarence and Augustina Schield Fandrich Roloff. She is ward newsletter editor and served in the Young Women and Relief Society organizations. She received a nursing degree from Armstrong College..