BYU groups honor business leader
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Throughout his life, Rodney H. Brady has taken note of the qualities he wants to emulate in others and written them down. It is following tenets of that list and the people on it, which now number in the thousands, that have helped him earn the praise of family, civic, community, business and Church leaders, he says.
Brother Brady — president and chief executive officer of Deseret Management Corp., the corporate umbrella for the Church's commercial holdings — spoke of the list May 2, during a banquet held in his honor at the Church Office Building.
During the event, the Salt Lake and Utah Valley chapters of the BYU Management Society lauded him with their 2002 Distinguished Utahn Award. The honor followed a similar recognition from the University of Utah; Brother Brady was inducted into the David Eccles School of Business Hall of Fame April 12. (Please see Church News, April 20.)
Addressing more than 300 people gathered for the BYU Management Society event, President Gordon B. Hinckley called Brother Brady a man of great ability. "When the chips are down, when all is said and done, when man's virtues — his strengths and weaknesses — are considered there is nothing more significant in my judgment, nothing more important, than his relationship with his God in Heaven and with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world."
President Hinckley said despite business and many other accomplishments, Brother Brady knows how to get on his knees and seek humility and guidance.
President Hinckley addressed Brother Brady's' Church service as a missionary, bishop, stake president and leader who has "given his loyal leadership wherever he has been asked to do so."
Ryan Brady spoke of his father's family accomplishments; Ned C. Hill, dean of the BYU Marriott School of Management, addressed Brother Brady's education and community successes, and Bruce Reese, President and CEO of Bonneville International, spoke of Brother Brady as a businessman.
Addressing the audience, which included President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency; President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the Twelve, Brother Brady read four items from his list of influential people.
- Elder David B. Haight: Brother Brady said he first met Elder
Haight in July of 1970 in Beverly Hills, Calif. From him, he learned,
"First, that a depth of spirituality can be combined with a wonderful sense
of humor. Second, it is indeed possible for a man and a woman to create
heaven on earth if their names are David and Ruby."
- President James E. Faust: Brother Brady said he first met
President Faust in Salt Lake City in 1979. "I learned from him the
importance of calm and analytical deliberation in solving a difficult
problem. Second, I have learned to face up to a difficult challenge head
on. Don't skirt your way around it."
- President Thomas S. Monson: "I first met President Monson in
June 1970 when I was serving as a young bishop [in California],"
said Brother Brady. "From him I learned that even a person of great stature
is willing to advise, counsel and bless the most humble of people, even a
young bishop. He gave me the insight as to what I should do and I did it.
Second, he has taught me the power that a good story can have in teaching
an important lesson or principle."
- President Gordon B. Hinckley: Brother Brady said he first met President Hinckley in 1955 in London, England. He was serving as a missionary; President Hinckley was working for the Church and traveling to the Swiss Temple. From President Hinckley, Brother Brady said he learned, "Power comes from clear short-term and long-term vision. He is indeed a very visionary man, but it his short-term vision as well as long-term vision. Second, he has the ability to transfer vision into action and implementation. He not only sees what is going to happen but he steps forward and makes it happen. Third, and finally, he taught me that advanced age is no excuse for a person to slow down. In fact, it is an invitation to accelerate in one's service to others and one's service to the Lord."
E-mail: sarah@desnews.com
