Eight new mission presidents, called by the First Presidency, have been announced. The new leaders and their wives will begin service about July 1. Mission presidents' assignments were announced in the Feb. 26, 2005, issue of the Church News.

Gary Norris Batchelor, 64; Arkansas Little Rock Mission; Overton 2nd Ward, Logandale Nevada Stake; Church service missionary; former counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, counselor in a ward Young Men presidency and missionary in the Micronesia Guam Mission. Retired teacher. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., to Walter Delynn and Agnes Norris Batchelor. Married Colleen Cowley (deceased), six children. Later married Verla Kay Hickman Lewis, who has five children with her previous husband, Allen Edward Lewis (deceased).

A Church service missionary, Sister Batchelor is a former stake Young Women secretary, ward Relief Society president, ward choir director and missionary in the Micronesia Guam Mission. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Edwin Virl and Louise Andersen Hickman.

Robert David Call, 50; El Salvador San Salvador West Mission; Juarez 1st Ward, Colonia Juarez Mexico Stake; high councilor; former stake Young Men president, counselor in a bishopric, branch president, Blazer Scout leader and missionary in the Mexico Torreon Mission. Principal at Colonia Juarez Grade School and fruit grower. Born in Provo, Utah, to Waldo Pratt and Beverly Johnson Call. Married Michele Coburn, seven children.

A teacher improvement coordinator, Sister Call is a former counselor in stake and ward Relief Society presidencies, ward Young Women and Primary president and Relief Society teacher. Born in Peoria, Ill., to Hal Jeremy and Edna Peggy Wood Coburn.

Mark Owen Lords, 49; Tennessee Nashville Mission; Canyons Ward, Park City Utah Stake; former counselor in a mission presidency, counselor in a stake presidency, stake executive secretary, high councilor and missionary in the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission. Partner and CEO at Snyder companies. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Spencer Lutz and Kathleen Beth Owen Lords. Married Gwen Steinman, six children.

Sister Lords is a former ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary president, Sunday School teacher and Relief Society enrichment leader. Born in Rexburg, Idaho, to William Theodore and LaRue Jeffs Fowler Steinman.

Joseph Craig Merrell, 54; France Toulouse Mission; Bennett's Creek Ward, Chesapeake Virginia Stake; former counselor in a mission presidency, stake president and counselor, high councilor and missionary in the France-Switzerland Mission. Plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Born in Washington, D.C., to John Yates and Majorie Merle Clark Merrell. Married Teresa Ann Johnson, eight children.

A counselor in the ward Relief Society presidency, Sister Merrell is a former counselor in a stake Primary presidency, ward Young Women and Primary president, Primary music leader and gospel doctrine teacher. Born in Billings, Mont., to Glen Barnett and Gwen Smith Johnson.

Joao Luis dos Santos Oppe, 39; Brazil Rio de Janeiro North Mission; Nova Granada Ward, Osasco Brazil Stake; stake president; former counselor in a stake presidency, stake and ward Young Men president, high councilor and bishop. Financial assistant for the Church. Born in Osasco, Brazil, to Jose Joao and Maria Celia dos Santos Oppe. Married Sueli Delgado Lopes, three children.

A gospel principles teacher, Sister Oppe is a former stake Young Women president, counselor in ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary presidencies and seminary teacher. Born in Osasco, Brazil, to Nelson and Jandira Lopes.

Noel Beldon Reynolds, 63; Florida Ft. Lauderdale Mission; Sharon 5th Ward, Orem Utah Sharon Stake; former stake president, bishop, gospel doctrine teacher, Scoutmaster and missionary in the Uruguay Mission. Executive director of FARMS. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., to Beldon Heber and Virginia Noel Reynolds. Married Sydney Sharon Smith, 11 children.

A counselor in the Primary general presidency, Sister Reynolds is a former member of the Primary general board, stake and ward Young Women president, ward Relief Society president and Primary teacher. Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Joseph Alvin and Marguerite Rees Smith.

Donald V Shakespear, 61; Argentina Resistencia Mission; Bear River 3rd Ward, Brigham City Utah North Stake; former stake president, high councilor, bishop, elders quorum president and missionary in the West Spanish American Mission. Former principal for Box Elder School District. Born in Panguitch, Utah, to William Vernal Shakespear and Marian Dalley Winters Mecham. Married Karma Durfee, nine children.

A ward music chairman, Sister Shakespear is a former stake Relief Society president, counselor in ward Relief Society and Young Women presidencies, Sunday School teacher and Primary chorister. Born in Rupert, Idaho, to Elbert Lorenzo and Grace Afton Rooker Durfee.

Richard Jay Trask, 50; Philippines Tacloban Mission; Creekside Ward, Ontario California Stake; former counselor in a stake presidency, stake and ward Young Men president, high councilor and missionary in the Philippines Manila Mission. Self-employed in interior renovation. Born in Pasadena, Calif., to Robert and Idonna Hansen Trask. Married Genevieve Diane Trujillo, four children.

The ward Relief Society president, Sister Trask is a former Relief Society teacher, nursery leader, Primary teacher, newsletter editor and ward compassionate service leader. Born in Montebello, Calif., to Jose Napoleon and Agnes Ortiz Trujillo.