Name Rodney Brady | ||
Rodney Howard Brady (January 31, 1933 – January 9, 2017) was the CEO and president of Deseret Management Corporation. He was also the president of Weber State College from 1978 to 1985. Brady was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). From 1953 to 1955 and he served as a missionary for the LDS Church in Great Britain. He received his bachelor's degree and MBA from the University of Utah, and then received a doctorate in business administration from Harvard Business School. From 1970-72, he was the assistant secretary for management in the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, having previously served as an officer in the United States Air Force.
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After stepping down as president of Weber State College in 1985, Brady became the President and CEO of Bonneville International later that year. He remained in his position with Bonneville until the formation of the Deseret Management Corporation in 1996, at which point he was named President and CEO of that organization. Brady served as an LDS Church bishop in California and as president of the church's Los Angeles California Stake.
Birth and Early life
Brady was born on January 31, 1933, in Sandy, Utah, the second of four children, to Kenneth A. and Jessie (Madsen) Brady. His parents provided him with an ideal heritage and environment where he could excel in academic achievement and spiritual development. They instilled in him a strong work ethic.
While at high school, Phil Goldbranson inspired Rodney to spend a long weekend developing 100 goals he would like to accomplish and the steps required to achieve them. He took this assignment seriously and attributed much of his success to those goals. He excitedly gave countless goal setting speeches to diverse audiences throughout his life.
Brady graduated from Jordan High School in 1951 as valedictorian and from the University of Utah with High Honors, earning degrees of Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Business Administration in 1957. He then earned a Doctor of Business Administration degree from Harvard University. He received honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Utah, Weber State University, and Snow College. Hall of Fame inductions include: Utah Broadcasters, University of Utah College of Science, and University of Utah David Eccles School of Business.
Career About life
Brady's first job was in 1960 while serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. While in the service he married fifth grade teacher and University of Utah graduate, Carolyn "Mitzi" Hansen. Brady said, "I could have accomplished very little without her."
Positions he held during his professional life were:
Brady retired from corporate life in 2009.
Personal life
Brady documented his life in volumes (available at local university libraries). Among his special interests were: marathon running, astronomy, bird watching, family history, writing, gardening and public service.
Brady enthusiastically enjoyed scouting his entire life. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a boy and served for more than 40 years in regional and national Boy Scout leadership roles and received the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, and Silver Buffalo awards. He also loved working on scouting requirements with his sons, each of them attaining the rank of Eagle. He was always interested in his grandsons' progress in scouting too.
He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving as a missionary in the British Mission from 1953 to 1955 (where he met personally with Sir Winston Churchill), as Bishop of the Westwood California Ward, and as President of the Los Angeles California Stake. He was survived by his wife Mitzi, three sons Howard (Victoria), Ryan (Kristy), and Brooks (Nicole), and eight grandchildren, Blythe, Hayden, Spencer, Matthew, Grant, Kenton, Creed, and Miles. He is also survived by siblings "K" (Faye), Joanne (Dean) Frandsen, and Lindsay (Darlene).
Later life and death
Brady stepped down as head of Deseret Management Corporation in March 2009. He died on January 9, 2017, at the age of 83.