W Rolfe Kerr

Biography

Kerr was born in Tremonton, Utah, and grew up on a farm. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Utah State University (USU), intending to spend his life farming, until he was offered a position as coordinator of student activities at USU after his military service. He later received a master’s degree in marriage and family relations and a doctorate in education.

After serving the LDS Church in the British Mission, Kerr met Janeil Raybold at USU. Kerr and Raybold were married 15 September 1960 in the Logan Temple and have six children. While at USU, Kerr played football and was the starting quarterback in 1958.

Kerr made his career in the field of learning, serving in administrative positions at USU, Weber State College, the University of Utah, Dixie State College of Utah (where he was president), and Brigham Young University. He was serving as commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education when he was called as president of the church's Texas Dallas Mission in 1993.

Kerr also served in the LDS Church as a stake president, bishop's counselor, high councilor, and on the Sunday School General Board. For two years in the 1960s, he was involved in helping organize the LDS Student Association.

While still serving in Dallas, Kerr was called as a general authority and member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy on April 6, 1996, and was transferred to the First Quorum of the Seventy on April 5, 1997. As a general authority, he served in a number of area presidencies prior to being appointed as the commissioner of the Church Educational System in 2005. He was released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and granted emeritus status on October 6, 2007, but remained as CES Commissioner until being released on August 1, 2008, when he was succeeded by Paul V. Johnson. He then served as president of the Logan Utah Temple from 2008 to 2011.