1919-07-Improvement Era—George W. McCune President of the Eastern States Mission

George W . McCune, President of the Eastern States Mission

Improvement Era, July 1919, pp. 799-800.

George W . McCune, President of the Eastern States Mission

George W. McCune, appointed to preside over the Eastern States mission, was born in Nephi, Utah, May 24, 1872. He is a son of Henry F. and Elizabeth Grace McCune, both of whom are still active in Church circles. His initial education was received in the public schools of Nephi. Later he attended the Deseret University, now known as the University of Utah.

His service in Church work goes back to the Primary association, and thence by steps till at 18 he was chosen as assistant superintendent of the Y. M. M. I. A., to the late Heber S. Goddard. After his return from a mission to England, begun in 1896, he was sustained as assistant superintendent of the Y. M. M. I. A. of Juab stake. In the fall of 1898, he became associated with the John Scowcroft & Sons Company, of Ogden. His activity in Church work was promptly resumed in Ogden. There, upon the death of A. McLaren Boyle, he was made superintendent of the Second ward Sunday school.

Subsequently, he was chosen to lead in the Sunday school at the State Industrial institution, until called to be a member of the old Weber stake Sunday School Board, under the late Thomas B. Evans, David O. McKay and Charles J. Ross. Upon the division of the Weber stake, he was set apart as first assistant stake superintendent of Sunday schools. Other activities, including his place in the high council, signalized his life prior to this call to the Eastern States mission, which is a merited recognition of his ability and devotion.

His training in business will further fit him for a sympathetic discharge of his duties, for Gotham and the populous district over which he now presides is a cauldron of commerce and industry, the aims and symbols of which must be known if due progress is made. It may be of interest to cite that President McCune organized the first Automoblie Company of Utah, later sold to Browning Brothers; that he established the McCune-Foulger Shoe Co., and that he is at present a director of the John Scowcroft & Sons Co., one of the largest manufacturing and wholesale concerns of the West.

His social nature, both natural and acquired, is perhaps his chief distinction, in the practice of which the mission interests will be ably subserved. He will be accompanied on his mission by his wife, Sara Scowcroft McCune, three sons, John, Scott and William; also his daughter Mary.