DAVID OMAN McKAY
Honorary President
David Oman McKay was born September 8, 1873, in Huntsville, Utah, USA. He died January 18, 1970, in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. His father was David McKay (1844–1917), and his mother was Jennette Eveline McKay (née Evans, 1850–1905).
David O. McKay was the third child of his Scottish-born father from Caithness and Welsh-born mother from Merthyr Tydfil. The family made their home in Huntsville after the elder McKay acquired land there for farming and subsequently served three terms as a senator in the Utah State Legislature.
A generous bequest from David O. McKay's grandmother allowed him and his siblings to attend the University of Utah, where McKay graduated in 1897 as class president and valedictorian. Following graduation, he spent two years as a
missionary in Britain proselytizing for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
In 1901, McKay married Emma Ray Riggs (1877–1970) in Salt Lake City. Together, they had seven children: David Lawrence (1901–1933), Llewelyn Riggs (1904–1975), Louise Jeanette (1906–2002), Royle Riggs (1909–1912), Emma Rae (1913–2006), Edward Riggs (1915–2008), and Robert Riggs (1920–2013).
McKay taught religion and literature at LDS Weber Stake Academy (now known as Weber State University) and became the principal there in 1902. In 1906, he was made one of the 12 Apostles of the LDS Church. He became second counselor in the church's presidency in 1934 and was installed as church president in 1951, a position which he held until his death.
An enthusiastic supporter of the Utah Pipe Band (UPB), McKay was named the organization's honorary president after its formation in 1937. The band's motto—"Act well thy part"—is derived from a phrase often used by Mckay: "What e'er thou art, act well thy part." McKay first encountered this phrase as a missionary in Scotland, where he saw it inscribed above the doorway of a building in the city of Stirling.
In 1970, McKay died in Salt Lake City at the age of 96.