Nov. 14, 1907 - Born in Boise to John William and Nellie Rasmussen Hunter.

April 4, 1920 - Baptized a member of the LDS Church.May 11, 1923 - Became the second Boise Scout to receive the Eagle award.

June 3, 1926 - Graduated from Boise High School.

January-February 1927 - Toured Asia as a musician on the SS President Jackson.

June 10, 1931 - Married Clara May "Claire" Jeffs in the Salt Lake Temple.

June 8, 1939 - Graduated cum laude from Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles.

Feb. 5, 1940 - Admitted to the California State Bar.

Sept. 1, 1940 - Sustained as bishop of the El Sereno Ward (released Nov. 10, 1946.)

Nov. 10, 1946 - Sustained as president of the Pasadena Stake high priest quorum.

Sept. 11, 1949 - Sustained as a high councilor in the Pasadena Stake (released Feb. 26, 1950).

Feb. 26 1950 - Sustained as president of the Pasadena Stake (released Nov. 29, 1959)

Oct. 10, 1959 - Sustained as a member of the Council of the Twelve in general conference.

Oct. 15, 1959 - Ordained an apostle by President David O. McKay.

Jan. 29, 1963 - Admitted to the Utah State Bar.

January 1964 - Named president of the Genealogical Society.

April 16, 1966 - Became an honorary member of Blue Key at BYU.

April 1968 - Received honorary membership in BYU Young Men organization.

June 22, 1968 - Received Distinguished Citizen Award from business, industry and church leaders in Southern California.

February 1970 - Called as LDS Church historian.

Nov. 8, 9, 1975 - Assisted by Elder J. Thomas Fyans, then an assistant to the Twelve, created 15 Mexico City-area stakes out of five stakes and some branches from the Mexico City Mission.

Aug. 13, 1976 - Received honorary doctorate of laws from BYU.

April 1977 - Received Distinguished Citizen Award in Los Angeles.

November 1978 - Received Distinguished Eagle Award from Great Salt Lake Boy Scout Council.

Oct. 9, 1983 - Wife Clara May Jeffs died.

June 22, 1985 - Received honorary doctorate of humanities from BYU-Hawaii.

Nov. 10, 1985 - Set apart as acting president of the Council of the Twelve.

June 2, 1988 - Set apart as president of the Council of the Twelve.

1989 - Howard W. Hunter Professorship established at BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School.

April 12, 1990 - Married Inis Bernice Egan in the Salt Lake Temple.

View Comments

Nov. 26, 1990 - Received 50-year recognition from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit Court of Los Angeles.

June 5, 1994 - Ordained as the 14th president of the church.

Oct. 1, 1994 - Sustained as church president in a solemn assembly at general conference.

March 3, 1995 - Died at age 87.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.