Milton Bennion
Encyclopedia
Milton Bennion was an American
educator and a university and educational administrator.
, Utah Territory
. He received a B.S. degree from the University of Utah
in 1897 and an M.A. degree from Columbia University
in 1901.
From 1897 to 1900, Bennion was the president of the Branch Normal School, an institution that eventually developed into Southern Utah University
. From 1898 to 1900, he was also a member of the Utah State Board of Education. In 1901, he joined the faculty of the University of Utah and became a full professor of philosophy
in 1904. From 1913 to 1941, he was dean of the university's School of Education. Between 1920 and 1926 Bennion was the chairman of the National Council on Character Education for the National Education Association
. Bennion was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in education from the University of Utah in 1931. Today a building on the Salt Lake City campus of the university is named in Bennion's honor.
and A. Hamer Reiser
. In assuming this position, Bennion succeeded George D. Pyper
; Bennion had been Pyper's first assistant in the general Sunday School superintendency since 1934. Bennion was a member of the Sunday School general board for 40 years, beginning in 1909. In 1949, George R. Hill
succeeded him as general Sunday School superintendent. Bennion also served as a church missionary
to New Zealand
from 1889 to 1892.
; the couple were the parents of 10 children. Bennion is the father of Lowell L. Bennion
, a prominent scholar on Latter Day Saint history. One of Bennion's grandsons is Steven D. Bennion
, who has been president of Ricks College, Snow College
, and Southern Utah University
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and a university and educational administrator.
Biography
Bennion was born in TaylorsvilleTaylorsville, Utah
Taylorsville is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 57,439 at the 2000 census...
, Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
. He received a B.S. degree from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
in 1897 and an M.A. degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1901.
From 1897 to 1900, Bennion was the president of the Branch Normal School, an institution that eventually developed into Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University, or SUU, is located in Cedar City, Utah. It was founded in 1897 as an extension of the Agricultural College of Utah, by the citizens of Cedar City.During its history, the school has been known as:...
. From 1898 to 1900, he was also a member of the Utah State Board of Education. In 1901, he joined the faculty of the University of Utah and became a full professor of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in 1904. From 1913 to 1941, he was dean of the university's School of Education. Between 1920 and 1926 Bennion was the chairman of the National Council on Character Education for the National Education Association
National Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
. Bennion was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in education from the University of Utah in 1931. Today a building on the Salt Lake City campus of the university is named in Bennion's honor.
Religious Beliefs
Bennion was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and from 1943 to 1949 he was the sixth general superintendent of the church's Deseret Sunday School Union. His assistants were George R. HillGeorge R. Hill
George Richard Hill, Jr. was an American educational administrator and was the seventh general superintendent of the Sunday School organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1949 to 1966...
and A. Hamer Reiser
A. Hamer Reiser
Albert Hamer Reiser was a prominent community leader in Utah and a missionary and leader of the Sunday School in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints....
. In assuming this position, Bennion succeeded George D. Pyper
George D. Pyper
George Dollinger Pyper was the fifth general superintendent of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a member and manager of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the editor of a number of Latter Day Saint periodicals.Pyper was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory...
; Bennion had been Pyper's first assistant in the general Sunday School superintendency since 1934. Bennion was a member of the Sunday School general board for 40 years, beginning in 1909. In 1949, George R. Hill
George R. Hill
George Richard Hill, Jr. was an American educational administrator and was the seventh general superintendent of the Sunday School organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1949 to 1966...
succeeded him as general Sunday School superintendent. Bennion also served as a church missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
from 1889 to 1892.
Personal life
In 1898 Bennion married Cora Lindsay in the Salt Lake TempleSalt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
; the couple were the parents of 10 children. Bennion is the father of Lowell L. Bennion
Lowell L. Bennion
Lowell Lindsay Bennion was an American educator and counselor. Early in his career, Bennion focused much of his efforts on fellow members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , but he sought to benefit all people in his reach.Bennion was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of...
, a prominent scholar on Latter Day Saint history. One of Bennion's grandsons is Steven D. Bennion
Steven D. Bennion
Steven D. Bennion has served as president of Snow College, Ricks College, and Southern Utah University. Most recently, he was president of the New York New York City South Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints....
, who has been president of Ricks College, Snow College
Snow College
Snow College is a rural, two-year state college located in Ephraim, Utah, U.S. It offers certificates and associate degrees in a number of areas...
, and Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University, or SUU, is located in Cedar City, Utah. It was founded in 1897 as an extension of the Agricultural College of Utah, by the citizens of Cedar City.During its history, the school has been known as:...
.