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Show Rosenblatt 7-25 p.3 Agency with its various responsibilities. But--it was it was not until the war years--there two years whenfue UJA became an important group in the charitable organizations that there was active solicitation for their help. The friendship with McKay, well, ah, -- L Now, McKay came into office as the president of the church in the 30s? J Now, I thin kit was in the 40s. Myrecollection there is weak. L What do you remember of him during those years-- J Of the man? Ah. L If you look back, what comes to mind? J He was a natural leader. Physically, he was an attractive man, with a warmth in his character, I mean, his understanding. He was generally the type of individual that you ooul d be a friend with. He became reprsenta i tve of the characteristics that are good in a human being. I knew him better here in the -- what was it -- I guess the late 50s or the early 60s. The community--CITY, through its chamber of commerce, has a move ah in the idea, decided that it was proper that the city should give a very formidable banquet and a gift to President McKay. at his, as I recall it, his 80th birthday. And I was called irnmong the group who ws going to participate in putting it together. And as the program became settled, the choice--they asked me if I would represent the community and make the presentation, a thte banquet. L Reprsnt what community. J The whole, the city as a whole, other than Mormon. Ah which did. It was quite an event. L What kind of presentation did you make? J The gift? L No, the ritual- how was the ttual of the presentation done, what was the gift? J Well, the ritual was done at the Hotel Utah in grand style. : It was the greatest baneut the hotel had ever done. It was all televised and it went very well. There were some of the other leaders in ~e community who participated in the prelimianries. And --But the final speech and the final prsentation to President McKay -- I did. It was very well received, as I say, and -- L Did you write the speech yourself? J Oh, yes, sure. L What did you think about that kind of position you were put into-- J Pleased with it actually. My, you know, company in those years, was an important company in the city. One of the largest employers. And --well, it --it -- it was-in recollection, it's one of these events in your career that stands out. After that, you know, you walked down the street and everybody knew who you were? And all the Mormons -- the speech was repeated inthe wardhouses, and the program was played. Someway, they made a copy of the whole thing and presented it to me after. You know, on tape. So that some day we'll get the kids all together and we'll run them aoain. |
