Magazine Sponsor: FRANK MADSEN

The Sons of Utah Pioneers wishes to honor a remarkable “modern pioneer” —Frank Madsen—for his generosity and support as the sponsor of this issue of Pioneer magazine.

Frank Madsen, Jr., was born January 6, 1931, in Salt Lake City to Frank A. Madsen, a prominent businessman and bishop; and Louise W. Madsen, a counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency and General Board member for 28 years. He married Constance Clayton, an artist of note, in the Salt Lake Temple, February 3, 1954, and they have four daughters and one son.

Frank’s education includes a B.S. from the University of Utah in 1954; MBA, University of Utah in 1956; JD, University of Utah in 1956.

Owner of Madsen Furniture Company and Madsen Realty Company, Frank is an attorney—private practice; served in the United States Senate, eight years as Administrative Assistant to Senator Orrin G. Hatch in Washington D.C.; four years as General Counsel of the Labor and Human Resources Committee of the U.S. Senate; and three years as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate in the U.S. Air Force (Highest rank: Captain).

Years of service include bishop of three different wards, stake presidency counselor, counselor to two different presidents of the Washington D.C. Temple (six years); president of the Massachusetts Boston Mission; Regional Representative of the Twelve for the Rochester New York and Cleveland Ohio Regions; member of the Public Affairs Advisory Committee for the Church; Board of Directors for Utah Chamber Artists; Deseret Foundation; University of Utah Law School Alumni Board; president, Madsen Family Foundation for Charitable Giving; Mills Chapter board member and president; and former National Board member.

While serving in Washington, Frank was approached by a Hungarian official, who wanted the LDS church to be officially recognized in his country—more for economic than religious reasons. Two years before the Berlin Wall came down, Frank helped arrange for Elder Russell M. Nelson to go to Hungary, which resulted in the Church’s obtaining the legal status they had sought for several years. Soon, other Communistic countries—Poland, Romania, and Russia—followed Hungary’s lead, resulting in missionary work behind the Iron Curtain.

During Frank’s years in Washington D.C., the Church had negotiated with the Israeli government to build the BYU Jerusalem Center. With intense opposition to the Center by the ultra conservatives in the Knesset (Israeli Parliament), there was the danger that construction on the Center would be stopped. President James E. Faust asked Frank to help dilute the opposition. Frank solicited letters supporting the Center from 13 influential U.S. Senators—all within two days!

The letters were delivered, and construction continued. Later, when opposition flared up again, Frank and his staff obtained 155 letters from U.S. Representatives, including the heads of all major House committees and the Speaker of the House—written, collected, and sent to the Israeli government within an astonishing two-day period. The letters indicated that the financial relationship between the two countries could be seriously strained if the Jerusalem Center project were stopped. The result was that the Center was completed.

The Sons of Utah Pioneers salutes Frank for his dedication and hard work as today’s “modern pioneer.”

Frank is a decendant of the 1886 Salt Lake Mayor, Francis Armstrong, featured in the next article.