D. Arthur Haycock

David Arthur Haycock (September 4, 1916 – February 25, 1994)^[1] was a personal secretary to several twentieth-century presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), including George Albert Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball and Ezra Taft Benson.

As secretary, Haycock handled most of the correspondence for the prophet and scheduled the prophet's meetings. Haycock also accompanied the prophets on their many trips throughout the world were he aided in the planning and note taking of the meetings.

Biography

Haycock was born the oldest of four children to David Haycock and Lily Edith Crane in Farmington, Utah. He lived in various locations in Idaho and Utah growing up. He served as a missionary, mission president and Temple president for the church to Hawaii. Upon returning, he married Maureen McCellen and took a job at the Deseret News, then was appointed as George Albert Smith's personal secretary.

When David O. McKay was made LDS Church president, he retained his personal secretary, Clare Middlemiss and Haycock was called as Joseph Anderson's assistant. He served as an assistant to Ezra Taft Benson as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, then Haycock was called to serve as mission president in Hawaii.

Upon his return from Hawaii, Haycock again took employment with the Deseret News. Upon McKay's death, he became personal secretary to Joseph Fielding Smith and aided him in Smith's travels. Upon Smith's death, Haycock assisted Harold B. Lee in his travels. Haycock took Lee to LDS Hospital when Lee collapsed from exhaustion and was there when Lee's death was imminent. That is when Haycock called the First Presidency and Spencer W. Kimball, who as President of the Twelve would be President upon Lee's imminent death.

When Kimball's health made it impossible for him to travel frequently or even leave his apartment, Haycock accompanied Kimball's counselor Gordon B. Hinckley when Hinckley would visit Kimball in his apartment. Haycock also read many of Kimball's talks when Kimball did not have the strength to address general conference sessions himself. He was also a speaker at Kimball's funeral.

Upon Kimball's death, Haycock served briefly as personal secretary to Ezra Taft Benson before Haycock's call to be the temple president for the Laie Hawaii Temple. He retired following his return from Hawaii in 1986.^[2] He died at the age of 77 following complications from heart surgery in February 1994.^[2]

References

1. ^ "Secretary to 5 Church presidents lauded for 'unsullied character'". Church News. March 5, 1994. http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/24221/Secretary-to-5-Church-presidents-lauded-for-unsullied-character.html. Retrieved 2010-02-08. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "D. Arthur Haycock (editorial)". The Deseret News. 1994-02-26. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19940226&id=CZkRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9OwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3015,4951714. Retrieved 2010-01-11. 

External links

• "D. Arthur Haycock: Aide to Four Prophets"
• Speech by Haycock in 1980 at BYU
• Photograph of Haycock as Joseph Fielding Smith's secretary
• Photograph of Haycock on the first Board of Trustees of the Church College of Hawaii

Persondata
Name	Haycock, D. Arthur
Alternative names
Short description	Secretary to several twentieth-century presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Date of birth	September 4, 1916
Place of birth	Farmington, Utah
Date of death	February 25, 1994
Place of death	Salt Lake City, Utah