A former attorney, a high school football letterman, a husband, father, church leader and the "family Google." And now, President James E. Faust of the LDS Church's First Presidency is the 2006 Distinguished Utahn of the Year.

The Brigham Young University Management Society on Wednesday honored President Faust, second counselor in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' First Presidency, with its annual award as family, church officials, business leaders and educators celebrated a man who, as Management Society Utah Valley Chapter president Marc Arnoldsen said, has given "many years of distinguished leadership and service in our community."

Among those singing President Faust's praises Wednesday was his daughter, Janna F. Coombs, who called him "a great family patriarch" who teaches his children and grandchildren from the experiences of his "rich and righteous life.

"I don't know how many times I've said, 'Hmm, I don't know that. I'll have to ask Dad,' " she said. "He is our family Google."

President Faust is a veteran of the Air Force, having served during World War II. It was during leave from that war that he married his wife of 63 years, Ruth, in Salt Lake City. He was an attorney in private practice and has served on the boards of many Salt Lake-area companies, including the Deseret News Publishing Co. and Key Bank.

Former Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard C. Howe, who has known President Faust since attending Granite High School with him in the 1940s, said he was an honest lawyer who was always conscientious about charging his clients a fair price.

"In my observation, he probably undercharged," Howe said.

President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, said it is "one of the great blessings of my life having had the opportunity to serve side by side with President James E. Faust."

President Faust was given an oil painting by local artist VaLoy Eaton, depicting his grandfather's home in Oak City, Millard County.

"I'm sure that I don't deserve this honor," President Faust said in accepting the award. "But as Jack Benny once said, 'I don't deserve this honor. But then I have arthritis, and I don't deserve that, either.' "

President Faust touted the role BYU Management Society members and graduates from BYU's Marriott School of Management will play in the future of a nation and world in turmoil.

"To me, it is distressing these days to see our nation so divided, so partisan, so intolerant," he said. He hopes Utah students from BYU, the University of Utah and Utah State University — for whom the Management Society offers scholarships — will be chief among those working to bridge that gap.

President Faust's award is the 13th to be presented annually by the BYU Management Society. The society has 70 chapters around the world.

Previous honorees include President Monson, businessman and author Stephen Covey, LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, former Gov. Olene Walker, businessman and Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller and former BYU football coach Lavell Edwards.

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com