BYU chair for Sister Hinckley

PROVO — Marjorie Pay Hinckley celebrated her 66th wedding anniversary Tuesday with a memorable gift from Brigham Young University.

Donors have endowed the Marjorie Pay Hinckley Chair in Social Work and Social Sciences, university officials announced after a ceremony attended by Sister Hinckley and her husband, President Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The endowment will allow BYU's College of Family, Home and Social Sciences to focus additional resources on the family by bringing national experts to the university for weeklong visits, said David B. Magleby, dean of the college.

"There is nothing in the world needed more than strong homes and families," Marjorie Hinckley said. "There is too much sadness; there is too much tragedy in homes where there could be so much happiness."

President Hinckley expressed gratitude for his wife's recognition.

"Well, you have done her a great honor, tremendous," he said. "We are very, very deeply grateful. She has sort of tagged along in my shadow all these years. And it is time that she moved out into the sunshine and that I moved back into the shadow. That is what I am glad to do today."

University officials presented Hinckley with a delicate glass-blown chair and table on a black walnut music-box base that plays the hymn, "Love at Home." The gift carries an inscription: "Marjorie Pay Hinckley, in honor of your commitment to family and community, Brigham Young University, 2003."

The endowment was made possible by several donors who were willing to give substantial donations in Hinckley's name, BYU President Merrill J. Bateman said.

"I'd like to indicate that, because of the love and respect these donors have for Sister Hinckley, we raised the funds in less than three weeks," he said.

Magleby said the Hinckley Chair would provide new opportunities for research about families, expand learning through lectures and mentorships for students, increase community involvement in family issues and supply additional service by students.

"We will bring distinguished visitors to campus to interact with students and faculty, and we anticipate an annual lecture series as well as family research collaborations on and off campus," Magleby said.

President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust of the First Presidency and Elder Richard G. Scott and Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ also attended Tuesday's ceremony.

"Who would think that little old me could be part of bringing about good for women, children and families for years to come?" Sister Hinckley said. "Not only am I honored today by the establishment of this chair, but I'm also somewhat tender because it is a day of personal celebration for me and my husband as we mark our 66th wedding anniversary."

President Hinckley also honored his wife during the ceremony.

"I just want to express appreciation to my dear companion for these 66 years," he said. "She has been absolutely wonderful. She has been a great mother and a great grandmother and a great friend and a great neighbor and a do-gooder of the best kind in all the world."

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