Ernest L. Wilkinson
| Ernest L. Wilkinson | |
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Wilkinson pictured in The Banyan 1952, BYU yearbook
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| President of Brigham Young University |
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In office February 1951 – July 1971 |
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| Preceded by | Howard S. McDonald |
| Succeeded by | Dallin H. Oaks |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
May 4, 1899 Ogden, Utah |
| Died | April 6, 1978 (aged 78) Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Alma mater | George Washington University |
Ernest Leroy Wilkinson (May 4, 1899 – April 6, 1978) was an American academic administrator and prominent figure in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was president of Brigham Young University (BYU) from 1951 to 1971 and also oversaw the entire LDS Church Educational System. Prior to this, Wilkinson was a lawyer in Washington, D.C. and New York City.
Wilkinson was born in Ogden, Utah. He graduated from Weber Academy in Ogden in 1917. He was then a student at Weber College, which was the same school now having expanded to offer collegiate level courses. After a year at Weber College Wilkinson became a member of the Student Army Training Corps unit located at BYU. After the war, he became a regular student at BYU and among other things served as the editor of the weekly newspaper. He earned his bachelor of arts degree at BYU in 1921.
At graduation, Wilkinson began teaching at Weber College. He married Alice Valera Ludlow, a native of Spanish Fork who he had met while they were both students at BYU. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 16 August 1923. The ceremony was performed by James E. Talmage. Ernest and Alice would have five children. Among other subjects, Alice had studied drama at BYU, which led to T. Earl Pardoe stating she was his most talented student up to that time.
Also in 1923 Wilkinson was involved with the campaign of William H. King for United States Senate. He then earned a law degree from George Washington University and a doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1927.
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