Howard S. McDonald

Howard S. McDonald
McDonald pictured in The Banyan 1946, BYU yearbook
President of Brigham Young University
In office July 1945 – October 1949
Preceded by	Franklin S. Harris
Succeeded by	Ernest L. Wilkinson
Personal details
Born	(1894-07-18)July 18, 1894 Holladay, Utah
Died	October 25, 1986(1986-10-25) (aged 92) Los Alamitos, California

Howard Stevenson McDonald (July 18, 1894 – October 25, 1986) was President of Brigham Young University (BYU), Los Angeles State College (now known as California State University, Los Angeles), San Fernando State College (now known as California State University, Northridge), and Los Angeles City College.

McDonald was born in Holladay, Utah. He served as a missionary in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the Eastern States Mission, which was headquartered in New York City. He spent part of his mission as president of the Western Pennsylvania Conference headquartered in Pittsburgh. While serving in this area he met Ella Gibbs, a young lady serving as a missionary who was the first Relief society president in Pittsburgh. Ella was later transferred to Baltimore.

After he returned from his mission McDonald sought out Ella Gibbs and they began courting. Howard and Ella married in the Salt Lake Temple on 26 September 1917. They had two daughters. Their first daughter Ruth was born while McDonald was serving in France as part of the United States Army during World War I.

McDonald graduated from Utah State Agricultural College in 1921, where he also taught. He later taught in San Francisco public schools, and in 1925 he received his M.A. from the University of California. Several years later he completed a Doctorate of Education also from the University of California. In 1952 he received a Doctor of Humanities.