“Elder Richard D. Allred Of the Seventy,” Ensign, May 1997, 102
Elder Richard D. Allred
Of the Seventy
Though he felt “overwhelmed” at the call as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, Elder Richard D. Allred says he and his wife “love the Lord, and we’re pleased to be involved in his work.” Service in the Lord’s work has become a way of life for him and his wife, Gay.
A career officer in the United States Air Force who retired in 1979, he has held a number of executive positions in business since then. These included appointments as general manager of one company and chief executive officer of another. But his tenure in these business positions was not long, usually ending when he accepted another full-time Church calling. He served as a mission president in Quezaltenango, Guatemala, then later was called as president of the missionary training center in Guatemala City. Two years after that mission ended, he was called as president of the temple in Guatemala City.
Noting how actively his wife has served by his side in these callings, he says that she will again be “a great asset to the work” wherever they are sent now.
He was serving as president of the San Antonio Texas East Stake when called as a General Authority. He has also been a Regional Representative, stake patriarch, and bishop.
He was born in Salt Lake City on 3 August 1932. He received a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and later a master’s of business administration from the University of Arkansas.
He married Gay Banner on 19 December 1956 in the Logan Temple. They are the parents of three children and have 12 grandchildren.
“He gives his all, whatever he does in the Church,” his wife comments. “He loves the people, and they know it. He has a great talent for working with people.”
The Allreds have grown used to going wherever assignments take them, first in the military, then in Church service, so this new calling will not alter their lifestyle significantly. “The decision was made a long time ago to serve whenever called,” he says.
Elder Allred says that among the many things he may do in his new calling, it will be a goal of his to carry out the mandate given to the newly called Seventies by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “to bear testimony and to strengthen and establish Zion.”