User:Jmjosh90/sandbox/Preston Richards

Preston D. Richards (born September 15, 1881) was an assistant solicitor for the state department of the United States under J. Reuben Clark during the Taft Administration. He was also a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and instrumental in securing the building permits for the Los Angeles California Temple.

Early Life
Early on in his life, Richards was a high school principal. In 1907, Richards wrote a biography of early Mormon leader Willard Richards. In 1908, Richards was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.

Law Career
Richards studied law at the University of Chicago. From there he became assistant solicitor of the state department and later formed a private law firm with J. Reuben Clark. Hugh B. Brown would later work for this law firm. Richards was law partners with J. Reuben Clark and Albert E. Bowen.

Government Service
Richards was an assistant solicitor for the state department of the United States under J. Reuben Clark during the Taft Administration. While working in Washington, D.C. he authored the proclamation of Arizona's statehood and wrote the text to at least one constitutional amendment. Richards served as a Utah State Senator during the 1907 legislative session.

Church Service
In 1920, Richards was a member of the general board of the LDS Church's Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association.

Los Angeles Temple
Richards worked Pro bono to help secure the approvals needed for the construction of the Los Angeles California Temple. Then when the construction was delayed because of steel shortages during the Korean War, Richards and Edward O. Anderson were sent to negotiate with the National Production Authority where the temple was designated an ongoing construction project exempting it from steel rationing requirements in a comparatively short amount of time. Richards was present at the Groundbreaking and helped lead fundraising efforts. He died before seeing the temple's completion.

External References

 * Collection of Letters to LDS Church Leaders