George Osmond

George Virl Osmond (October 13, 1917 – November 6, 2007) was the patriarch of the singing Osmond family.

Life and career

Osmond was born in Etna, Wyoming, the son of Agnes LaVerna (née Van Noy) and Rulon Osmond. His ancestry included English, Danish, Scottish, Scots-Irish, Swiss-German, and Dutch. Rulon died at age 24 on November 24, 1917, shortly after George was born. A devout Mormon, Osmond served two missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one in Hawaii and the other in the United Kingdom.

A World War II veteran, on December 1, 1944, he married Olive May Davis. The two had nine children: George Jr. (Virl), Tom, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie and Jimmy.

He worked in real estate, insurance and as a postmaster for the city of Ogden, Utah. He loved to sing, and he taught his children to sing barbershop harmony. The children's natural talent received public notice, which led to frequent appearances at church functions and local civil events. Osmond managed his sons careers, and gained an appearance at Disneyland in California. They caught the eye of Walt Disney, who took a personal interest in them. The boys auditioned for Andy Williams, whose father helped launch them into the national spotlight.

George Osmond (politician)

George Osmond (May 23, 1836 – March 25, 1913) was a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), as well as a judge and state senator in Wyoming.

Osmond was born in London, England. In 1850 he became a shipbuilder's apprentice in Woolwich. It was from fellow apprentices that he first heard of the LDS Church and was baptized on November 27, 1850. In 1854 he sailed in the Clara Wheeler to New Orleans and then went to St. Louis where he worked for James Eads. In 1855 while still in St. Louis Osmond married Georgina Huckvale.

In 1855 Osmond and his wife went to Utah Territory. They first settled in Bountiful and later moved to Willard. In 1864, they moved to the vicinity of Bear Lake in the town of Bloomington, Idaho.

Osmond served as bishop in Bloomington for seven years, and then as a counselor to William Budge in the presidency of the Bear Lake Stake. From 1884 to 1886 Osmond served as a Mormon missionary in England during which time he was assistant editor of the Millennial Star. From 1890 to 1892 he was again on a mission to the British Isles, during which he served first as president of the Scottish District and then as president of the London District.