Distinguished Service Award

Each year, the International Society presents the Distinguished Service Award for international service to an individual whose professional contribution and personal example demonstrate the ideals and objectives espoused by the society.

2005 Distinguished Service Award Recipient:

Donald L. Staheli, Former CEO of Continental Grain Company and current member of the Second Quorum of Seventy for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Donald L. Staheli is Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ContiGroup Companies, Inc. (formerly Continental Grain Company), New York. Mr. Staheli joined Continental Grain Company in 1969. Prior to joining Continental Grain, he was associated for 11 years with Swift & Company in various management positions. At Continental Grain, Mr. Staheli held a number of senior managment positions at Allied Mills, Inc., a Chicago based feed and food subsidiary of Continental Grain. He was elected as President and CEO of that company in 1974.

In 1977, Mr. Staheli was elected to the additional position of Executive Vice President and Director of Continental Grain, moving to the firm's New York headquarters. He was elected to Continental Grain's Office of the Cheif Executive in 1981; President and Chief Operating Officer in 1984, Chief Executive Officer in 1988, and subsequently Chairman of the Board. Mr. Staheli retired from Continental Grain in 1997. After retiring in 1997, Mr. Staheli was called to serve as a General Authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he has since been involved full-time in various ecclesiastic, humanitarian, and civic activities of the Church.

Mr. Staheli is a true "international professional." Some know him more particularly for his involvement in the China market. At one point he was Chairman of the U.S.-China Business Council and Chairman of the International Leaders Advisory Council to the mayor of Shanghai. Importantly, that Shanghai major, Zhu Rongji, later became the influential Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China, serving with Zhang Zemin.

A native of Utah, Mr. Staheli was born in St. George in 1931. He graduated from Utah State University with a B.S. degree (1953) and received his M.S. and doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois (1956). Elder Staheli and his wife have four children and thirteen grandchildren.

2004 Distinguished Service Award Recipient:

John K. Carmack, Director of the Perpetual Education Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Elder John K. Carmack was named a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 7 April 1984. He was born 10 May 1931, in Winslow, Arizona, and is married to Shirley Fay Allen Carmack. They are the parents of six children. He presently serves as Managing Director of the Perpetual Education Fund (PEF) and has previously served as president of the Europe Central Area, Asia Area, North America Northeast Area, Utah Central Area, Southeast Area, East Area, and Europe West Area. When Elder Carmack was called as a General Authority of the Church in 1984, he was serving as president of the Church's Idaho Boise Mission. Prior to that, he had served the Church as a Regional Representative for four years, and president of the Los Angeles Stake for five years. Elder Carmack received his B.S. degree from Brigham Young University. After service in the U.S. Army in Korea, 1955-57, he received his J.D. degree from the UCLA School of Law in 1960. Elder Carmack enjoys music and sports, and is fond of history and has twice served as Executive Director of the Church Historical Department.

Past recipients include:

2003: Stan Taylor
Professor of Political Science, Brigham Young University

2002: Garry Flake
Director, Latter-day Saint Charities, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2001: Alexander B. Morrison
Emeritus General Authority, Quorum of the Seventy, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2000: Malan Jackson
Emeritus Director of International Studies, Utah Valley State College

1999: Paul Hyer
Emeritus Professor of History, Brigham Young University

1998: Marion D. Hanks
Emeritus General Authority, Quorum of the Seventy, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

1997: Ray C. Hillam
Emeritus Professor of Political Science, Brigham Young University