George W. Romney

George W. Romney was an American businessman and public servant whose career spanned industry, state governance, and federal administration. Born in 1907 in a Mormon colony in Mexico, he later moved to the United States where he worked in various occupations before entering the automobile industry. He rose to become chief executive of American Motors Corporation in the 1950s, then served as Governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969. In 1969 President Richard Nixon appointed him as the third United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, a position he held until 1973. After leaving federal office, Romney devoted much of his time to volunteerism and public service until his death in 1995.

Early life and career

George Wilcken Romney entered the world on July 8, 1907, in Colonia Dublán, a Mormon settlement near Nuevo Casas Grandes in Chihuahua, Mexico. His parents, Gaskell Romney and Anna Amelia Pratt, were United States citizens who had relocated to Mexico with other Latter‑Day Saints after the federal government began prosecuting polygamy. The Mexican Revolution, which erupted in 1910, brought instability to the colonies; by 1912 the family fled back across the border into the United States, abandoning most of their property. They first settled in El Paso, Texas, where they received relief assistance from a congressional fund established for refugees, then moved briefly to Los Angeles before finally establishing themselves on a farm in Oakley, Idaho.

During his youth Romney worked in a variety of jobs and served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑Day Saints in the United Kingdom. He attended several American colleges but did not complete a degree. In 1939 he relocated to Detroit and joined the American Automobile Manufacturers Association, where he became the chief spokesman for the automobile industry during World War II. There he also headed a cooperative arrangement that allowed competing companies to share production improvements.

In 1948 Romney entered Nash‑Kelvinator Corporation, which would later become American Motors Corporation (AMC). By 1954 he had risen to the position of president and chairman of AMC. Under his leadership, the company focused its resources on developing the compact Rambler model, a strategy that helped stabilize the firm’s finances during a period when larger automakers were struggling with high production costs. Romney was known for his media savvy; he famously referred to the products of the “Big Three” automakers as “gas‑guzzling dinosaurs,” a comment that underscored his commitment to efficient, affordable vehicles.

Romney’s devotion to his faith remained strong throughout his career. He served as president of the Detroit stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑Day Saints and was recognized for his leadership within the religious community.

In 1961 Romney entered politics by participating in a state constitutional convention that aimed to rewrite Michigan’s constitution. His involvement in this process positioned him for higher office, and he was elected Governor of Michigan in 1962. He was re‑elected in 1964 and again in 1966, each time with increasingly large margins. As governor, Romney overhauled the state’s financial and revenue structure, greatly expanding the size of state government and introducing Michigan’s first state income tax. He was a strong supporter of the American Civil Rights Movement and requested federal troops during the 1967 Detroit riot to restore order.

Romney had been considered a front runner for the Republican nomination in the 1968 presidential election, but his campaign faltered after a mid‑1967 remark that his earlier support for the Vietnam War had been due to a “brainwashing” by U.S. military and diplomatic officials in Vietnam. He withdrew from the contest early in 1968, and following President Nixon’s victory he was appointed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Cabinet tenure

President Richard Nixon nominated Romney for the newly created post of United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 1969. The Senate confirmed his appointment, and he served from 1969 to 1973. During his tenure, Romney pursued initiatives aimed at increasing housing production for low‑income families and promoting open housing policies designed to reduce segregation in suburban areas. While some of these programs saw modest progress, they were frequently constrained by broader political dynamics within the administration.

Romney’s approach to urban development reflected a belief that federal action could play a constructive role in addressing housing shortages and improving living conditions for disadvantaged communities. He sought to expand the scope of HUD’s responsibilities and strengthen partnerships with state and local governments. His tenure was marked by efforts to bring new construction projects to fruition, particularly those intended to benefit economically challenged neighborhoods.

Despite obstacles—including disagreements over policy direction with other members of the administration—Romney maintained a focus on delivering tangible outcomes for residents across the country. He left the Department of Housing and Urban Development at the start of Nixon’s second term in 1973, concluding his federal service after four years in office.

Legacy

After leaving the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Romney returned to private life but continued to engage in public service. He became an advocate for volunteerism, leading the National Center for Voluntary Action and its successor organizations from 1973 through 1991. His work emphasized community involvement and civic responsibility as means to address social challenges.

Romney also served within his church as a regional representative, continuing his long‑standing commitment to religious leadership. He was married to Lenore Romney, who ran for the United States Senate in 1970, and he was the father of Mitt Romney, who would later serve as United States Senator from Utah, Governor of Massachusetts, and the Republican nominee for President in 2012. His lineage also includes Ronna McDaniel, former chair of the Republican National Committee.

George W. Romney passed away on July 26, 1995. His contributions to the automotive industry, Michigan’s governance, and national housing policy remain part of the broader narrative of mid‑20th‑century American public service. The breadth of his career—from business executive to state governor to federal cabinet secretary—illustrates a trajectory of leadership that bridged private enterprise, state administration, and national policymaking.