Judd, pioneer LDS leader in Southern Nevada, dies

Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2001 | 8:32 a.m.

When Paul Judd came to Las Vegas in 1948 he saw the potential for unlimited local growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He began to make that dream come true by taking the reins as bishop of Ward 3, which at that time stretched through from Las Vegas to Tonopah and had about 2,500 faithful. Today, 10,000-12,000 church members live in that sector that has been divided into several wards.

Paul Judd, who went on to serve as president of the Las Vegas Stake for 10 years and as president of the Las Vegas Temple from 1998 until June, died Sunday of brain cancer at Nathan Adelson Hospice. He was 77.

Services for the Las Vegas resident of 53 years will be 11 a.m. Friday at the LDS Meadows Stake Center, 3200 Mustang St. Visitation will be 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday in Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave. Additional visitation will be 9-10 a.m. Burial will be in Memory Gardens, 7251 W. Lone Mountain Road.

Judd, who for more than 25 years was comptroller for Nevada Ready Mix and Nevada Rock and Sand, is the father of local attorney Bruce Judd.

Will Stoddard, spokesman for the church in Southern Nevada, said, "At the temple he worked to further the importance of the family, preparing many of them not only for this life but for the next. He just loved being around people, helping them through differences and challenges. He never stopped."

Judd was born on Aug. 16, 1924, in Washington, Utah. He graduated from Dixie High School in St. George and first came to Southern Nevada for a brief period in the 1930s to work at Basic Industries as a dump truck driver.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, he returned to Utah and in 1947 married the former Eula Mae Earl in the St. George Temple. She survives him. A year later, the couple moved to Las Vegas.

Judd, who in the 1960s was office manager at Vegas Village supermarket and department store and a trustee for Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital -- now University Medical Center -- served as a LDS bishop from 1960 to 1967 and as president of the Las Vegas Stake 1969-79.

He was appointed to the temple presidency in 1998 and stepped down in June because of poor health. Neil Twitchell is serving out Judd's term as interim president until a new leader is selected in November, Stoddard said.

In 1990, Judd was chosen by then-Gov. Bob Miller to serve on the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline, a post he held for one four-year term before retiring.

In addition to his wife and son, both of Las Vegas, Judd is survived by a daughter, Darlene Grant; and another son, Stan Judd, both of Las Vegas; one brother, Gene Judd of San Marcos, Calif.; two sisters, Nellie Ashdown of Cedar City, Utah, and Venita Jones of Washington, Utah; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter Gloria in April 1978.

The family suggests donations be made to the Nathan Adelson Hospice, 3391 N. Buffalo Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89129, or the LDS Church Missionary Fund.