J. Willard Marriott

John Willard Marriott was born to Hyrum Willard Marriott and Ellen Morris at Marriott Settlement, Utah, September 17, 1900. He was the second of eight children and spent his early years helping with the family sheep ranching business. In 1918 he left for Connecticut and Vermont to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He pursued a college education, graduating first from Weber Junior College and then from the University of Utah. His tuition money came from assorted jobs, including a regular summer stint selling woolen underwear to lumberjacks in the Pacific Northwest.

Mr. Marriott purchased the rights to sell Allen and Wright (A&W) root beer in Washington, DC, and on May 20, 1927, he opened a root beer stand with Hugh Colton. A few weeks later he traveled back to Salt Lake City to marry Alice Sheets on June 9, 1927, in the Salt Lake Temple.

The Marriotts' first child, J. Willard Marriott Jr., was born in 1932. By 1934 the corporation had added drive-in restaurants with “running boys” that provided customers with in-car service.

In the 1940s and 1950s, the corporation built several new restaurants and opened numerous industrial, defense plant, and school cafeterias, and serviced airlines.

The company continued to grow under Mr. Marriott's control until 1964, when he turned over the company presidency to his son, Bill. Marriott continued to be heavily involved with the corporation as chairman of the board until 1985.

Marriott was actively involved in religious, academic, political, and community organizations throughout his life. He also chaired two presidential inaugural committees and organized a special "Honor America Day" in 1970 at the request of then President Richard M. Nixon.

Marriott and his wife, Alice, had two sons. He died of a heart attack on August 13, 1985, at his summer home in New Hampshire. Those attending his funeral service included former U.S. president Richard M. Nixon; Ezra Taft Benson, who later became President of the Church; the Reverend Billy Graham; and famous cowboy and film star Roy Rogers.