Henry H. Blood

Henry H. Blood served as the seventh governor of the State of Utah. He was in office from January 2, 1933, to January 6, 1941, during the Great Depression years. Additionally, Utah experienced a severe drought in 1934, both of which left many Utahns without employment, shelter, food, and clothing.

Governor Blood began the long journey to economic recovery by instituting new programs, decreasing the wages of state employees and slashing the size of state departments. . . . He also closely followed and supported President Roosevelt's New Deal. Programs like the Public Works Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps, Home Owners Loan Association, National Recovery Administration and other federal programs found their way and support in Utah. Many irrigation and reclamation projects as well as public buildings were a result of these programs, which not only provided employment but relief for future problems. . . . Blood pushed and gained support from a resisting legislature for a 2% sales tax to secure federal funds for these projects.[1]

Blood was the first governor to occupy the mansion donated to the state by the Kearns family in 1937.

Blood was elected Recorder of Kaysville in 1893 and served as Davis County Treasurer from 1896 to 1900. After serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to England, he continued his public service as a member of the Davis County School Board, the Utah Public Utilities Commission, and the Utah State Road Commission. He became the chairman of the latter in 1925.

Blood was a successful businessman and was president of the joint Kaysville Milling Company and Layton Milling Company and Elevator Company.

He was born on October 1, 1872, in Kaysville, Utah Territory. He and his wife, Minnie Ann Barnes, were the parents of four children. He had accepted a call as mission president in California for the Church in January 1941. He died on June 19, 1942, from a cerebral hemorrhage.