Rex LeRoy Hurst was born on March 10, 1923 at the family home in Payson, Utah. He enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 19 and was a pilot in World War II until 1945. After basic training in Texas and twin engine training at Brooks Field, he served as a flight trainer in Randolph Field before being send to Europe. He had several narrow escapes, one time landing in Scotland without even enough gas to taxi. He was involved in transporting equipment and people. After the Battle of the Bulge, he served as part of the utility squadron for the 8th Air Force, involved in transporting the wounded to hospitals and taking supplies to various destinations.
Rex married the love of his life, Lee Lasson Hurst, on August 26, 1946 in the Salt Lake City temple. They have five children Craig (Jill) Hurst of Ogden, Vicki (Stephen) Allan of Providence, Cherri (Steven) Hart of Rexburg, Gary (Lori) Hurst of Sugarland, Texas, and Steven (Connie) Hurst of Alexandria, Virginia. They have nineteen grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Rex completed his BS and MS at Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University) in soil physics and his PhD from Cornell in 1952 in crop ecology, taking only two years to complete his PhD. His dissertation involved daily measurements of crops for two years (which explains his daily interest in his garden). He joined the Applied Statistics department at Utah State University. He quickly became familiar with the emerging computer equipment as both a tool to support his research and as a service to the registrars office (who shared the equipment). He served as a faculty member and department head in the combined Statistics Computer Science department. Rex loves the out of doors and was often seen riding his bicycle to and from work. He enjoyed cross-country and down-hill skiing. He enjoyed handball, running, boating, water-skiing, hiking, and camping. Rex has had many friends, enjoying cards, square dancing, bowling, and outdoor activities. The highlight of the summer for Rex was going camping and boating with his family. To this day, he loves having his family around him.
Rex is a life-long learner, having taking numerous classes in auto-repair, mathematics, wood-working, history, and science. He is a strong proponent of education. While it may be that he feels education is a way to avoid the despair of the depression, it more likely that he just loves the exhilaration that comes from learning something new. Rex has been a walking-encyclopedia for his children and grandchildren. His example has encouraged his posterity to pursue a college education. He truly loves to learn. He is an avid reader. Name anything and Rex can be found repairing, studying it, watering it, eating it, or talking to it about genealogy. At family gatherings, Dad will make his way around the room taking to each member about genealogy. The grandkids refer to it as “being genealogized”. He has an incredible memory; sixty years after entering the service he can relate every stop in route to Europe.
For Rex, work is fun! He has always been a bundle of energy, made possible by his invention of the middle-of-the-room power nap – so named because his idea of a good rest is a ten minute snooze, flat on the floor with a book for a pillow, in the middle of a room full of people.
Since his retirement in 1990, he has enjoyed the LDS family history center, acting as associate director for ten years. He cherishes the many friends he has made doing family history. He loves institute classes and has graduated from institute since his retirement.
Rex is in his glory in the garden, delighting his friends and family with cucumbers, onions, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, corn, peppers, and beans. Happy Birthday! We love you.
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