Brigham Young University
Rex and Ruth Maughan Energetically Advocate BYU Television
BYU Television Endowment
October 10, 2008
Noted Arizona businessman Rex Maughan and his wife, Ruth, met at BYU and are great ambassadors for the university and BYU Television.
Ever met a friendly whirlwind? Affable and energetic, Rex Maughan fits the description. "He doesn't let the grass grow under his feet," says Ruth, his wife of 46 years. "He loves challenges, and he always seems to succeed in working them out."
Rex and Ruth met at Brigham Young University when he volunteered to coach her on her tennis serve. The term love soon applied to more than tennis, and they were married. Ruth graduated from BYU with a degree in elementary education, after which the two moved to Arizona. Ruth taught school while Rex finished his degree at Arizona State University.
Arizona became their home, where the couple raised their three children. The Maughans are now blessed with 12 grandchildren. "Family is the greatest thing you can have. They're our support, our joy, and our motivation," says Ruth.
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"An Aim in Life Is the Only Fortune Worth the Finding." |
Rex is the founder, president, and chairman of one of Arizona's largest privately owned companies, Forever Living Products International, Inc., as well as 120 sister companies worldwide.
Rex says success is a combination of effort and luck. "The harder I work, the luckier I get," he says. He advises others, "Decide what you want and how much you want it, then put in the time to do it right." He says that is the path he and Ruth have taken.
The Maughans have always been busy. While Ruth fortified their home, Rex worked two or three jobs and invested in real estate. At Del Webb (a commercial development and construction company) he worked his way up to vice president while maintaining his own enterprises of real estate and ranching throughout the West.
| "To Forget Oneself Is to Be Happy." Robert Louis Stevenson |
"Rex is a real people person," says Ruth. "When he meets people they leave believing they've been friends forever; years may disappear but he never forgets that first meeting."
Their love for others is based in their faith. "We know that God loves us all. No matter what country we live in, he loves us," says Ruth.
The Maughans support charitable efforts around the world that help people in need—be it providing clean water for communities in Samoa (Rex served a mission there), wheelchairs for people in Japan, or catering trucks for hurricane-ravaged cities in the Gulf of Mexico.
"We give because we've received so much," says Rex.
At BYU the Maughans are members of the BYU President's Leadership Council and currently serve on its executive committee.
"The Maughans are making a significant and lasting difference at BYU, especially through their support of BYU Television," says President Cecil O. Samuelson. "Some day I think we will look back and realize the full impact of Rex and Ruth's kingdom-building contributions."
Indeed, BYU Television is one of their passions. The Maughans see its worldwide reach and values-based programming filling a need. "BYU Television can bring happiness and meaning, even the gospel, to people," says Ruth. "That has sunk deep into our hearts."
The couple has funded BYU Television's expansion into additional countries and the cost of creating new programming. They are excited to be part of increasing the station's reach to include broadcasting in Spanish and Portuguese to Mexico and Latin America.
"Rex and Ruth have an expansive vision of the blessings BYU Television brings to the world," says Derek Marquis, acting general manager of BYU Broadcasting. "Their generosity is overwhelming and has made possible much of our growth. They have been an integral part of our International Expansion Advisory Council, and their insights are helping launch BYU Television into new countries."
| "To Travel Hopefully Is a Better Thing Than to Arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson |
In Samoa the Maughans have preserved author f Louis Stevenson's home, making it into a museum. Collecting Stevenson's books and continuing his memory are important to them. A 19th-century Scottish author who migrated to Samoa near the end of his life, Stevenson's works include Treasure Island, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Kidnapped. He wrote these words that seem to apply to the Maughans: "Every heart that has beat strongly and cheerfully has left a hopeful impulse behind it in the world, and bettered the tradition of mankind."
