Bill Marriott

J. Willard Marriott is the founder of Marriott International. He attended St. Albans School in Washington, DC, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Utah, where he became a member of Sigma Chi. He served as an officer in the United States Navy. He is also an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

Marriott joined the Marriott Corporation in 1956, was elected Executive Vice President and member of the Board of Directors in January 1964 and president of the company in November 1964, Chief Executive Officer in 1972, and Chairman of the Board in 1985.

Marriott is actively involved in various boards and councils including, the U.S. Travel and Tourism Promotional Advisory Board, the executive committee of the World Travel & Tourism Council, the National Business Council, the board of trustees of the National Urban League, a director of the National Geographic Society, and a director of the Naval Academy Endowment Trust. He serves as chairman of the President's Export Council, a group that advises the President on matters relating to export trade, and serves as chairman of the Leadership Council of the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries.

He is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In an episode of 60 Minutes airing on April 7, 1996 Marriott was interviewed by Mike Wallace regarding his faith alongside football star, Steve Young, and church leader, Gordon B. Hinckley. In 1997 Marriott was called by the church to be an Area Authority Seventy and member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy. This was split in 2004 and Marriott joined the newly-created Sixth Quorum of the Seventy, serving until his release on October 1, 2011.

On May 4, 2006, Marriott received an honorary doctorate of humanities from Weber State University during the university's 127th commencement. He also delivered the commencement address during these proceedings.

Marriott's book The Spirit To Serve (1997), written with Kathi Ann Brown and with a Foreword by James C. Collins, is a personal view of the rise of the Marriott company and outlines principles of business success.

JW Marriott Jr. is a 2006 nominee for the Hotel Travel Personality of the Year award from World Travel Awards.

On December 13, 2011, Marriott announced that he will assume the role of Executive Chairman of the company and relinquish the role of Chief Executive Officer, effective March 31, 2012.

He has been married to his wife, Donna Garff, for over 50 years and has four children, fifteen grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. He and his family reside in Bethesda, Maryland.

Since 1978, "Bill" and Donna have been key supporters of the annual Festival of Lights on the grounds of the Washington D.C. Temple of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the invitation-only lighting ceremony of the Festival of Lights on November 30, 2011, he and Donna hosted Brazilian Ambassador to the United States Mauro Vieira as special guest. He and Donna also hosted the public lighting ceremony on December 1, 2011, with Elder Jack Gerard as special guest.