He was rushed into the Francis home and a physician was called to treat him, Rulon testified. Then members of the family went in search of the elder Francis to inform him of the tragedy, only to find him dead in the chicken coop. The death of this faithful man who had served for a quarter of a century in two different stake presidencies cast a feeling of gloom over the entire valley. World War II and A New Administration World War II had a marked effect on the Saints in Morgan. It is first mentioned in the high council minutes 9 March 1941. The Saints were meeting at the 135th quarterly conference at the time Pearl Harbor was being bombed, on 7 December 1941. Shortly after this, the First Presidency issued instructions to the Saints to conserve rubber "because of the war on Germany, Japan, and Italy." No high council or stake priesthood meetings were held in January 1942. Other meetings were also restricted to conserve in the war effort. Because of poor health Melvin Howard Randall was released as stake president of Morgan on 15 March 1942. On 5 April, the Saints gathered from across the Valley to honor President Randall at a special meeting at the tabernacle. The following tribute was paid to him by the women of the stake (read by Annie S. Dickson): It is my very delightful task tonight and I esteem it as one of the greatest honors of my life to represent the Women of Morgan Stake in paying a tribute to our beloved Pres. Brother Randall. This meeting is both a sad and happy one—because Bro. Randall is our president no longer—happy because he has served us so well. As a rule we do not commend our faithful leaders enough. If anything didn't quite suit, we might censure or criticize them wholeheartedly, but as long as things go well we just take it for granted—it was what we had expected of them—we knew they would do it. Really President Randall needs no eulogy. His splendid record speaks for itself. If all the meetings President Randall has attended during the past 18 years of his service were to be put into one meeting what a large, large meeting that would be. If all the counsel he has given us would be recalled, what a mighty counsel that would be. If all the miles he has traveled were to be put into one mile, what a long, long mile that would be. If all the smiles he has given us were to be put into one smile, what a broad broad smile that would be. If all the handshakes were one hand shake, what a hearty handshake that would be. The tribute continues, telling of the many things Howard Randall did with the aid of his able counselors. The committee gave him roses for each of the eighteen years he served. The Sunday School also gave him roses for each of the years he had served in that organization.95 142