Meet Jon Huntsman, Jr.

Jon Meade Huntsman Jr. is the 51 year old son of a billionaire businessman. His name has appeared on the lists of potential Republican nominees for the 2012 presidential election as early as 2008 and 2009.

Here are a few things I found interesting in reading about Huntsman: 

He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints and a distant cousin of Mitt Romney. His net worth is estimated at $11–$74 million.

During the 1970s, he dropped out of high school and was the keyboard player in a rock band before eventually resuming his studies. He eventually received his G.E.D. He attended the University of Utah, where he became, like his father, a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He received a bachelor's degree in International Politics from the University of Pennsylvania after transferring to that school.

He spent time in Taiwan as a Mormon missionary and speaks Standard Mandarin Chinese fluently. He is also fluent in Taiwanese Hokkien (Minnan).

He served as U. S. Ambassador to Singapore (1992-1993), the youngest U.S. Ambassador to serve in over 100 years.

He served as U. S. Ambassador to China (2009-2011)

As Utah's Governor (2005-2009), he supported legislation that would have allowed Civil Unions for same-sex couples in the state and left office with approval ratings over 80%.

At the 2008 Republican National Convention, Huntsman delivered a nominating speech for Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the party's nominee for Vice President.

Huntsman has eight brothers and sisters and over 60 nieces and nephews on his side of the family.

Huntsman and his wife Mary Kaye Cooper have seven children, including an adopted daughter from China, and another adopted daughter from India.

Huntsman has been awarded six honorary doctorate degrees.