10 Things You Didn't Know About Jon Huntsman Jr.

Sen. John McCain disclosed that he is in the "embryonic stages" of selecting a running mate, whom he hopes to introduce at the Republican National Convention. While he refused to disclose any names, McCain told reporters that the list is about 20 deep, and "it's every name imaginable." This is one of a series of profiles on the candidates we imagine might be on his list and some things you might not know about the maybe veeps. See the full list here.

Jon Huntsman is the governor of Utah and is thought to be a possible running mate for McCain.

1. John Huntsman Jr. was born March 26, 1960, in Palo Alto, Calif., the eldest of nine children. His father, Jon M. Huntsman Sr., is a Utah chemicals billionaire and philanthropist. His maternal grandfather, Elder David B. Haight, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

2. Huntsman's earliest memories of business are of making sales calls with his father in Southern California, selling eggs to grocery stores.

3. His first job in Washington was delivering the Washington Star newspaper. The family lived in the capital while Jon Sr. worked in the Nixon administration.

4. Huntsman is a musician. In high school, he played keyboards in a couple of local bands.

5. His senior year of high school, Huntsman was busy with music and lost his focus. He essentially dropped out of school and did not graduate. He entered the University of Utah that summer as a nonmatriculated student. Once he had proved himself academically, he enrolled. Later, he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelor's degree in political science in 1987.

6. Huntsman took time off during his college years to serve as a Mormon missionary. He served in Taiwan, where he learned Mandarin Chinese, which he speaks fluently.

7. Huntsman's résumé includes leadership positions with the Huntsman Corp. and the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. He also has served as a White House staff assistant to Ronald Reagan and has held appointments in the Commerce and State departments (including U.S. ambassador to Singapore, deputy U.S. trade representative, and U.S. trade ambassador).

8. In 2004, Huntsman was elected governor of Utah.

9. Huntsman is fan of rock music, motorcycles, mountain biking, reading, and playing the piano. He also enjoys "dinking," a term he coined for taking his kids to eat at greasy-spoon diners.

10. Huntsman and his wife, Mary Kaye, have seven children, including two adopted daughters (one from China and one from India).

Sources:
Associated Press State and Local Wire
Carroll's State Directory
Deseret Morning News
Utah.gov: Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr.
Salt Lake Tribune