Robert H. Garff

Robert Heiner Garff (September 15, 1942 – March 29, 2020) was an American businessman and politician who served as chair of the Ken Garff Automotive Group. He also served as the speaker of the Utah House of Representatives from 1985 to 1987. He was a member of the Republican party.

Robert H. Garff
Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives
In office
1985–1987
Preceded byNorman H. Bangerter
Succeeded byGlen E. Brown
Member of the Utah House of Representatives
In office
1978–1987
Personal details
Born
Robert Heiner Garff

(1942-09-15)September 15, 1942
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
DiedMarch 29, 2020(2020-03-29) (aged 77)
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Cause of deathCOVID-19
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKatherine Bagley
Children5, including Melissa Garff Ballard
ParentKendall D. Garff
Alma materUniversity of Utah (BS, MBA)

Early life and education

Garff was born on September 15, 1942, the son of Marjorie Heiner and Kendall D. Garff.[1][2] He attended the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1966 and an MBA in 1967.[3]

Career

Business

The Ken Garff Automotive Group is a large car dealership conglomerate, founded in 1932 by Garff's father. The company or one of its dealerships, according to a January 2004 survey conducted by Dan Jones & Associates, was the second-most mentioned car dealership by Utahns when asked to name a car dealer.[4] On October 18, 2007, the David Eccles School of Business announced that the automotive group donated $3 million to renovate the Garff Building.[3]

In 2007, Garff launched a program to significantly expand the size of his dealer network with the backing of Jefferies Financial Group. At that time, the Garff Automotive Group had 40 dealerships in Utah, California, Nevada, Texas, Iowa and Indiana.[5]

In addition to his family's automobile dealerships, Garff served in other business and civic roles. He was chairman of Intermountain Healthcare and chairman of the board of directors of the Deseret Book Company.[6] He was also the owner of the Utah Blaze.[7]

Politics

Garff served as speaker of the Utah House of Representatives from 1985 to 1987. He was chairman of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce,[8] and chairman of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics.[2]

Awards

For his service and leadership in the community, Garff was given the Distinguished Utahn Award by the Salt Lake Chapter of the BYU Management Society in 2008.[9] In 2021, he was posthumously awarded the Giant in our City award by the Salt Lake Chamber for his service and impact in the Salt Lake community, particularly in education. This award also recognized his wife, Katharine, who received the award.[10]

Personal life

Garff was married to Katharine (Kathi) Bagley, with whom he had five children, including politician Melissa Garff Ballard.[11][12]

He served in various callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including bishop and stake president.[11] From 1987 to 1990, Garff served as president of the church's England Coventry Mission.[13] He later served as a member of the church's Sunday School General Board in 1991[8] and as a regional representative, beginning in 1992.[14] In 2003, he became an area seventy, serving in the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy.[11] From 2012 to 2015, he served as president of the Bountiful Utah Temple.[15]

Garff died of COVID-19 in Salt Lake City, on March 29, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Utah.[16][17][18]

References
  1. American Legislative Leaders in the West, 1911-1994
  2. "Summary Description". The Robert Heiner Garff Papers. University of Utah Marriott Library Special Collections. Archived from the original on December 15, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  3. "Garff Family Donates $3 Million to David Eccles School of Business". University of Utah. 2007. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
  4. Davidson, Lee (June 11, 2006). "Empire builder: Larry Miller has come a long way since his auto-parts days". Deseret News. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
  5. Belair Partners article on Garff Automotive growth Archived September 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Deseret Book appoints new president". Church News. March 2, 2002. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  7. Klekas, Mark (March 29, 2020). "Utah philanthropist, auto exec Bob Garff passes away due to coronavirus". KUTV. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  8. "New board members". Church News. August 17, 1991. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  9. "LDS News Briefs: Robert Garff to be honored as 'Distinguished Utahn'". Deseret News. May 8, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  10. MBomis (April 23, 2021). "Katharine and Robert Garff to be Honored as 42nd Giant in our City". The Salt Lake Chamber. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  11. "New Area Authority Seventies". Church News. April 19, 2003. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  12. "Bob Garff, Garff Auto Dealerships, Utah House speaker, coronavirus death". TheMemories.com.
  13. "Missionary Reunions -- Cook Islands to Korea Seoul". Deseret News. September 28, 1999. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  14. "New regional representatives". Church News. May 2, 1992. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  15. "New temple presidents", Church News, June 12, 2012
  16. "Bob Garff, auto exec and former Utah House speaker, dies of the coronavirus". Salt Lake Tribune.
  17. "Community leader Robert H. Garff dies of coronavirus". www.ksl.com. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  18. "Bob Garff, auto exec and former Utah Home speaker, dies of the coronavirus". Current Industry. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
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