Robert H. Garff

Robert H. Garff
Born	(1942-09-15) 15 September 1942
Died	29 March 2020(2020-03-29) (aged 77) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, politician
Known for	Chairman of Ken Garff Automotive Group; Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives (1985–1987)

Robert Heiner Garff (born September 15, 1942 – died March 29, 2020) was a prominent American entrepreneur and political figure, recognized for his leadership as chairman of the Ken Garff Automotive Group. He held the position of speaker in the Utah House of Representatives from 1985 until 1987 and was affiliated with the Republican Party.

Early life and education

Born to Marjorie Heiner and Kendall D. Garff on September 15, 1942, Garff pursued higher education at the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1966 followed by a Master of Business Administration in 1967.

Business

The Ken Garff Automotive Group, established in 1932 by Garff's father, grew into a significant automotive dealership network. A survey from January 2004 by Dan Jones & Associates revealed that this group or one of its dealerships ranked as the second most frequently named car dealer among Utah residents. On October 18, 2007, the David Eccles School of Business announced a $3 million donation from the automotive group to refurbish the Garff Building.

In 2007, backed by Jefferies Financial Group, Garff initiated an ambitious plan to broaden his dealership footprint. At that time, the Garff Automotive Group operated 40 dealerships across Utah, California, Nevada, Texas, Iowa, and Indiana.

Beyond his family's car dealerships, Garff held leadership roles in various business and community organizations. He served as chairman of Intermountain Healthcare and chaired the board of directors at the Deseret Book Company. Additionally, he owned the Utah Blaze football team.

Politics

Garff held the position of speaker in the Utah House of Representatives between 1985 and 1987. He also chaired the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and led the Salt Lake Organizing Committee responsible for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Awards

In recognition of his community leadership and contributions, Garff received the Distinguished Utahn Award from the Salt Lake Chapter of the BYU Management Society in 2008. Following his passing, in 2021, he was honored posthumously with the Giant in our City award by the Salt Lake Chamber, highlighting his influence and dedication, especially in education. This accolade was also bestowed upon his wife, Katharine.

Personal life

Garff was united in marriage to Katharine (Kathi) Bagley, and together they had five children, one of whom is politician Melissa Garff Ballard.

His service within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints included various callings, such as bishop and stake president. From 1987 until 1990, he presided as president over the church’s Coventry Mission in England. In 1991, he joined the church’s Sunday School General Board and began serving as a regional representative in 1992. He was appointed an area seventy in 2003, assigned to the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy. Between 2012 and 2015, Garff served as president of the Bountiful Utah Temple.

Garff passed away on March 29, 2020, in Salt Lake City due to complications from COVID-19, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Utah.

External links

• Official website of Ken Garff Automotive Group