Photo supplied, Jenn Barlow and Jesselie Anderson

Haven J. Barlow turned 100 years old on Tuesday. Barlow shares his birthday with the 126th anniversary of Utah’s statehood, making him 26 years younger than the state he devoted so much of his life to serving.

Jesselie Anderson, the eldest daughter among Barlow’s six children, explained about the life and achievements of her father as well as why he is such a respected figure and pillar of the wider Utah community.

Barlow served in the Utah House of Representatives from 1952-55, then went on to serve as senator for 39 years.

Born in Clearfield, Barlow has lived his entire life in Davis County, except for his time in the military during World War II, when he served in the U.S. Navy.

Aundrea Peterson, deputy chief of staff for the Utah Senate, commented about how much of an impact Barlow had on the state’s developments over the years.

Photo supplied, Jenn Barlow and Jesselie Anderson

“The Senate was honored to recognize the longest-serving legislator in Utah’s history, Haven Barlow, and recognize his service to our state and celebrate his 100th birthday during Advice and Consent in December,” Peterson said.

According to Anderson, her father was highly invested in forwarding the education system in Utah. Barlow was involved in creating a unified education system for Utah and was a driving force for creating the State Board of Higher Education.

“The last hour that he was serving in the senate, he was able to get $1 million for Weber to acquire this first property in Layton which is now Davis campus for Weber State University. He was referred to as ‘The Godfather of Technical Education in Utah,'” Anderson said.

When expressing her father’s achievements, Anderson named several points which came to her mind about her father’s involvement in the shaping of Utah’s community.

“Weber State University, Davis Applied Technology Center, the Freeport Center, the Antelope Island State Park, the public education funding system, the appropriations involvement of every state legislator; there’s six right there,” Anderson said.

Barlow’s lasting impact on the state and on Utahns as a whole recently was recognized by the senate through the creation of a commemorative coin for the celebratory occasion of Barlow’s centennial birthday and the anniversary of Utah becoming a state.

The coin depicts the seal of the Utah State Senate and on the flip-side of the coin, as Anderson explained, it is inscribed with the words “Haven J. Barlow celebrating 100 years” to commemorate his birthday.

“Haven is a respected legislator who, throughout his 44 years as a representative and senator, was an advocate for technical education, education funding and efficiency. Utah is more prosperous because of Haven’s tireless public service, and his impact on the state will continue to benefit Utahns for generations to come,” Peterson said.

As his daughter, Anderson enthusiastically expressed Barlow’s personal characteristics.

“Integrity, flawless integrity, generosity, giving back to the community, making things better than what you found it, supporting your local community and building it up and making it successful for everybody who lives there,” she said.

Anderson, who also has long been involved in higher education and serves on the Board of Higher Education, says she has certainly been sculpted and shaped by her father’s attributes and achievements.

“He instilled with all of us children a strong desire of community service and giving back,” she said. “None of us have come close to contributing what he has, but it is a legacy that we take very seriously.”

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