Image of Stewart Barlow (L) with his father, Haven J. Barlow (R). Credit: Stewart Barlow, Facebook
Former Utah State Senate President Haven J. Barlow passed away last weekend, just a few days after he turned 100 years old. Barlow served longer in the Utah legislature than anyone else — 42 years from 1953 to 1995.
His son Stewart Barlow, who currently represents District 17 in the Utah House of Representatives, announced his father’s passing on his Facebook page Sunday.
“I’m sad to announce the passing of my beloved father, Haven J. Barlow,” he wrote. “He lived an amazing 100 years. He will be greatly missed by many cherished friends and family. Rest in peace dad.”
House Speaker Brad Wilson also noted Haven Barlow passing on his Twitter feed, saying “We celebrate a life well lived and honor his legacy that will carry on for generations to come.”
Barlow’s accomplishments during his years of service included putting the current appropriations system in place. As such, each member of the House and Senate serves on an appropriations subcommittee. He also implemented the weighted pupil unit system for school funding that distributes available state funding to each student in Utah schools.
Haven Barlow served during an era when control of the Utah legislature passed back and forth between Republicans and Democrats. Ted Wilson, who was mayor of Salt Lake City from 1976 to 1985, told KSL NewsRadio there was less tension between the legislature and city leaders during that time.
Wilson said of Barlow, “He would always listen to me. When I’d go up to the Hill, I could get him to come out of a meeting. Because I was representing Salt Lake City and he thought Salt Lake City was important.”
Barlow was interviewed for a Utah Foundation podcast in 2016 and said he tried never to speak disparagingly of another legislator.
“I never did want to ever get in a situation that would be. . . disparagingly to place upon an individual,” he said.