W.D. Farr
May 26, 1910-Aug. 14, 2007
Age: 97
Residence: Greeley
Tribute: William Daven Farr was born in Greeley to Harry W. and Hazel L. (Daven) Farr. He grew up in Greeley, where he attended public schools and was a member of the first class to graduate from the new high school building, which is now Greeley Central, in 1928. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison before returning to Greeley to join his father in business.
On June 16, 1933, he married Gladell Judy in Denver. After a honeymoon to Yellowstone, where he taught Judy the sport of flyfishing, they made their home in Greeley, where they raised four sons.
In the early years of business, the Farr Co. grew rapidly with irrigated farming and lamb feeding. W.D. Farr took many trips to the terminal market in Chicago, where he represented the company with sales of train carloads of lambs. Riding the caboose to Chicago and the passenger train home was a great experience. He also took many trips throughout the west to buy and receive feeder lambs directly from ranchers.
Before World War II, Mr. Farr taught himself to survey. With the help of a small D2 Caterpillar tractor, he leveled the first field in northern Colorado for irrigation. Pinto beans were a large crop in the Greeley area and the Farr Co. became well known for shipping beans throughout the United States. Mr. Farr recognized the growing taste preference for fed beef and began to shift the focus of the feeding operation from lambs to beef cattle.
In 1938, Mr. Farr attended his first Convention of the American National Cattlemen's Association in Cheyenne. The association was an organization of ranchers, and while Mr. Farr was recognized as a lamb and cattle feeder, he also operated a cattle ranch, which allowed him to be a member. In 1970, he served as president of the association.
In the 1940s, Mr. Farr and six other men joined frequently for dinner and discussed ways to feed cattle and how to do a better job. They called themselves the Greeley T-Bone Club. Essentially, modern cattle feeding was developed in the Greeley area, the details of which were discussed at those T-bone steak dinners.
An intense interest in Colorado water occupied Mr. Farr's time away from company business. He was an active participant in the development of northern Colorado's water resources for both agriculture uses and for municipal uses. He was unique in his vision for both groups of water users and contributed significantly as a mediator for their interests. He served on the board of directors of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and the Greeley Water Board for 40 years.
Mr. Farr followed his father and grandfather into the banking business with the belief that a strong growing community needed to be locally financed. He served for years on the board of directors of the Greeley National Bank, many as chairman, and was instrumental in the founding of Affiliated Bancshares of Colorado of which he was chairman of the board. He also served as a director of the Denver US National Bank.
Mr. Farr was an avid outdoorsman with superior hunting and fishing skills. Flyfishing was a passion he enjoyed throughout his lifetime with his wife, sons and their families. He owned a cabin in Encampment, Wyo., where for 85 years he would fish the North Platte River. He loved fishing for steelhead in British Columbia and spent many weeks on the Dean River with family and friends. He hunted frequently in the Colorado Flat Tops for elk and in Alberta, Canada, for moose, bear, stone sheep and mountain goats. One of his fondest hunting trips was with his four sons on a successful stone sheep expedition to the wilderness of northern British Columbia. His best times were spent with his wife, Judy, whether it was hunting elk on horseback, or walking corn rows for pheasants or fly fishing a Wyoming river. She nearly equaled his skills.
W.D. Farr has been greatly honored with a number of prestigious awards. He was always humbled by these because he believed so strongly in those who honored him. Some of the awards and the years he received them include 2007 Hall of Great Westerners, National Cowboy Museum and Western Heritage Center; 2005 Salute for Agricultural Leadership, National Young Farmers Organization; 2004 Beef Top 40, Industry Leadership, Beef Magazine; 2002 Swan Leadership Award, National Cattlemen's Association; 1999 Citizen of the West, National Western Stock Show; 1997 Excellence of Leadership Award, El Pomar Foundation; 1995 Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame, FFA Foundation; 1994 Headgate Award, Four States Irrigation Council; 1991 Colorado Business Hall of Fame; 1991 Distinguished Citizen Award, Longs Peak Council, Boy Scouts of America; 1988 Honorary Degree of Laws, University of Northern Colorado; 1987 National Golden Spur Award; 1985 Water Leader of the Year, Colorado Water Congress; 1981 Public Service Award, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry; 1976 Greeley Centennial Family, City of Greeley; 1971 Livestock Industry Award, Colorado State University; 1969 Animal Agricultural Award, American Meat Institute; 1960 Boss of the Year, Greeley Chapter, National Secretary Association.
Mr. Farr also was affiliated with many other organizations and memberships, including Greeley Water and Sewer Board, Greeley National Bank, Greeley Chamber of Commerce, Greeley Centennial Commission, Greeley Rotary Club, Beebe Draw Gun Club, Greeley Social Science Club, Greeley Spud Rodeo Committee, Home Light and Power Co., First Congregational United Church of Christ of which he was a member for 84 years, Greeley Elks Lodge No. 809, Weld County Republican Party, Greeley Country Club, Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority, 208 Areawide Planning Commission of Larimer/Weld Council of Governments, Long Peak Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Colorado Public Expenditures Council, Colorado-Nebraska Lamb Feeders Association, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Mountain Bell Telephone Co., Great Western Sugar Co., National Western Stock Show, Colorado Cattle Feeders Association, Greeley-Loveland Irrigation Co., Weld County Lamb Feeders Association, Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel 1981, The Colorado Thirty Group, Cattle Fax, Agriservices Foundation, Water Pollution Control Advisory Board -- Department of the Interior, Food and Drug Advisory Committee -- Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Food Advisory Committee of the Cost of Living Council, and the Agricultural Committee - U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Farr died Tuesday at his home, which he built in 1937.
Preceded in death by: His wife, Judy Farr; his brother, Ralph W. Farr; and a granddaughter, Linda Farr.
Services: Private family services Wednesday at the First Congregational Church. Celebration of Life services, 2 p.m. Thursday at the Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., Greeley.
Interment: Linn Grove Cemetery, Greeley.
May 26, 1910-Aug. 14, 2007
Age: 97
Residence: Greeley
Tribute: William Daven Farr was born in Greeley to Harry W. and Hazel L. (Daven) Farr. He grew up in Greeley, where he attended public schools and was a member of the first class to graduate from the new high school building, which is now Greeley Central, in 1928. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison before returning to Greeley to join his father in business.
On June 16, 1933, he married Gladell Judy in Denver. After a honeymoon to Yellowstone, where he taught Judy the sport of flyfishing, they made their home in Greeley, where they raised four sons.
In the early years of business, the Farr Co. grew rapidly with irrigated farming and lamb feeding. W.D. Farr took many trips to the terminal market in Chicago, where he represented the company with sales of train carloads of lambs. Riding the caboose to Chicago and the passenger train home was a great experience. He also took many trips throughout the west to buy and receive feeder lambs directly from ranchers.
Before World War II, Mr. Farr taught himself to survey. With the help of a small D2 Caterpillar tractor, he leveled the first field in northern Colorado for irrigation. Pinto beans were a large crop in the Greeley area and the Farr Co. became well known for shipping beans throughout the United States. Mr. Farr recognized the growing taste preference for fed beef and began to shift the focus of the feeding operation from lambs to beef cattle.
In 1938, Mr. Farr attended his first Convention of the American National Cattlemen's Association in Cheyenne. The association was an organization of ranchers, and while Mr. Farr was recognized as a lamb and cattle feeder, he also operated a cattle ranch, which allowed him to be a member. In 1970, he served as president of the association.
In the 1940s, Mr. Farr and six other men joined frequently for dinner and discussed ways to feed cattle and how to do a better job. They called themselves the Greeley T-Bone Club. Essentially, modern cattle feeding was developed in the Greeley area, the details of which were discussed at those T-bone steak dinners.
An intense interest in Colorado water occupied Mr. Farr's time away from company business. He was an active participant in the development of northern Colorado's water resources for both agriculture uses and for municipal uses. He was unique in his vision for both groups of water users and contributed significantly as a mediator for their interests. He served on the board of directors of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and the Greeley Water Board for 40 years.
Mr. Farr followed his father and grandfather into the banking business with the belief that a strong growing community needed to be locally financed. He served for years on the board of directors of the Greeley National Bank, many as chairman, and was instrumental in the founding of Affiliated Bancshares of Colorado of which he was chairman of the board. He also served as a director of the Denver US National Bank.
Mr. Farr was an avid outdoorsman with superior hunting and fishing skills. Flyfishing was a passion he enjoyed throughout his lifetime with his wife, sons and their families. He owned a cabin in Encampment, Wyo., where for 85 years he would fish the North Platte River. He loved fishing for steelhead in British Columbia and spent many weeks on the Dean River with family and friends. He hunted frequently in the Colorado Flat Tops for elk and in Alberta, Canada, for moose, bear, stone sheep and mountain goats. One of his fondest hunting trips was with his four sons on a successful stone sheep expedition to the wilderness of northern British Columbia. His best times were spent with his wife, Judy, whether it was hunting elk on horseback, or walking corn rows for pheasants or fly fishing a Wyoming river. She nearly equaled his skills.
W.D. Farr has been greatly honored with a number of prestigious awards. He was always humbled by these because he believed so strongly in those who honored him. Some of the awards and the years he received them include 2007 Hall of Great Westerners, National Cowboy Museum and Western Heritage Center; 2005 Salute for Agricultural Leadership, National Young Farmers Organization; 2004 Beef Top 40, Industry Leadership, Beef Magazine; 2002 Swan Leadership Award, National Cattlemen's Association; 1999 Citizen of the West, National Western Stock Show; 1997 Excellence of Leadership Award, El Pomar Foundation; 1995 Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame, FFA Foundation; 1994 Headgate Award, Four States Irrigation Council; 1991 Colorado Business Hall of Fame; 1991 Distinguished Citizen Award, Longs Peak Council, Boy Scouts of America; 1988 Honorary Degree of Laws, University of Northern Colorado; 1987 National Golden Spur Award; 1985 Water Leader of the Year, Colorado Water Congress; 1981 Public Service Award, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry; 1976 Greeley Centennial Family, City of Greeley; 1971 Livestock Industry Award, Colorado State University; 1969 Animal Agricultural Award, American Meat Institute; 1960 Boss of the Year, Greeley Chapter, National Secretary Association.
Mr. Farr also was affiliated with many other organizations and memberships, including Greeley Water and Sewer Board, Greeley National Bank, Greeley Chamber of Commerce, Greeley Centennial Commission, Greeley Rotary Club, Beebe Draw Gun Club, Greeley Social Science Club, Greeley Spud Rodeo Committee, Home Light and Power Co., First Congregational United Church of Christ of which he was a member for 84 years, Greeley Elks Lodge No. 809, Weld County Republican Party, Greeley Country Club, Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority, 208 Areawide Planning Commission of Larimer/Weld Council of Governments, Long Peak Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Colorado Public Expenditures Council, Colorado-Nebraska Lamb Feeders Association, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Mountain Bell Telephone Co., Great Western Sugar Co., National Western Stock Show, Colorado Cattle Feeders Association, Greeley-Loveland Irrigation Co., Weld County Lamb Feeders Association, Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel 1981, The Colorado Thirty Group, Cattle Fax, Agriservices Foundation, Water Pollution Control Advisory Board -- Department of the Interior, Food and Drug Advisory Committee -- Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Food Advisory Committee of the Cost of Living Council, and the Agricultural Committee - U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Farr died Tuesday at his home, which he built in 1937.
Preceded in death by: His wife, Judy Farr; his brother, Ralph W. Farr; and a granddaughter, Linda Farr.
Services: Private family services Wednesday at the First Congregational Church. Celebration of Life services, 2 p.m. Thursday at the Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., Greeley.
Interment: Linn Grove Cemetery, Greeley.
W.D. Farr
May 26, 1910-Aug. 14, 2007
Age: 97
Residence: Greeley
Tribute: William Daven Farr was born in Greeley to Harry W. and Hazel L. (Daven) Farr. He grew up in Greeley, where he attended public schools and was a member of the first class to graduate from the new high school building, which is now Greeley Central, in 1928. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison before returning to Greeley to join his father in business.
On June 16, 1933, he married Gladell Judy in Denver. After a honeymoon to Yellowstone, where he taught Judy the sport of flyfishing, they made their home in Greeley, where they raised four sons.
In the early years of business, the Farr Co. grew rapidly with irrigated farming and lamb feeding. W.D. Farr took many trips to the terminal market in Chicago, where he represented the company with sales of train carloads of lambs. Riding the caboose to Chicago and the passenger train home was a great experience. He also took many trips throughout the west to buy and receive feeder lambs directly from ranchers.
Before World War II, Mr. Farr taught himself to survey. With the help of a small D2 Caterpillar tractor, he leveled the first field in northern Colorado for irrigation. Pinto beans were a large crop in the Greeley area and the Farr Co. became well known for shipping beans throughout the United States. Mr. Farr recognized the growing taste preference for fed beef and began to shift the focus of the feeding operation from lambs to beef cattle.
In 1938, Mr. Farr attended his first Convention of the American National Cattlemen's Association in Cheyenne. The association was an organization of ranchers, and while Mr. Farr was recognized as a lamb and cattle feeder, he also operated a cattle ranch, which allowed him to be a member. In 1970, he served as president of the association.
In the 1940s, Mr. Farr and six other men joined frequently for dinner and discussed ways to feed cattle and how to do a better job. They called themselves the Greeley T-Bone Club. Essentially, modern cattle feeding was developed in the Greeley area, the details of which were discussed at those T-bone steak dinners.
An intense interest in Colorado water occupied Mr. Farr's time away from company business. He was an active participant in the development of northern Colorado's water resources for both agriculture uses and for municipal uses. He was unique in his vision for both groups of water users and contributed significantly as a mediator for their interests. He served on the board of directors of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and the Greeley Water Board for 40 years.
Mr. Farr followed his father and grandfather into the banking business with the belief that a strong growing community needed to be locally financed. He served for years on the board of directors of the Greeley National Bank, many as chairman, and was instrumental in the founding of Affiliated Bancshares of Colorado of which he was chairman of the board. He also served as a director of the Denver US National Bank.
Mr. Farr was an avid outdoorsman with superior hunting and fishing skills. Flyfishing was a passion he enjoyed throughout his lifetime with his wife, sons and their families. He owned a cabin in Encampment, Wyo., where for 85 years he would fish the North Platte River. He loved fishing for steelhead in British Columbia and spent many weeks on the Dean River with family and friends. He hunted frequently in the Colorado Flat Tops for elk and in Alberta, Canada, for moose, bear, stone sheep and mountain goats. One of his fondest hunting trips was with his four sons on a successful stone sheep expedition to the wilderness of northern British Columbia. His best times were spent with his wife, Judy, whether it was hunting elk on horseback, or walking corn rows for pheasants or fly fishing a Wyoming river. She nearly equaled his skills.
W.D. Farr has been greatly honored with a number of prestigious awards. He was always humbled by these because he believed so strongly in those who honored him. Some of the awards and the years he received them include 2007 Hall of Great Westerners, National Cowboy Museum and Western Heritage Center; 2005 Salute for Agricultural Leadership, National Young Farmers Organization; 2004 Beef Top 40, Industry Leadership, Beef Magazine; 2002 Swan Leadership Award, National Cattlemen's Association; 1999 Citizen of the West, National Western Stock Show; 1997 Excellence of Leadership Award, El Pomar Foundation; 1995 Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame, FFA Foundation; 1994 Headgate Award, Four States Irrigation Council; 1991 Colorado Business Hall of Fame; 1991 Distinguished Citizen Award, Longs Peak Council, Boy Scouts of America; 1988 Honorary Degree of Laws, University of Northern Colorado; 1987 National Golden Spur Award; 1985 Water Leader of the Year, Colorado Water Congress; 1981 Public Service Award, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry; 1976 Greeley Centennial Family, City of Greeley; 1971 Livestock Industry Award, Colorado State University; 1969 Animal Agricultural Award, American Meat Institute; 1960 Boss of the Year, Greeley Chapter, National Secretary Association.
Mr. Farr also was affiliated with many other organizations and memberships, including Greeley Water and Sewer Board, Greeley National Bank, Greeley Chamber of Commerce, Greeley Centennial Commission, Greeley Rotary Club, Beebe Draw Gun Club, Greeley Social Science Club, Greeley Spud Rodeo Committee, Home Light and Power Co., First Congregational United Church of Christ of which he was a member for 84 years, Greeley Elks Lodge No. 809, Weld County Republican Party, Greeley Country Club, Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority, 208 Areawide Planning Commission of Larimer/Weld Council of Governments, Long Peak Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Colorado Public Expenditures Council, Colorado-Nebraska Lamb Feeders Association, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Mountain Bell Telephone Co., Great Western Sugar Co., National Western Stock Show, Colorado Cattle Feeders Association, Greeley-Loveland Irrigation Co., Weld County Lamb Feeders Association, Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel 1981, The Colorado Thirty Group, Cattle Fax, Agriservices Foundation, Water Pollution Control Advisory Board -- Department of the Interior, Food and Drug Advisory Committee -- Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Food Advisory Committee of the Cost of Living Council, and the Agricultural Committee - U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Farr died Tuesday at his home, which he built in 1937.
Preceded in death by: His wife, Judy Farr; his brother, Ralph W. Farr; and a granddaughter, Linda Farr.
Services: Private family services Wednesday at the First Congregational Church. Celebration of Life services, 2 p.m. Thursday at the Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., Greeley.
Interment: Linn Grove Cemetery, Greeley.
May 26, 1910-Aug. 14, 2007
Age: 97
Residence: Greeley
Tribute: William Daven Farr was born in Greeley to Harry W. and Hazel L. (Daven) Farr. He grew up in Greeley, where he attended public schools and was a member of the first class to graduate from the new high school building, which is now Greeley Central, in 1928. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison before returning to Greeley to join his father in business.
On June 16, 1933, he married Gladell Judy in Denver. After a honeymoon to Yellowstone, where he taught Judy the sport of flyfishing, they made their home in Greeley, where they raised four sons.
In the early years of business, the Farr Co. grew rapidly with irrigated farming and lamb feeding. W.D. Farr took many trips to the terminal market in Chicago, where he represented the company with sales of train carloads of lambs. Riding the caboose to Chicago and the passenger train home was a great experience. He also took many trips throughout the west to buy and receive feeder lambs directly from ranchers.
Before World War II, Mr. Farr taught himself to survey. With the help of a small D2 Caterpillar tractor, he leveled the first field in northern Colorado for irrigation. Pinto beans were a large crop in the Greeley area and the Farr Co. became well known for shipping beans throughout the United States. Mr. Farr recognized the growing taste preference for fed beef and began to shift the focus of the feeding operation from lambs to beef cattle.
In 1938, Mr. Farr attended his first Convention of the American National Cattlemen's Association in Cheyenne. The association was an organization of ranchers, and while Mr. Farr was recognized as a lamb and cattle feeder, he also operated a cattle ranch, which allowed him to be a member. In 1970, he served as president of the association.
In the 1940s, Mr. Farr and six other men joined frequently for dinner and discussed ways to feed cattle and how to do a better job. They called themselves the Greeley T-Bone Club. Essentially, modern cattle feeding was developed in the Greeley area, the details of which were discussed at those T-bone steak dinners.
An intense interest in Colorado water occupied Mr. Farr's time away from company business. He was an active participant in the development of northern Colorado's water resources for both agriculture uses and for municipal uses. He was unique in his vision for both groups of water users and contributed significantly as a mediator for their interests. He served on the board of directors of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and the Greeley Water Board for 40 years.
Mr. Farr followed his father and grandfather into the banking business with the belief that a strong growing community needed to be locally financed. He served for years on the board of directors of the Greeley National Bank, many as chairman, and was instrumental in the founding of Affiliated Bancshares of Colorado of which he was chairman of the board. He also served as a director of the Denver US National Bank.
Mr. Farr was an avid outdoorsman with superior hunting and fishing skills. Flyfishing was a passion he enjoyed throughout his lifetime with his wife, sons and their families. He owned a cabin in Encampment, Wyo., where for 85 years he would fish the North Platte River. He loved fishing for steelhead in British Columbia and spent many weeks on the Dean River with family and friends. He hunted frequently in the Colorado Flat Tops for elk and in Alberta, Canada, for moose, bear, stone sheep and mountain goats. One of his fondest hunting trips was with his four sons on a successful stone sheep expedition to the wilderness of northern British Columbia. His best times were spent with his wife, Judy, whether it was hunting elk on horseback, or walking corn rows for pheasants or fly fishing a Wyoming river. She nearly equaled his skills.
W.D. Farr has been greatly honored with a number of prestigious awards. He was always humbled by these because he believed so strongly in those who honored him. Some of the awards and the years he received them include 2007 Hall of Great Westerners, National Cowboy Museum and Western Heritage Center; 2005 Salute for Agricultural Leadership, National Young Farmers Organization; 2004 Beef Top 40, Industry Leadership, Beef Magazine; 2002 Swan Leadership Award, National Cattlemen's Association; 1999 Citizen of the West, National Western Stock Show; 1997 Excellence of Leadership Award, El Pomar Foundation; 1995 Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame, FFA Foundation; 1994 Headgate Award, Four States Irrigation Council; 1991 Colorado Business Hall of Fame; 1991 Distinguished Citizen Award, Longs Peak Council, Boy Scouts of America; 1988 Honorary Degree of Laws, University of Northern Colorado; 1987 National Golden Spur Award; 1985 Water Leader of the Year, Colorado Water Congress; 1981 Public Service Award, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry; 1976 Greeley Centennial Family, City of Greeley; 1971 Livestock Industry Award, Colorado State University; 1969 Animal Agricultural Award, American Meat Institute; 1960 Boss of the Year, Greeley Chapter, National Secretary Association.
Mr. Farr also was affiliated with many other organizations and memberships, including Greeley Water and Sewer Board, Greeley National Bank, Greeley Chamber of Commerce, Greeley Centennial Commission, Greeley Rotary Club, Beebe Draw Gun Club, Greeley Social Science Club, Greeley Spud Rodeo Committee, Home Light and Power Co., First Congregational United Church of Christ of which he was a member for 84 years, Greeley Elks Lodge No. 809, Weld County Republican Party, Greeley Country Club, Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority, 208 Areawide Planning Commission of Larimer/Weld Council of Governments, Long Peak Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Colorado Public Expenditures Council, Colorado-Nebraska Lamb Feeders Association, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Mountain Bell Telephone Co., Great Western Sugar Co., National Western Stock Show, Colorado Cattle Feeders Association, Greeley-Loveland Irrigation Co., Weld County Lamb Feeders Association, Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel 1981, The Colorado Thirty Group, Cattle Fax, Agriservices Foundation, Water Pollution Control Advisory Board -- Department of the Interior, Food and Drug Advisory Committee -- Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Food Advisory Committee of the Cost of Living Council, and the Agricultural Committee - U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Farr died Tuesday at his home, which he built in 1937.
Preceded in death by: His wife, Judy Farr; his brother, Ralph W. Farr; and a granddaughter, Linda Farr.
Services: Private family services Wednesday at the First Congregational Church. Celebration of Life services, 2 p.m. Thursday at the Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., Greeley.
Interment: Linn Grove Cemetery, Greeley.
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