2014 Distinguished Alumni

Dan Farr

There are not many people or events that can attract 75,000 people to one place in Utah over a three-day period or for one event. The rock band U2. The Utah Jazz – if they were in the championship series. Maybe a Republican National Convention. But Dan Farr was able to draw more than 75,000 people one weekend last September to what he describes as the largest first-year Comic Con event in the history of North America. With his skilled use of social media, Farr generated an excitement for the event that spilled out on to the sidewalks and streets for three days. What happened at the Salt Palace over that weekend became a nice addition to an already impressive resume for this graduate of Skyline High School, who was recruited to play basketball for Salt Lake Community College in the 1980s. Farr went on to co-found the 3D content and software company DAZ 3D. He also co-authored the illustrated Christmas book “Mr. Finnegan’s Giving Chest,” which Farr said has sold nearly 100,000 copies and is in development for being turned into a movie.