| Birth date | March 12, 1946 |
|---|---|
| Death date | June 8, 2010 (aged 64) |
| State senate | Utah |
| Term start | 2000 |
| Term end | 2008 |
| Predecessor | Lane Beattie |
| District | 23rd |
| Party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Weber State University Utah State University |
| Death place | Bountiful, Utah, U.S. |
| Successor | Dan Liljenquist |
Dan R. Eastman (March 12, 1946 – June 8, 2010) was an American politician and car salesman who served as a member of the Utah State Senate.
Early life and education
Eastman was born on March 12, 1946, in Salt Lake City to Afton Joyce Bowen and Robert Charles Eastman. He was educated in the Davis School District and graduated from Bountiful High School in 1964.
Eastman studied at Weber State University and Utah State University.[1] Prior to his election to the Utah State Legislature, he served on the Davis School Board.
Career
Eastman served in the Utah National Guard. He worked for some years in the banking industry in Southern Nevada and Salt Lake City before buying a Jeep dealership in Bountiful, Utah. Eastman operated the dealership for 20 years.[2]
In 1999, Eastman sold his auto dealerships to Barry Engle[3] for an estimated $30 million.
Eastman was elected as a member of the Utah State Senate in 2000, representing the state's 23rd senate district in Bountiful. His campaign was almost completely self-financed.[4] He was elected again in 2004 but did not seek re-election in 2008 choosing to retire citing his health.[5]
Eastman was the Senate's Minority Whip from 2004 until 2008.
Personal life
In 2001, Eastman was involved in a fatal car crash that killed a woman after he swerved his truck into oncoming traffic. No charges were ever filed although investigators concluded that it was Eastman's fault.[6]
In 2009, Eastman underwent a kidney transplant, receiving a donated kidney from his daughter.[7][8]
Eastman had five children with his wife, Claudette Eastman (née Crawford). Eastman died in Bountiful, Utah, on June 8, 2010, from heart failure. He was 64 years old.[7][5]
References
- ^ "WSU Salutes to Honor Outstanding Alumni". www.weber.edu. Archived from the original on May 12, 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- ^ "DAN EASTMAN Obituary". Legacy.com
- ^ "Eastman selling 2 Bountiful car firms Firm's commitment to service will remain, the new owner says". Deseret News. 1998-12-08. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ^ "Dan Eastman campaign biography". Archived from the original on 13 October 2004. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
- ^ Mckitrick, Cathy (9 June 2010). "Former state senator dies". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ^ "Midvale woman dies in car crash". Deseret News. October 29, 2001. Archived from the original on May 20, 2009.
- ^ "Former state Sen. Dan Eastman dies after heart attack". Deseret News. June 9, 2010. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013.
- ^ Platt, Richard. "Former Sen. Eastman dies at 64"