On Friday, the Hinckley Institute of Politics will honor pollster and political scientist Dan Jones (who polls for the Deseret Morning News) for five decades of service and inspiration to the community. The public is invited to this event at noon, April 4 at Rice Eccles Stadium Tower. Proceeds will be dedicated to the Dan E. Jones Future Leaders Scholarship. (Please contact the Hinckley Institute at 801-581-8501 for more information.)

Your columnists (who will be at the event) are disciples of Jones and offer their perspective on the guru of survey data.

Pignanelli: Yoda is the mythical father figure and spiritual leader of the Star Wars movies. This older, diminutive, sometimes grumpy figure has been enormously popular among generations of the young — who respect his wisdom, courage and unique charisma. These characteristics also describe an actual human being — Dan Jones.

Dan is a local celebrity because of the respected polling research company (Dan Jones & Associates) he co-manages with his wife, state Sen. Pat Jones. Yet Dan has impacted thousands of Utahns through his mentoring as a political science professor (initially at Utah State University, now at the University of Utah). Dan knows the names of all his students, even in the packed American history course. Many a pupil has received a concerned phone call from professor Jones, inquiring why he/she missed the last two classes. His enthusiasm and conviction for American democracy and the election process remains with students for the rest of their lives. Indeed, university alumni consistently list him as having a strong impact upon their lives. (Politicos note the dark side of Dan's "Pied Piper" influence: students originally focused on medicine, engineering and other occupations needed by society shift to political science).

Every year, hundreds of Jones' student proteges serve as interns, assistants and support for a multitude of political activities, including the Legislature, U.S. Congress, media, special interest organizations, lobbyists and nonprofit advocacy groups; all of them under the sway of the Utah Yoda.

High-powered political and business leaders revert to a student demeanor when in the presence of Jones. They beseech him for advice and counsel on their political careers or trends of thought in the populace. A much-requested speaker, Jones always captures the imagination of the audience with his love of democracy and insight from his polling enterprise. On at least two occasions I witnessed very masculine men cry at the end of a Jones' speech rallying a rededication to democracy.