President Gordon B. Hinckley joined at least three other Utahns who have received the nation's highest civilian award.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom was previously awarded to Esther Peterson in 1981, Dr. Simon Ramo in 1983 and Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft in 1991.
Peterson, a Provo native and consumer-rights advocate who served in three presidential administrations, helped established such regulations as truth-in-advertising, truth-in-packaging, meat inspections and unit pricing. She also fought for women's rights and was a key player in the labor movement. She died at age 91 in 1997.
Ramo, born in Salt Lake City, graduated from the University of Utah. He went on to become one of America's outstanding young electrical engineers. Ramo accumulated 25 patents before the age of 30 while working at General Electric Research Laboratories. He was instrumental in technological advancements for space exploration and education.
Scowcroft, born in Ogden, was national security adviser to President Gerald Ford. Under various presidents, he served as a military assistant, deputy assistant to the president for national security affairs and chief deputy of the National Security Council. He served on a number of policy advisory councils and with the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.