State flags were ordered to fly at half mast Saturday to honor President Ronald Reagan, who had a special relationship with Utah residents.
"He loved Utah," an emotional U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch said after hearing of Reagan's death. "It was a wonderful relationship."
Reagan died at his Los Angeles home Saturday afternoon after a nearly decade-long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 93.
Utah Gov. Olene Walker ordered the flag be flown at half staff at the Capitol and the Governor's Mansion Saturday night and at state facilities as soon as possible.
"Upon the request of President Reagan, I had the opportunity to visit with him at the White House when I was a legislator. I was impressed by his leadership, patriotism and commitment to the citizens of the United States of America," Walker said. "His valiant stand against communism will always be remembered. Utah offers its condolences to his family at this sad time."
Hatch, who described the president as "a good friend," said Reagan would be remembered "as one of the most inspiring presidents America has ever had."
In the 1980s, Utah gave Reagan and then-vice president George Bush their largest victories and ended up sending a mere eight Democrats to the Legislature in 1983. Although he visited Utah only twice during his two presidential terms, in 1982 and 1984, Reagan's name representing his populist brand of conservative politics is still invoked by Utah Republicans.
As recently as last month, gubernatorial candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. was quoted as saying, "I'm a Ronald Reagan Republican. Some may say that's the true conservative Republican. I'm fine with that."
Over two presidential terms, from 1981 to 1989, Reagan reshaped the Republican Party in his conservative image, fixed his eye on the demise of the Soviet Union and Eastern European communism and tripled the national debt to $3 trillion in his singleminded competition with the other superpower.
And the president's folksy appeal and infectious optimism was not lost on voters, like Salt Lake City resident Esther Radinger, 72, who voted for Reagan twice.
"I personally thought he was a very good president," said Radinger, a Republican. "He had people skills — a lot of presidents lack that."
Others reflected on Reagan's long struggle with Alzheimer's, an incurable illness that destroys brain cells.
"It was sad not being able to hear from him for 15 years, it seemed," said Gerry McKissick, 52, a former Utah resident visiting from California. "He just went from being there to not being there — sad way to end a life."