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SALT LAKE CITY — Cory Wride's family and colleagues visited the Capitol on Wednesday as the Legislature honored the Utah County sheriff's sergeant killed in the line of duty earlier this year.
On Jan. 30, Wride was shot twice without warning and killed while sitting in his patrol car as he stopped to assist who he thought was a stranded motorist in Eagle Mountain. Utah County sheriff's deputy Greg Sherwood was also shot during the crime spree but is recovering.
Wride and his loved ones were recognized on the floor after the House passed SB234 to rename a section of state Route 73 in honor of their son, father, husband and friend.
"One of the biggest things that I worried about when this first happened was that my husband would be forgotten," said Nannette Wride, Cory's wife. "This is just such an honor because Cory loved being out in Eagle Mountain. He loved that area. He loved the people. Now I know he’s not going to be forgotten."
The Cory B. Wride Memorial Highway will stretch west about 15 miles from Redwood Road in Saratoga Springs to the Tooele County line.
"I would see him on occasion and wave to him, sometimes on the highway that's currently known as SR-73," said Rep. David Lifferth, R-Eagle Mountain, the House sponsor of SB234. "This is how we appropriately remember and honor those who have served Utah and have given the ultimate sacrifice."
Wride's family resides in the district of Rep. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, who said Cory Wride was a model of service and always put the welfare of others above his own.
"I believe, as well as my colleagues here today, that policing is one of America's most noble professions and that Cory was a man of the most noble character," McKell said.
The family also visited the Senate, where they received an official citation, condolences and expressions of gratitude.
"He was known and loved in the community … from the schoolkids to the city leadership, to the folks that live and work in that area of our state. They knew Cory, even though he never sought the spotlight," said bill sponsor Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Saratoga Springs.
With the House's unanimous approval, the bill will be sent to the governor, who was a friend of Corey Wride. The family visited with the governor Wednesday afternoon and took a tour of his office.
"He talked about Cory and how much he loved him and what a good guy he was. It was very personal," Nannette Wride said.
The general sentiment of both legislative bodies and his family was that Cory Wride spent his time quietly giving service. Nannette Wride said her husband would hate all of the attention because he was so humble. She said he inspires her to be a better person.
"He always had other people on his mind. That’s why he was a police officer," Nannette Wride said. "He was able to serve others, but even when he wasn’t on duty, he did that all the time. He truly lived a Christlike life, and he was the epitome of what he believed in, a very honorable man."
Email: madbrown@desnews.com
