Florida Governor Declares Aug. 1 as ‘Hulk Hogan Day,’ Ordering Flags Be Flown at Half-Staff

Gov. Ron DeSantis referred to Hogan as a ’true Floridian through and through,' after the legendary wrestler recently died at the age of 71.

Former WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan attends at a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Oct. 27, 2024. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is honoring the late WWE star Hulk Hogan by ordering U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff on Aug. 1 and declaring the day in his memory.

DeSantis issued the declaration in a July 31 press release, naming Aug. 1 as “Hulk Hogan Day” due to the professional wrestler’s connection to the state.

“His larger-than-life personality will be missed,” read the governor’s release. “The ‘Hulkster’ was an icon for many who grew up in the 80s and 90s, as well as today. He was a true Floridian through and through.”

From sunrise to sunset, both the U.S. and the State of Florida flags are to be flown half-staff at the State Capitol in Tallahassee and all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout Pinellas County.

The legendary wrestler was born in Augusta, Georgia, as Terry Bollea, but made Florida his home after moving to the Tampa Bay area at a young age.

Hogan was the owner of multiple restaurants and retail stores in the state, including his Clearwater beach bar “Hogan’s Hangout” and “Hogan’s Beach Shop,” known for its Hulkamania gear, souvenirs, autographed items, and more.

Hogan died on July 24 from a heart attack at his home in Clearwater. He was 71 years old.

Local authorities immediately responded to a 911 call before Hogan was transported to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to the District Six Medical Examiner’s office, which serves Pinellas and Pasco Counties, his official cause of death was listed as “acute myocardial infarction.”

Further, the medical examiner notes Hogan previously had leukemia and atrial fibrillation, otherwise characterized as an irregular heartbeat or rapid rhythm.

Prior to the medical examiner’s report, Hogan’s wife, Sky Daily, said his death was “sudden and impossible to process” in an Instagram tribute to her late husband.

“He had been dealing with some health issues,” she wrote on July 25. “I truly believed we would overcome them. I had so much faith in his strength. I thought we still had more time.”

Handlebar Mustache

Hogan made a name for himself after joining the WWE in the late 1970s, known for his trademark handlebar mustache, while donning his signature yellow-and-red outfit and bandanas.

Throughout his 14-year career with the WWE, Hogan was notably the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985, the first male athlete to win two consecutive Royal Rumbles, and became a six-time champion with the organization.

In 2005, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, and once more in 2020 as part of the New World Order.

Hogan’s WWE career came to an end in 2015 after he was caught on tape using racial slurs. His contract was terminated at the time, although he was reinstated following a three-year suspension, returning to WWE shows in 2018.