The Hulkster is getting one last leg drop of love from the Sunshine State.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has officially declared Friday, Aug. 1, “Hulk Hogan Day” statewide, honoring the late WWE legend who died on Thursday, July 24, at age 71.
“Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice, first in 2005 and again in 2020 as a member of the New World Order,” DeSantis shared in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). “He was a true Floridian through and through.”
Flags at Half-Staff for Hulk Hogan
To commemorate Hogan’s legacy, both the U.S. and Florida flags will be flown at half-staff Friday at the state capitol and in Pinellas County, which includes Clearwater — the city the wrestling icon called home for the last 13 years of his life.
“His larger-than-life personality will be missed, as the ‘Hulkster’ was an icon for many who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s as well as today,” DeSantis added.
He ended the tribute with a simple, “Rest in peace, brother.”
A Florida Son, A National Hero
Although born in Augusta, Ga., Hogan (real name Terry Gene Bollea) moved to Tampa at a young age and grew up in the Alligator State.
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He would go on to become one of the most recognizable figures in professional wrestling history, igniting a pop culture phenomenon known as “Hulkamania” during the sport’s golden era in the 1980s and ’90s.
Hulk Hogan’s Final Days
Hogan died from an acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack.
It was also revealed that he had been living with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a type of blood cancer, and had a history of atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that causes rapid or irregular heartbeat.
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It’s unclear when Hogan was diagnosed or whether he was actively being treated at the time of his death.
Paramedics responded to a call from his Clearwater home on July 24 following a cardiac arrest.
He was transported to a nearby hospital, but lifesaving measures were unsuccessful. His body will be cremated.
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Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
