Thanks to Sagers | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Re "Larry Sagers, Utah gardening guru, dies at 63" (Tribune, Nov. 8):

The death last week of Larry Sagers — a one-in-a-million man — has given me a roller-coaster ride of emotions and memories. Larry was a true friend to me and countless others.

During the 1980s, I served on a beautification committee that supported a Tribune-sponsored project called Tidy Town. Imagine my delight to be in the same vehicle with Larry, The Trib's garden editor and several Utah garden clubs people.

We traveled the state, judging communities for the Tidy Town awards. There was never a dull moment. Larry's expansive wit and charm led us from one historical or horticultural fact to another.

The awards program is long gone, yet when I drive through those communities, I think how Larry helped develop civic pride and a sense of place by encouraging them to create parks, tree-lined streets or community gateways. No award was more than several hundred dollars, yet the communities used the funds to generate matching donations to make these special places.

I honor the memory of Larry and what his charm, knowledge and example created for all the citizens of Utah.

Alexander C. Morris

South Jordan