Ron DeSantis declares ‘Hulk Hogan Day' in Florida with flags flown at half-staff
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that he was declaring Friday 'Hulk Hogan Day' across the state in honor of the WWE megastar, who died at the age of 71 on July 24 at his home in Clearwater, Fla.
DeSantis also said that the U.S. and Florida flags would be put at half-staff Friday at the state capitol and in Pinellas County, which includes Clearwater, where Hogan lived for the final 13 years of his life.
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3 Hulk Hogan on May 13, 2013.
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'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. 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 wrote in a statement. 'He was a true Floridian through and through.'
'Rest in peace, brother,' the governor added on X.
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Despite being born in Augusta, Ga., Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, moved to Tampa at a young age and grew up there.
3 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visits a temporary migrant detention center informally known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' in Ochopee, Florida, U.S., July 1, 2025.
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Hogan became the face of wrestling in the 1980s and 90s, inspiring 'Hulkamania' across the nation.
Hogan died of a heart attack, according to Pinellas County Forensic Science Center records obtained by Page Six on Thursday. He also dealt with atrial fibrillation, the most common form of an irregular heartbeat.
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3 A fan mourns Hulk Hogan outside of Hogan's Beach Shop in Clearwater, Fla.
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The records also showed that he had a history of chronic lymphotic leukemia, a form of cancer that affects white blood cells.
In a speech on July 24, DeSantis said he grew up viewing Hogan as a 'superhero.'
'The fact that he was from the Tampa Bay area when I'm growing up there, it was like 'Oh my gosh,'' DeSantis said. 'I was really sad to see that [he died], and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and people throughout this region of Florida.'
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