Sergeant Cory Blake Wride (September 28, 1969 – January 30, 2014) is remembered as a devoted and quiet hero whose life was dedicated to serving his family, community, and country. Born in Monticello, Utah, he grew up with a gentle nature, a quick wit, and a love for animals. Cory’s deep sense of responsibility and strong work ethic was evident as he served in the Utah National Guard, completed a faithful mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, excelled in law enforcement, and raised a loving family. An outdoorsman and sports enthusiast, he found joy in hunting, fishing, and spending time with his loved ones. Cory’s legacy of strength, compassion, and faith lives on through his wife, children, and cherished memories of his life lived in quiet service to others.
- September 28, 1969: Cory Blake Wride is born in Monticello, Utah, as the oldest child of D. Blake and Kathy Nielsen Wride.
- Early Years: Cory grows up in American Fork, Utah, displaying a kind nature, quick wit, and a special love for animals.
- High School Years: Cory is actively involved in FFA, becomes an Eagle Scout, and graduates from American Fork High School in 1987.
- 1988: Cory enlists in the Utah Army National Guard and completes Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Intelligence Analyst School at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where he graduates as the Honor Graduate.
- 1990s: Cory serves honorably in the Utah National Guard for 12 years, achieving the rank of sergeant.
- Missionary Service: Cory serves as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the New York, New York City Mission, ministering in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Bermuda.
- Post-Mission: Upon returning home, Cory enters the police academy and graduates at the top of his class. He started his law enforcement career with the Department of Corrections as a guard at the Utah State Prison.
- 1994: Cory joins the Utah County Sheriff’s Department and begins serving with professionalism, integrity, and compassion. He works in various capacities, including Patrol, K-9 Team, SWAT, and Internal Affairs.
- December 23, 1995: Cory marries Nannette Williams, and they are later sealed in the Mount Timpanogos Temple.
- Raising a Family: Over the next 18 years, Cory and Nannette raise four sons (Nathan, Chance, Shea, Tyesun) and a daughter (Kylie Anne) on the Wride family farm in Benjamin, Utah.
- Interests and Hobbies: Cory enjoys various outdoor activities like fishing, camping, horseback riding, hunting, and pheasant hunting in South Dakota with his family and friends.
- Family Farm: Cory and his father purchase purebred Angus cows and a certified Red Balancer bull, reviving the Running B brand.
- Legacy and Passing: Cory’s quiet strength, love for family, teaching abilities, and strong testimony of Jesus Christ leave a lasting legacy. He tragically passes away on January 30, 2014.
Cory Blake Wride’s life is characterized by his dedication to service, his love for family, his commitment to law enforcement, and his genuine kindness and humility. 1
I was able to obtain the Human Resources file from Utah County for Cory B Wride. Wride almost always was given annual pay increases during his annual reviews, all of which were positive. He quickly move up the promotion ladder and was eventually made Sergeant. In the employment application Cory listed the following previous experience when he applied to become a Deputy with the Utah County Sheriffs Office.2
- Utah Department of Corrections – Corrections Tech (April 1994 – October 1994)
“Provided security and supervision for approx. 55-60 inmates in the Wasatch Recreation and Green Thumb work Programs – Utah State Prison” - American Protective Services – Security Officer (November 1993 – March 1994)
“Provided internal and external security for City Center Office building in downtown Salt Lake. Lead officer for 3 months.” - Ellison Sprinkler and Landscape – Installation Tech (April 1992 – October 1993)
“Installed sprinkler systems and assisted in landscape work. Residential as well as large Commercial Projects. Foreman April 1993 – October 1993)” - 211th Aviation Group (ATK) Utah Army National Guard (April 89 – October 89)
Training - Lehi Roller Mills – Laborer (February 87 – January 89)
I had the opportunity to communicate with Blake Wride3, father of Cory B Wride while I was working on this book. I asked him if there were any indications that Sergeant Wride may of know that something was off or that he may have had a premonition that a bad event was going to happen. He said that looking back on it, Cory did exhibit some behavior that was out of the ordinary a short time before his death.
Blake related, “Law enforcement folks don’t make a lot of money so [as a family] he was always careful with his money.” He recounts that one of the last conversations that he had with his son was out of the ordinary. Cory usually would not share financial information with his dad, but on this occasion he was more candid with Blake than he had been in the past. Cory’s son had a bill with a local mechanic for some repairs on his vehicle. Cory was concerned about the repairs and did not want things to be left undone if as Cory put it, “anything happened to him.” Blake stated that, “It was a little out of the ordinary for him to be this candid with me about these things. He was quite reflective about this issue and seemed to be reaching out for support.”
Another instance was shortly before his death. Blake recounts that Cory was on shift and came by his Blake’s house. During his visit he was very quiet and reflective and longing to be home with his family. Blake mentioned that it was not unusual for Cory to miss his family whenever they were away on their hunting or camping trips, but this time it was different. This time he had a “strong yearning” to just be home with them. Blake tried to reassure him that his time away would pass quickly. Blake gave this description of his son Cory, “He was a pleasant kid, quiet but he had lots of friends in our neighborhood. He was always out in the neighborhood with friends doing all the normal activities boys did. He loved to go fishing, usually at Fish Lake but a few times [he would go] to strawberry. When he was small I would take him pheasant hunting with me.” They would go pheasant hunting around their farm in Benjamin, Utah. Blake continued, “I guess the hunting bug hit him good because all of his life we hunted and fished together.”
- “Cory WRIDE Obituary (1969 – 2014) – Salt Lake City, UT – Deseret News,” Legacy.com, February 2, 2014, https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/deseretnews/name/cory-wride-obituary?id=23590679. ↩︎
- Utah County HR File, p. 67-69. ↩︎
- to Blake Wride, Book on Cory Wride, March 17, 2024. ↩︎
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