Advertise Death with Reagan Billboards!
Driving around in Salt Lake City I usually glance at the billboards. This is how they looked for a section of I-15 :BAM! Get checked with Central bank! The time is 6:40 pm, Current temp is -3 Celsius. ZAP! Get hot clothes at Blue Boutique! WHAM! In loving memory of Brian D. Reagan loving, father, son, husband. 1979 - 2007.
I looked up billboard in the dictionary and this is what it came up with..
billboard |ˈbilˌbôrd|noun a large outdoor board for displaying advertisements.
Wait a sec. Am I the only one that thinks that this is sort of strange? I mean it sucks when people die young, but who the heck is Brian D. Reagan. Even if a famous person died you wouldn’t see a sign advertising for you to remember him after death, let alone a billboard.
After doing a little research with my trusty google. I found out that he worked for Reagan outdoor signs before his death. That explains a lot. Apparently, they thought it would be a good idea to put his face on about 5 billboards (that I saw). Seems a little disrespectful to me. So anyways the moral of the story is, if you work for a billboard company, you may want to check the box that says “check here if you die, and you don’t want us to put your face on a bunch of billboards up and down I-15″
Here is a link to the actual obituary on Deseret News.
October 7th, 2008 |
You have serious problems to even have a problem with these billboards. I pity all who know you. What a negative outlook you have on life. I am sure no billboard will have your obit. on it. I am glad that someone is celebrating life. Good luck to you and your negative attitude!!!!!!
March 22nd, 2008 |
Wow, your blog was really funny. I have been thinking the EXACT same thing for months. Thank goddness they have now been replaced with the thank you for your condolences adverti….I mean billboard
March 22nd, 2008 |
Hey folks, we have lost a son too. It will be ten years this year but we surely sympathize with that valley of pain. Only those who have known the experience can imagine how much it hurts. Just to let the Reagans know that we care. He must have been quite a guy!
Pastor Chuck Brocka
March 6th, 2008 |
My condolences go out to the Reagan family. Every time I pass a Brian billboard, I remember to count my blessings. I was rear ended on the I-15 2 months ago, with my 3 kids in the van. Gratefully, we are fine now. It could be any of us who is taken at any time, in any way. How loved this Brian obviously was by many in the Salt Lake area. And a Catholic BYU fan? He really is special! I wish I could’ve known him and look forward to meeting him on the other side. Even “average joes” are special. Life is sacred. Thank you, Reagan family, for reminding us how precious life is. My heart goes out to the widow and children. I, too, will pray for you all.
March 3rd, 2008 |
Here’s what I think: It’s an advertisement for Reagan billboard companies to give other people the idea to post obituaries on billboards. Honestly.
February 27th, 2008 |
Being a nurse, you learn that different people grieve differently. I try not to to judge because nobody perceives or deals with their emotions the same way. It may shock you to learn how you deal with your own grief.
It is a sad thing, that people tend to judge quickly, rather than attempt to understand…… Look outside your comfort zone a little.
Thank goodness we have the freedom in America to voice ourselves in many different ways. At least we have the choice to voice……
February 26th, 2008 |
Why is it that people have such a strong opposition to the billboards? Why do you even care? It’s not your money or loved one. Have some respect for the family to do what they want. It is tragic to loose a loved one, especially suddenly. Don’t you people who are so rude have more important things to do with your time? Try a little sympathy toward the family simply because they love him and miss him.
February 26th, 2008 |
I totally agree. A billboard is no place to honor the dead, there are so many better ways to honor someone else’s life than plastering them up on a billboard.
I had no idea that there was even one for the former Prophet of the mormon church, until I read that comment here. I think that is a terrible way to honor him, if the church thinks that highly of him don’t plaster him in an advertisment.
yea that makes me want to run out and join the church!
February 26th, 2008 |
SORRY…some of the CEMETARIES here….I guess I should of proof read before I hit SUBMIT!!!
February 26th, 2008 |
Yes, it is weird I wonder what he thinks of “his” billboards??? I too googled Brian D. Reagan and came upon your website. I am from Ogden and traveled to Logan today 2-02-08 and saw two different billboards. One, like all the bloggers are talking about and Two, one that said that HIS family thanked all the well wishes and condolances. Strange as it seems I bet they have had a lot of grief too for the billboards. HEY! Made ya look!!!
And YES, they have a Christmas Eve candlelight ceremony at some of the Ceremonies here. My friend’s 19 yr old daughter was killed in a car wreck by Rock Springs four Christmas’s ago. The cemetary is on Monroe, just N. of Second street in Ogden. They do this I suppose as a comfort for not having their loved one with them at the Holidays….WE all GRIEVE differently and in our own due time.
February 13th, 2008 |
I thought the billboards for the matriarch and son of the Reagans were very special and a perfect way to honor them by this “billboard” family. Just saw there is one for President Hinckley also. I totally don’t understand the negative feedback that there has been. I’m not affiliated in any way with the Reagan family, but have enjoyed seeing the tributes. THANKS!
February 11th, 2008 |
At least at BYU they lurn to spell gooder
February 11th, 2008 |
Yeah because the way the U gets money is a lot better
February 10th, 2008 |
Hey Brian you are totally right, instead of honoring him in a biblboard, they should honor him by paying for your school! Now I think it is distasteful to honor him like that, but it is just as distasteful for you to come on and make a plea for a school that is already getting enough funding from “private” investors.
February 7th, 2008 |
Families of all financial backgrounds! DO as the amazing Brian has said and instead of doing obituaries donate the money to charity. Hell, forego funerals with those expensive flowers, ham sandwiches and fruit punch and donate the money to starving kids in Africa. Bury your dead in recycled Walmart bags (it may require you do some slicing and dicing, but at least you aren’t doing something frivolous like honoring the dead). Unless the person dies in a tragic way you should not spend money on a pricey casket (it’s just going to rot and rust anyway) donate the money to brian’s favorite charity. Now if they do die tragically (perhaps brian can enlighten us on what qualifies as a tragedy…being gunned down by terrorists or falling 10,000 feet into a pool of rusty nails?) If your loved one’s death is deemed tragic by brian, then hell, spend spend spend!
February 7th, 2008 |
i spend a lot of time driving around and these billboards are all over the wasatch front. several of the same billboards have been death notices in the past. it’s not a new thing for the Reagan family to do this for families who are interested in erecting a very prominent and temporary memorial.
February 1st, 2008 |
I find these billboards to be tasteless and a horrible way to honor someone. I realize that his family owns the billboard company, and appreciate their efforts to remember his. However he did not die tragically, he died in a simple car accident. He was not a hero, he was just a normal guy.
If the family really wanted to honor him they could set up a scholarship in his name (at BYU perhaps). Or do something along that lines that would actually honor him.
January 25th, 2008 |
it seems like a lot of people here are very interested in learning more about Brian. I found a very nice obituary by googling “Brian D Reagan obituary”
January 24th, 2008 |
Having lost a daughter and grandson in a car accident, and a son to leukemia, we totally understand the family’s need to call attention to their loved one - and show how much they’re missed. The grief is unbelievable! Even now - 15 years later - we wish we could build a monument where our daughter and grandson died, just “to remember” and help others realize how quickly a precious life can be taken. Personally, I would rather see a billboard like the one honoring Brian Reagan than just advertizements. Each time we drive by one of their signs we say a prayer for the family… for we’ve been there, and know how much it hurts.
January 21st, 2008 |
Does anybody know what happened to Bryan Regan?
January 20th, 2008 |
if your dad owned and ran an advertising company that owned half of the billboards in the state, and you died tragically, then anything is possible.
i don’t believe that just anyone would be allowed to post a billboard such as this. the guy was a very talented person and cherished by his family who happen to own a big billboard company. Not much more to it.
January 17th, 2008 |
Thanks for the information. I know the whole things seems unusual, but I agree with Mike. When someone you love dies, you want the whole world to stop and miss them. It seems so strange that the tv and radio doesn’t acknowledge this dreadful loss. I don’t know Brian or his family, but he was only 29 years old! Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.
January 17th, 2008 |
When I die I would like a commercial to be aired every day on television. In fact, maybe I should record the commercial myself, that would make it extra creepy! Just kidding that would make as much sense as these billboards.
January 16th, 2008 |
Wow they like do some wierd stuff in Utah. People that own billboard companies like when like their kids die and stuff they like honor them with their own billboard. It’s kinda like when people like die they put their stuff about them in the newspapers. Weird. It was way more normaller in my home state where everything is like totally normal.
January 14th, 2008 |
I appreciate your comments… Mainly because my boss saw the billboards and thought it was Brian Regan the comedian who had died (obviously because you wouldn’t think to see the death of an ordinary ‘Joe’ displayed on a billboard.) But then come to think of it, it would be weird even for someone famous, like you said. Anyway, thanks for clearing it up (even though it was indirectly done) it is a relief to know that the comedina is still alive, not to deminish the Reagan’s loss.
One of the things that happens when you grieve for the loss of a loved one is this detatchment or anger at the world like, “How can you all just go on like everything is normal? Don’t you know what has happened?” They end up wanting to shout that to the world so that it will stop, like their’ world has. I guess if you owned a billboard company you’d have the ability to to do that, as inapropriate as it might be.
Oh, and nothing you said was as offensive as JANIE’s comments. If Utah’s so weird to you, move away. We won’t miss you. I’ve got no idea why or who is doing candelight vigils on Christmas. Sounds like something somebody made up.
January 13th, 2008 |
I saw my first one on my way through salt lake. Anyone know how he died? I am really curious since he worked for the company… I also agree with not wanting to be remembered for being on a billboard after I die.
January 11th, 2008 |
Wow. I totally agree with you. So weird. I saw probably 10 between my house and my brother’s and then another clear up in OGDEN!! I would not want to be remembered for being dead and on a billboard.
January 11th, 2008 |
I thought that I was the only one who was wondering what all these billboards were about.
Eric
January 8th, 2008 |
I also thought it was a little strange, which is why I did a google search and found your site! What finally prompted me to look was that I saw the ones along I-15 near Salt Lake and then another one just down the road from my house in Provo. I figured he was somehow related to the ownership of the billboard company. It is not how I would choose to remember a loved one, but I can understand how grieving parents would feel motivated to do something like this.
As for your comments being insensitive, I don’t think that is the case. It would have been if you had said the same thing directly to the family, but on your own blog I think it’s fine. I’m sure there are hundreds of people who have thought the same thing.
January 1st, 2008 |
I figured I would get someone on here coming at me with words like “insensitive”. I was not trying to step on any toes. Only thought it was a strange way to honor someone.
December 29th, 2007 |
Hey, the person who passed away, Brian Reagan, well his family owns the billboard company!! Did you not make that connection!!! He is their son!!!
Your blog is insensitive….and you are not seeing the whole picture!
December 29th, 2007 |
OMG, I loved your blog. I have been searching for Brian Regan on the internet and couldn’t find him. Thanks for solving this mystery. I am sure they put his name on the billboard to honor him, but wow what a weird honor. They do some weird things in Utah. I just read in the paper how people here gather at the in several Utah County graveyards on Christmas eve and have a candlelight vigil for the dead. I thought Christmas was for the living. TO EACH OF OWN….