Well, I reckon most folks from around these parts know about Brigham City and how it’s been around for a long time. Now, don’t go thinkin’ this here article is just about Brigham City itself, ’cause it ain’t. No, this here’s about a feller by the name of Bradley Perry, a young man from right here in Utah. His story’s been passin’ through the whispers of the community for years, though not always in the way you’d want people talkin’.
Bradley Perry, you see, was workin’ late one night at the Texaco gas station in Perry, Utah. This was way back in 1984, on the night of May 25th. It was one of them late shifts, when the moon’s high and the world’s slow. He was just doin’ his job, like any young man would, not expectin’ the terrible things that would happen next. Early the next mornin’, on May 26th, they found him dead at that same gas station.
Now, let me tell you somethin’ — this wasn’t no ordinary case. Bradley Perry was just 22 years old, a young buck who had his whole life ahead of him. Born right here in Brigham City on May 24, 1962, he was known around town, though not much is remembered about him except the way he was taken from us so suddenly and violently. That day, May 26, 1984, would go down in history as the day the town lost a son, and the case became one of them unsolved mysteries that linger in folks’ minds.
They didn’t get no answers for quite some time. It wasn’t until years later, that they caught the feller responsible for takin’ Bradley’s life. It took 32 years for the courts to finally confirm that Glen, the man who’d done it, was guilty. I reckon that’s a long time to wait for justice, but that’s how it went down. The courts did what they had to do, and the Utah Supreme Court upheld the conviction, so Glen paid for what he did.
Now, I reckon I oughta tell you a little bit more about Brigham City and the land around here. You see, this area’s got a rich history. Back in 1850, a man by the name of William Davis, a Latter-Day Saint pioneer, was one of the first to explore this here part of Utah. He didn’t settle down right away, though. It weren’t until 1853 when Brigham Young himself sent another feller, Lorenzo Snow, to bring more settlers and make the place a proper city. It didn’t take long for folks to start puttin’ down roots, and before long, they had themselves a city with a good strong foundation.
Now, Perry City, just a stone’s throw from Brigham City, has a history of its own. Did you know it was originally called Three Mile Creek? Yep, that’s what they called it back when the first settlers, including the Rockwell brothers, came here in 1853. They even built the first brick schoolhouse in Box Elder County right here, so education had been a big deal from the start.
If you ask anyone ’round here, they’ll tell you Perry and Brigham City have always had a special place in their hearts. Even though folks come and go, and the years roll by, there’s a deep sense of community and history that keeps everyone connected. It’s a place where folks still remember the old times, the stories that’ve been passed down like family heirlooms. The Perry family, well, they’ve been a part of this land for generations. They’ve lived through the tough times and the good ones too.
As for Bradley, well, his story is still told in whispers. Some folks still remember him from when he worked that late shift at the Texaco, and though it was a long time ago, his memory ain’t gone forgotten. It’s been a long time since 1984, but the pain of that loss still lingers in the hearts of many. And even though they got their justice, that’s a wound that don’t heal easy.
Now, I’ll tell you this — this whole case, this whole story, it’s part of the bigger picture of life here in Brigham City. It’s about the people who’ve come before us, the ones who’ve worked and struggled and made this place what it is. It’s about remembering those who’ve been lost, like Bradley Perry, and honorin’ their memory in whatever way we can. So the next time you pass through Brigham City or Perry, take a moment and think about the history here, ’cause it’s a mighty long one.
Tags:
- Bradley Perry
- Brigham City
- Perry Utah
- Texaco Gas Station
- Utah History
- Murder Case
- Box Elder County
- Utah Supreme Court
