When Norm Bangerter put in his own cabinet - in the kitchen

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Reminiscences of former Utah Gov. Norm Bangerter, who died Tuesday at the age of 82, reflect on his humility, his political courage, and his honesty.

Here's one more story points to Bangerter's frugality and no-nonsense attitude.

In 1996, three years after Bangerter had left office, the state of Utah was engaged in a massive $7.8 million restoration of the Kearns Mansion — the official residence of the governor.

A Christmas-tree fire in December 1993, the first year of Gov. Mike Leavitt's tenure, had caused smoke damage to 80 percent of the building. Because of that, nearly every room was getting a makeover, and restoration experts were working to bring the house back to its Victorian-era glory.

The restorers told a story about rebuilding the kitchen's authentic cabinetry. Those custom-made cabinets replaced what had been there: Pre-fab cabinets that, according to the experts, Gov. Bangerter got at the Chris & Dick's. Reportedly, Bangerter bought the cabinets on his own dime, loaded them into his truck, and installed them himself.