With the exception of former Davis County lawmaker Haven Barlow, Dmitrich holds the record for longest stint in the state Legislature.

Dmitrich announced his retirement plans on KOAL radio Thursday morning - a medium he's used to regularly converse with his constituents for years.

"It's a tough decision," Dmitrich said Thursday. "I've made a lot of friends up there and enjoyed it, but I think new blood is really important."

Also announcing his retirement at session's end was Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George.

In 1968, then-31-year-old Dmitrich won a seat in the House of Representatives, where he remained until appointed to the Senate in 1991.

A year later, voters weighed in to keep him in the seat. Following the 2001 redistricting, the sprawling District 27, which Dmitich represents, grew to include spans all of Carbon, Emery, Grand and San Juan counties and also includes Utah County's Mapleton and Spanish Fork. Self-described as a Cal Rampton Democrat - "I stood up for the working person" - Dmitrich is lauded for his lack of pretense by his colleagues, regardless of political stripe.

"He's genuine. He's straight shooting," said Senate Majority Leader Curtis Bramble, R-Provo. "Mike would find ways to reach across political philosophies to find common ground."

Shortly after this year's legislative session ended at midnight Wednesday, Dmitrich said he mentioned to Bramble that it would be his last.

Rep. Brad King, D-Price - befriended and mentored by Dmitrich - said he will run for his seat this November.

"During my first visit to the Legislature in junior high, Mike was there. All my conscious life he's been my representative or senator," King said. "It's with a great deal of reluctance that I have to say goodbye to him in that capacity."

During his pre-Legislature days, Dmitrich distinguished himself playing high school and college football, and then went to work mining coal, where he gained a firsthand understanding of the work environment that killed his father and grandfather.

"It's a terrible loss for us as an institution," College of Eastern Utah President Ryan Thomas said of Dmitrich's retirement.

Thomas became emotional as he spoke of Dmitrich's devotion to CEU, its students, and to area miners as well.

"There's nothing that he's been unwilling to do to provide support for the people of this area," Thomas continued. "I don't have words sufficient to describe his contribution."

Other familiar faces are also exiting the Legislature.

In Thursday's wee hours, Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, announced he would not seek re-election.

"It's time to say goodbye and that's what I'm doing tonight," Hickman tearfully told the body. "After 16 years, it has to be."

In recent days, Salt Lake City Democrat Roz McGee - elected to the House in 2002 - revealed she would not seek another term.

The period to file for county and state offices opens today and continues through March 17.

cmckitrick@sltrib.com

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* ROBERT GEHRKE and SHEENA MCFARLAND contributed to this story.