Gregory Kim Hilton, 56, president and general manager of KSOP AM-FM radio, died Oct. 6, 2009, of heart failure.

He had managed this family radio company, which his father, Henry, started, for more than two decades. More recently he had also served as president after his father retired.

He had also done triple duty in recent years as sales manager, too, while his brother, Don, served as vice president and program director.

Greg Hilton had been involved with KSOP since he was a young boy and took out the trash. He worked his way through DJ jobs, traffic and sales until he earned a top management spot.

"He was a wonderful guy, a true gentleman and a terrific competitor," said G. Craig Hanson, president of Simmons Media.

Hanson said Greg Hilton was a true visionary, who took after his father, who had started KSOP-FM as the first FM country music station in America back in 1964. KSOP-AM had started in 1955.

Hanson said Hilton also drove the station's vehicle in more northern Utah holiday parades than anyone could count while he championed the radio industry.

"This is a big loss to radio and also the community," Hanson said.

A celebration of Hilton's life will be Saturday, Oct. 10, 2 p.m., at the Jenkins-Soffe South Valley Mortuary, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway (10600 South). Friends may call at the mortuary from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., prior to the celebration. Burial will be in the Murray City Cemetery.

— Lynn Arave