PROVO — During his first two years at BYU — long before he became a U.S. senator — Orrin Hatch went on two dates.

And the women asked him.

"I didn't feel like I had good enough clothes," he said Thursday at Brigham Young University. "I certainly didn't have money to take girls on dates. I was ashamed to even ask them, I thought I was going to be turned down."

Despite such humble beginnings, the Utah Republican senator said he loves BYU not only for the education he received, and the fact that he met his wife, Elaine, in an astronomy class, but also because of the preparation for an LDS mission, which dramatically shaped his future.

"I couldn't have been anywhere near the missionary I was had I not gone to the religion classes at BYU," he said. "Had I not had these experiences at BYU, I don't believe my mission would be nearly as successful as it was. And I don't believe I would have decided to become a lawyer."

Hatch was honored Thursday as the 2009 distinguished graduate from the College of Family, Home and Social Sciences, as part of homecoming week celebrations.

"He's been a good friend to BYU," said David Magleby, the college's dean. "A total of 96 BYU students have completed internships in his office, and many BYU graduates have worked for the senator in key staff positions. We are grateful for his friendship and support."

And the feeling is mutual.

"This school means so much to me," Hatch told the students. "Almost everything that I have, or I've learned, or I've gained ... has come from the underpinnings that I've received here."

Hatch recounted his experience being nominated for summer student body president and an over-zealous campaign manager who had him ride around BYU on a donkey for publicity.

He told of how he was alphabetically assigned a seat next to his now-wife, whose maiden name is Hansen.

"I can't remember a doggone thing from that astronomy class," he said with a chuckle.

And Hatch shared how his belief in his religion was strengthened as he read both a history of the LDS Church and anti-Mormon literature in order to gain credit hours.

But he closed by reminding the students to always work hard and live by principle, whether it's during deliberations on the Senate floor or in everyday conversations.

"You have to make choices in this life, you have to learn to stand with what is right," Hatch said. "You're going to the greatest university in the world today. If you take advantage of that and give it everything you have, you can do anything you want."

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