alan simpson

Forty years ago, Cheyenne experienced one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in Wyoming’s recorded history. The devastating flood claimed the lives of twelve people, the youngest of whom was only 3 years old, and forever altered the landscape of Wyoming’s capitol. Read more about the most damaging flood in Wyoming history.

Wyoming’s mineral taxes make a story of personalities. Democrat Ernest Wilkerson reintroduced mineral severance taxes to Wyoming politics when he ran for governor in 1966. Republican Stan Hathaway defeated Wilkerson, but eventually presided over enactment of a severance tax and a permanent minerals fund, vastly stabilizing Wyoming’s financial future.