A Report to Peripatetics in 1955 by John F. Sullivan
Edited with annotations by Phil Roberts, July 2016
The following transcription is from a handwritten 14-page, untitled manuscript in an envelope of papers given by T. A. Larson to Phil Roberts in the spring of 1998 with the intention that he eventually donate the materials to the American Heritage Center.
Included in the envelope were various off-prints of history journal articles and other history professional memorabilia Larson had collected over the years, but it also had some campaign circulars from the 1954 election. The envelope contained a few letters and personal correspondence between Larson and various political figures, mostly from the 1950s.
These have been given to the American Heritage Center to be included with the bulk (19.5 cubic feet) of materials in the Larson papers donated to the American Heritage Center in the middle 1990s.[1] This was the only handwritten manuscript in the envelope of some 50 items. Perpendicular to the edge of page 1, Dr. Larson wrote: “John Sullivan’s primary race, Dem for U. S. House?, c. 1958-68.”
Larson assumed the talk was presented to a political group, perhaps Albany County Democrats. In actuality, the paper was prepared in the early winter of 1955 to be presented to Peripatetics, an organization to which Sullivan had belonged for some time. The 14 pages were entirely handwritten in blue ink on a yellow legal tablet.
There is no title on the first page. After introductory comments concerning the group’s procedures for determining the annual order of presentations, the title is revealed as: “How To Win a Statewide Election.” Oddly, Sullivan makes no reference to the suicide of Sen. Lester Hunt that occurred only a few months earlier nor does he offer any explanation for his motivation to run for the House. Annotations in footnotes identify individuals or explain voting results and, of course, are not from the original manuscript.
I chose to use this manuscript as the basis for tonight’s paper, not only for its connection to our group, but also because of its insightful comments on running for office as a Democrat in Wyoming. Indeed, based on my experience running for statewide office exactly 44 years after Sullivan’s primary run, some aspects remain timeless!
–Phil Roberts, July 28, 2016
Biographical Note on Author: John F. Sullivan (b. Laramie, 1918, d. Albany County, July 27, 1966) graduated from UW in 1935 and earned a law degree from UW in 1937. He joined his father Joseph R. Sullivan, first as an associate and later as a name partner in the firm.[2] He was Laramie city attorney in 1941-42, leaving to serve in the U. S. Navy. On his return, he served as municipal judge. He was elected to the Wyoming legislature for the first time in 1947 and reelected to five more terms (1949, 1951, 1953, 1957 and 1965). From 1960-63, he served on the UW Board of Trustees. From 1957-58, he was president of the Laramie Rotary Club. He practiced law in partnership with his father J. R. Sullivan who had practiced law in Laramie from 1910 until his death in 1959. The younger Sullivan died in July 1966 during his legislative term.[3]
Transcribed Text of Sullivan’s Talk
“Three weeks ago this evening I looked forward to the beginning of the Paripatetic year. It was well known to me that at some future date my turn would arrive when it would be necessary that I buckle down to preparing a paper for the group. Little did I expect that the lottery system employed by our unpaid secretary would work as it did. For years I have purchased raffle tickets on automobiles, saddles, horses, cakes, prize money, television sets, radios, refrigerators and the like and on may occasions have watched anxiously as the names were drawn. Never in my life have I had the pleasure of having that slip, bearing my name, drawn first–Three weeks ago I had that experience and I am perfectly frank when I say that I was not in any way elated. The feeling was one of utter frustration. Only those of you have had a similar experience can realize how I enjoyed or failed to enjoy the ill-fated evening. After the drawing, you will recall, we listened to a paper on intellectual honesty. The only thoughts running through my mind were–How and where was that pulling of names dishonest? –Although considerable investigation has been done on my part, I am unable to state conclusively that there was any collusion in the matter and inasmuch as I can’t explain it by logical reasoning, and yet I know in my own mind that something was wrong, all I can do is chalk it up to one of those unexplained mysteries we heard about at our last gathering.
“A few months ago your writer took a plunge into depths unknown and attempted to accomplish a job, the requirements of which were foreign to me. I filed a nominating petition in my own behalf for a National Office —Some six or seven weeks later when the job ran out–mission unaccomplished, I saw one of our fellow Peripateticians on the street and he remarked that I could now advise all of you about what to do and what not to do. If there is blame to be placed on any individual for the lack of an appropriate topic it can fall on the shoulders of a local M. S. who is a member of our body.
“The more I thought of the subject matter of my paper, the more I realized how important it might be. I am sure that anyone of this group is a potential national office seeker and what I have to say will probably be extremely valuable to you.
“How to Win a State Wide Election
“Some two or three weeks after the primary election had been completed, a circular came through the mail announcing a loose-leaf publication which is known as the Candidates’ “Bible.” The brochure stated: “Here–in one service–are the ABC’s of how to win.” For a mere $25 I could receive the Bible and all supplementary material for one year. It did not guarantee a winner but would be my practical guide for winning elections. It would enable me to plan my campaign in advance and assure an effective working organization. It would provide me with ‘Tips’ on how to campaign and tell me where to buy campaign material. It would anticipate my problems in handling attacks, smears and pressure groups and help me to solve them and would save me time and money. In addition it would bring me frequent reports during the year giving me latest techniques, helpful experiences and fresh publicity devices and approaches.
“Had this circular arrived some two months before it did, I would undoubtedly have purchased it because any helpful suggestions about what campaign tactics to use would have been valuable. A newcomer has a lot to learn and I am one to vouch for that.
“Subsequent to my filing for office I learned that I should have had numerous mats prepared with a campaign picture thereon, a printed press release with a statement of qualifications, personal history, educational background, war record and anything else that would appeal to anybody including memberships in the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Blue-birds, Brownies, Camp Fire Girls, fraternity–both professional and social–Elks, Masons, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Pythias, Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and Peripatetics–(the last, however, unknown to many–may sound like a subversive group so I should stay away from that). Having prepared all of this I should have had it in the hands of all weekly and daily papers with a specific release date–then–my filing with the Secretary of State in Cheyenne should have coincided with the aforesaid release date and, upon paying my twenty dollar filing fee, I could get a good nite’s sleep and start reading the papers the following morning to see what a break the good people of Wyoming were to have–a fine, upstanding candidate who had been urged by numerous friends and business acquaintances to do the people a great favor, at great personal sacrifice to himself–I was a candidate– However, not have received the candidates’ “Bible,” I didn’t do that.
“Next came the rude awakening that some advertising of some sort must be obtained. Every printer inquired about a glossy print of my face–must be done just right–not too stern and solemn, not too carefree–after all, here was a candidate for national office. Finally, after considerable consultation with my wife, the proper picture was decided upon and glossy prints were obtained. Then it became necessary to get cuts. Why somebody didn’t tell me about that I don’t know, but in any event, it took time. A cut for cards, a cut for match folders, a cut for posters, a cut for newspaper advertising–all of different sizes. For you who are still following me and are interested for themselves in the near future, I might advise you that to obtain a cut, it is necessary to send the glossy print out of the City of Laramie–more time–
“Advice was that I had most of Who to see–What meetings to attend–When to be in a certain section of the State and general procedure upon arriving in a strange locality. An old-time campaigner gave me the formula–meet people, people and more people Upon entering any community in the State contact the County Chairman, contact the State Committeeman and State Committeewoman and then contact the local newspaper office. From there you are on your own. In some instances, the reception will be cordial and further leads can be developed. In others, well, just do the best you can.
“A primary campaign is a cold proposition. You are almost completely on your own and while you receive many ideas from well-wishers, you have to make up your own mind on which road to follow. It all costs money and the helpful suggestions given involve expense. However, the expense money is an item that is mentioned only in the event of a successful run in the primary. True. There is some help, if you have any friends. My total receipts amounted to $175–$100 from the best friend I ever had or even will have (my father) and $25 from a person who has been interested in state politics for some time and $50 from a staunch Republican supporter.
“My first trip out was to the City of Sheridan where a rodeo was to be held. That should be a good place to meet a lot of people. Inasmuch as rooms were at a premium and I wasn’t too well known in Sheridan, I called a friend about a reservation. He was extremely helpful and upon securing a reservation, invited my wife and me to a large party at the Sheridan Inn. Surely there would be excellent contacts there. Sheridan, as you all known, is a cosmopolitan town, and of the some 300 guests at the party to which we had been so cordially invited, there were not more than 10 Democrats. The friend who had so graciously accommodated me is a State Senator from Sheridan County–Republican, by the way–and the Sheridan paper the next day ran a little story to the effect that Mr. and Mrs. John F. Sullivan of Laramie had been houseguests of the A. B. Ewings.[4] Far from correct, but it did cause backfires. I was unable to see several Democratic wheels. They were either out or unavailable and before too long, I was receiving advice that I’d have to return to Sheridan to mend some fences.
“On the way to Sheridan we stopped in Douglas to visit with some family. A Farm Bureau group was having a social some 30 miles from town and had invited any and all candidates. We arrived in time for box social, were met at the door by Sam Hyatt,[5] passing out literature, Floyd Bartling, passing out cards and numerous county candidates, all of whom had loot of some sort–cards, matches, pencils and one was even giving away cigars.[6] We gorged ourselves on good food, praised the ladies on their cooking and square-danced until 1 a.m. The following day, I conferred with Scotty Jack in Casper and invited him to lunch.[7] Who did we meet in the lobby of the hotel but Floyd Bartling so the three of us had lunch together. We told lies to each other about the trials and tribulations of alluring the voters and then stuck the Republican gubernatorial candidate for the lunch. I was briefed on how to campaign by Mr. Jack and then went to a sign painting shop to be one of the first to see the clever advertising stunt of dolling up an automobile. Jack’s car was being prepared with Scotch plaid, two Scotty dogs and a loudspeaker system to play bag-pipe music. I was completely briefed on the subtle approach to the voter–the scotch motif signified thrift in government.
“Many, many well-wishers in Rawlins assured me that while Sam Tully would do fairly well in Carbon County, he’d probably be lucky to break even there.[8] I contacted as many voters as possible, had encouraging talks with them and discounted all they said. Only one person, to whom I talked in Rawlins, told me he was going to vote for their local boy. His statement was: “You’re a fine boy, John, but Sam is one of ours. If you win in the primary, we are all for you.” [9] Others, running for county offices would pat you on the back, assure you of support and wind up by saying, “I can’t do anything openly, you understand, but things are all right here.” Only one person in Carbon County asked about my ideas on our foreign policy, farm problems or any other national questions. He was a crippled boy who was sunning himself on the lawn reading “Gone with the Wind” when I was making a house-to-house junket in Sinclair. Picnics in Encampment, up one side of the street and down the other in Saratoga, meeting refinery employees as they left work in Sinclair, two stops in Hanna, posters and cards distributed in Medicine Bow–netted me 377 votes in the primary. One of my worthy opponents (one who would be lucky to break even) gathered 1,671 in his own County–5-1. Such is life.
“Sweetwater County was another story. In all, my wife and I spent four full days there. Tully was strong–wasn’t he the man from Rawlins who had always supported polio drives, who had washed the windows of the court house, who had been on a railroad run into Green River for 14 years, who made a trip to Washington on behalf of the unemployed miners in the coal mines?[10] He certainly was. What had he accomplished, people would say. Nothing, but at least he tried.
“Well-wishers there were not quite as optimistic as in Carbon County, but they did advise that things were looking up. Meet as many people as possible, pass out matches, posters, cards, do door to door and advertise in the newspapers. I made a trip to one of the mines, the only one that was operating at that time and waited in the bathhouse for the miners to get off work. At 3:30 out of the pits came the railroad cars loaded with miners. They made a mad dash for the bathhouse, leaving their lanterns and identification checks as they passed the large room and into a steaming bathhouse. As they left after showering and changing clothes, I smiled brightly, shook hands and gave them a card–most of them acknowledged the card and went their way. This was the way to do it, I had been told. There were some 300 men on that shift.
“The same evening there were two Union meetings being held–one in Superior and one in Rock Springs. If I was in Superior by 7 p.m., that evening, I could be introduced at a Union meeting. At the appointed hour, I climbed the stairs of the Union Hall, met the presiding officer and was introduced along with numerous county candidates. Each of us was given ten minutes to espouse our own individual cause and we were then advised that we could leave. They had business to attend to. I rushed back to Rock Springs, climbed the stairs of the Union Hall, talked to the other guard who stated he’d convey the word that an aspirant of a political office was in the outer chamber. After a 15-minute wait, I was ushered in to the meeting of some 150 men, advised by the presiding officer that I could have ten minutes and no more and was introduced something like this: “This fellow wants to say a few words–Go ahead.” I thanked the gathering profusely for the opportunity to talk to them, recited some qualifications and started to leave. One of the assembled group said, “Just a minute. What is your attitude toward organized labor and how do you stand on the Taft-Hartley law?” I answered to the best of my ability and left. A political rally was held at the American Legion Hall and my wife was invited to tea.[11] I saw the newspaper editors, was given nice publicity while there, and incidentally spent some hard cash for advertising, tracked down committeemen and committeewomen and hit the streets, meeting as many people as possible. The same pattern was followed in Green River, Evanston and Kemmerer. When the returns came in from Sweetwater County, they read something like this: Flannery, 525; Hammond, 288; Posvar, 98; Sullivan, 579, Tully, 4,150. 8 to 1.[12] What a let-down. A few days after that blow fell, I made a rather crude remark to my wife and she stopped me cold. I said, “You know, as far as I’m concerned, they can take that Sweetwater County and shove it.” She very coyly replied, “They already have, dear.” What can a man say to that?
“Other parts of the state were not so unkind. For 31 days my wife and I traveled this state, oftentimes driving until 1 or 2 a.m., always wearing a ready smile, anxious to hear problems of the people and forever telling them what an opportunity they had for excellent representation. In Worland, we crossed paths with William Henry Harrison and his wife Mary.[13] We went our respective ways until dinner time and then met in their room for a conference before dinner. It was unbearably hot and we left our suit coats in the room when we went to the dining room for dinner. It was my turn to buy the meal and as I was settling the bill, Mrs. Harrison chided me. She said one of the first things a person must learn to do was to always leave a card under the tip. My coat was in the room upstairs, my cards were in the coat and I was at a loss. I left the tip and Harrison for Senator card was placed under it. That is my only contribution to the Republican party this year or for years to come.
“On our return to Sheridan–a fence-mending tour–I had lunch with several of the Democratic faithful. Seated across the table from me was handsome fellow named Parker who asked if perchance I knew Judge Parker.[14] He stated that he was a cousin of the Judge and I feared again that I had stepped into a group of the opposite party. However, I was advised to give the Judge greetings from his cousin, but to go easy on the politics. The two didn’t see eye to eye. (Judge, greetings are hereby conveyed. I have forgotten to mention it before now).
“In Casper the various legislative representatives of State Labor groups were gathered in assembly on a Sunday morning. Various State and National candidates appeared and were given an opportunity to speak. Questions were forthcoming from people in attendance. Harrison appeared, stated he was a friend of labor and then welcomed questions. The first one put to him was: “If you are so friendly with labor, how does it happened that on 27 votes which we think were important to labor, we have you voting right only four times.” I admired the man’s fortitude in appearing voluntarily before such a group. I spoke, told of my qualifications, of my labor voting record in the legislature and asked their support in the primary. Tully spoke next–assured the gathering that he was a card-carrying member of two unions, that he was for labor first, last and always and that, with due apologies to me, there were “too damn many lawyers in government now.”[15]
“We attended a Democratic picnic in Casper and all five Congressional candidates were present. The press took an excellent picture of the five of us surrounding Senator O’Mahoney, all with hands clasped in the victory handshake.[16] All was well and the picture appeared in the paper the following morning. It was a good one but the cutline failed to mention the name of Sullivan. Everybody else was listed.[17] I’m not sure whether some people thought I was George Posvar or some thought George Posvar was Sullivan.[18] We were both mad. In discussing it with the editors of the Casper paper, they thought it was very amusing. Perhaps so, but I lost my perpetual smile for a short time.
“At 6 a.m., one morning, I journeyed to the Texas Oil Refinery to meet a shift coming off work at 6:30 a.m., and one going on. They all check through a time or clock house so it is an ideal place to shake hands, pass out cards, and see the workers, if that does any good. Who was working the gate the same morning but Frank Emerson so if anybody advised me they were Republicans, I referred them to Frank and he reciprocated.[19]
“In Cheyenne the word was to be certain and make the shops–6:30 a.m., found me at the shops, meeting people going to work in the roundhouse. Walter Phelan, candidate for county attorney, was with me carrying his matches in a paper sack.[20] At noon, we were in another section of the shops, meeting the men as they ate their lunches from their lunch buckets. At the same time, we met Bob Cheever stumping for Governor Rogers, giving away free cigars.[21] Walt and I furnished the matches. I noticed in every lunch bucket a novel campaign idea. Each man had a paper napkin for his lunch upon which the cause of E. C. “Rusty” Rothwell was set forth.[22]
“My personal campaign consisted of meeting as many people as possible, passing out cards to every person I met, posting posters, newspaper advertising, radio spot ads and two very short spots on T. V.[23] Toward the end of the road, I received some book matches. I had ordered them about the 8th of July from the Superior Match Company in Chicago–Special Delivery-Airmail-Rush-Rush.[24] 5,000 folders of book matches. The primary was held on August 17 and on August 12, the matches arrived C. O. D. These are always slow, I have later learned. Better get that order in now if any of you have any ideas. While I’m on the subject, if any of you have any use for a good supply of book matches with a picture of me thereon, I have about 2,500 that I’d be willing to sell at bargain prices.
“To get back to the original title of my paper, “How to Win a Statewide Election.” I do not know. My efforts were in vain, but I am not down-hearted. It was a marvelous, interesting experience, but next time, I am going to read the book.
“Since I haven’t the book–didn’t have the incentive or the $25–I have been looking at advertising used in the State of Wyoming to draw my own conclusions as to how it should be done.
“Mr. Dexter, who ran for governor, had a novel idea, but it didn’t pay off.[25] He used road signs throughout the State, but didn’t pay too much for the use of them. He used the backs of signs on the left side of the road and did the painting himself. I have heard some say that he wasn’t too well received by some parties because of it. In the Sheridan Rodeo days parade, he, against the wishes and specific advice of the committee, brought up the rear, driving his tool truck with a sign on it: ‘I may be last today, but I’ll be leading you in January.’
“Harrison uses a sound truck wherever the ordinance permits it. His son, who has done some radio announcing work, travels ahead in the truck. They have a complete tape recording set up in the truck, as good or better than most radio stations have here in the State–and cut tapes at appropriate times. During the primary, they passed out balloons for the children bearing the words “Harrison for Senator” on them. When I saw a couple in my neighborhood and knew that my children had them, I was floored. Mary Harrison told us they were the best investment they had made. Harrison’s son wears white shirts with red lettering: “Harrison for Senator” printed on the back. I have heard of “Simpson for Governor” jackets in the northern part of the state, but have not seen them. At an air show in Worland, a smoke writer emblazoned the sky with “Simpson for Governor.”
“Bumper stickers are being used by most all candidates at the present time. They cost about 15 cents each. You have all seen those. Billboard advertising is….” [end of manuscript]
[1] T. A. Larson papers, Accession #400029, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
[2] Sullivan’s parents, Joseph R. and Amy Sullivan, are listed as living at 1012 Grand Avenue, throughout most of the first half of the century. See Laramie City Directory, 1929, p. — , 1939, p. 147; 1955, p. 192. One of his brothers, Joseph B. Sullivan (b. Laramie, 1911, d. Casper, 1977) graduated from UW College of Law in 1934 and practiced law for many years in Douglas. (One of Joseph B. Sullivan’s sons, Michael J. Sullivan, served two terms as governor of Wyoming). “Obituary, Joseph B. Sullivan,” Douglas Budget, June 16, 1977, p. 1). Brother Bernard Sullivan was a long-time Laramie physician; sister Patricia Queal Larson worked for the UW News Service and later married a diplomat. The two Laramie Sullivans had law offices at 318 1/2 S. 2nd Street. 1939 Laramie City Directory, p. 147; 1949 Laramie City Directory, p. 216. In the 1950s the firm was listed in the same location, but on the ground floor of what was then called the Simpson Building, 318 S. 2nd St. 1955 Laramie City Directory, p. 192. The younger Sullivan was living at with his parents at 1012 Grand Avenue in the 1930s. In 1949 the Laramie City Directory, noted that his wife’s name was Eloise and they lived at 1910 Sheridan Avenue. p. 216. The Business Directory for 1946 listed 13 lawyers in Laramie. There were also nine barbers and five cigar stores. 1946 Polk’s Business Directory. (Salt Lake City, Utah).
[3] House Memorial Resolution, House Journal (1967), p. 425. The memorial lists his memberships, including Peripatetics, Knights of Columbus, Rotary and Laramie Chamber of Commerce.
[4] A. B. “Buck” Ewing served as a state senator from Sheridan County from 1953-57.
[5] Sam Hyatt, a rancher from Hyattville, was one of three candidates running against William Henry Harrison for the U. S. Senate nomination in 1954. He finished third, behind Ewing T. Kerr and ahead of Cheyenne used car dealer William J. Taber. Kerr had resigned as Republican state chairman to make the race. He accused Harrison of incompetence as a U. S. Representative for not gaining funding for the Glendo Dam project. Harrison countered by pointing out the money was coming soon. See: “Appropriation of $1 Million Approved for Glendo Project,” Casper Tribune-Herald, Aug. 17, 1954, p. 1. A year later, Kerr was appointed U. S. District Judge for the District of Wyoming, a position he held until his death in 1992. Interview of Ewing T. Kerr, Cheyenne,1982, by Phil Roberts. OH-819, audiotape with 30-page transcript. Wyoming State Archives Oral History Collection.
[6] F. W. Bartling, a Douglas lumber dealer, served as a state senator from Converse County from 1945-54. He was president of the Senate in the 32nd legislature (1953).
[7] Jack was born New York City in 1892, but returned with his parents to Scotland as a young child. At the age of 18, he returned to the U. S., and located at Lusk, Niobrara County, working as a ranch hand and, later homesteading and going into the oil business. He was elected to the legislature from Niobrara County in 1924 and 1926, moving to Casper and elected from Natrona County in 1930 and 1932. He was elected state auditor in 1934, re-elected in 1938 and 1942. He was appointed Secretary of State in 1944 on the death of Mart Christensen. He died in Casper April 14, 1970. “Secretaries of State,” Wyoming Blue Book III (Cheyenne: Wyoming State Archives, 1974), p. 15.
[8] Tully was born in Pueblo, Colorado, in April 1914. He married Marie Antoinette Stefano in Pueblo in 1932 and moved to Rawlins three years later. The U. S. Census for 1940 lists him as a 26-year-old pastry baker working for a Los Angeles-based “wholesale and retail baker.” Along with his wife, and two children at the time, (Donald, 7, born in Colorado, and Donna Mae, 2, born in Wyoming), he lived on East Buffalo Street in Rawlins. In 1942 he was hired as a conductor for the Union Pacific Railroad and remained in that position until his death 21 years later. He was elected to the Rawlins City Council in 1946 and mayor two years later. Except for the two years after his unsuccessful bid for the U. S. Congress, he remained Rawlins mayor until his death, serving an additional five terms. Tully died in Rawlins Dec. 1, 1963. The obituary noted that the family requested donations to the Rawlins beautification organization in order that it would fulfill Mayor Tully’s dream of Rawlins as the “oasis of the West.” His obituary described him working “on his knees” planting trees in the newly constructed median in Rawlins’ main highway access. “Mayor Tully Died Sunday,” Rawlins Daily Times, Dec. 3, 1963, p. 1.
[9] State Democratic Party Chairman J. J. “Joe” Hickey was from Rawlins, but living in Cheyenne and practicing law there at the time of the 1954 elections. Hickey ran for governor in 1958 and defeated the incumbent Milward Simpson, losing to Simpson in a Senate race in 1962.
[10] Tully’s window-washing story came about after Rawlins lost a bet with Rock Springs on raising money for the March of Dimes campaign. Mayor Tully personally “washed every window” in the Rock Springs City Hall. Rawlins Daily Times, Dec. 3, 1963. Syndicated columnist Drew Pearson called attention to Tully’s testimony in Congress urging federal government help for coal miners driven to unemployment by the Union Pacific Railroad’s “war on coal” when it made the final transition from coal-fired to diesel locomotives in the early 1950s. Pearson’s nationally-syndicated column figured in the outcomes of several Wyoming political races over the years, perhaps due to Pearson’s Wyoming connection. His daughter was married to George Arnold, son of prominent Washington, D. C., lawyer and Laramie native Thurman Arnold. The younger Arnold later practiced law in Los Angeles (firm of Arnold and Schwartz, specializing in labor law) and, in the 1970s, returned with his second wife Sheila to Laramie to teach at the University of Wyoming College of Law. Sheila Arnold served as a state representative from Albany County for seven terms from 1978-90. This writer had the privilege of being a student in several of George Arnold’s classes in the middle 1970s.
[11] Like most men of his era, Sullivan was a World War II veteran, having served in the U. S. Navy’s intelligence service during the war. “Sullivan Services to be Held Here Thursday,” Laramie Boomerang, Aug. 16, 1966, p. 3.
[12] Statewide, Tully won a strong victory in the primary, but Sullivan did finish second in the five-man field. It was a different story for the Democratic nominee in the November general election. Tully lost to Keith Thomson 61,111-47,660. (56.2% – 43.8%)
[13] William Henry Harrison was the great-great grandson of President William Henry Harrison and grandson of President Benjamin Harrison. An attorney in Sheridan, he was born in Indiana in 1896. He served in World War I, graduated from the University of Nebraska and returned to his native Indiana to practice law from 1925-36. He moved to Sheridan in 1937, practiced law and bought the XL ranch near Dayton. In 1944, he was elected to the Wyoming legislature and reelected in 1946 and 1948. In 1950 he was elected to Congress and reelected in 1952. After his unsuccessful race for the U. S. Senate in 1954, he worked for the federal government and, in 1960, returned to Congress, winning reelection in 1962, but losing to Teno Roncalio in 1964. He served one more House term (1967-69), but retired from politics after losing to fellow Republican John Wold in the 1968 primary election. “William Henry Harrison,” Wyoming Blue Book III (p. 256); Wyoming Almanac, 7th ed., p. 446, 455.
[14] Parker, the first UW law graduate to serve as a district judge and on the Supreme Court, was a native of Murray, Iowa, moving to Big Horn to ranch and teach high school in Sheridan until 1923. Following graduation and bar admission in 1927, he was Laramie city attorney (1929-31) and Albany County attorney from 1931-40. After World War II service, he returned to Laramie where he won election as 2nd Judicial District Judge in 1948, serving until 1955 when he was appointed to the Wyoming Supreme Court on the death of William Riner. During his years on the court, he served as chief justice and held that position at the time of his retirement in 1973. He resumed law practice with the firm of Hirst and Applegate in Cheyenne. He died in 1989. Wyoming Blue Book III, p. 35. (His daughter Marilyn Parker Reeder died in March 2016 in Texas at the age of 88. One of her sons, Glenn Parker, is a Pacifica Radio news anchor in Oakland; a second son, Joe Robert, was undersecretary of the army. Obituary, Marilyn Parker Reeder, Wyoming State Tribune, March 9, 2016.
[15] Tully’s obituary noted his membership in Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and the “Footprinters.” “Mayor Tully Died Sunday,” op.cit.
[16] Joseph C. O’Mahoney won the Democratic nomination unopposed. He had served in the U. S. Senate from 1933 until his defeat by Frank Barrett in 1952. On the suicide death of Sen. Lester C. Hunt in 1954, he agreed to run again, winning the general election against William Henry Harrison who left his House seat to make the run, 57,845-54,407 (51.5%-48.5%).
[17] It would have been easy to identify Alice Hammond in the photograph. The Cody area rancher was the only Wyoming woman running for national office that year, but for statewide office, Velma Linford of Laramie was the Democratic nominee for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
[18] George Washington Klondike Posvar was a perennial candidate for public office. After losing a bid for mayor of Casper in 1932, he alleged that the eventual winner had accosted him on a city street, tore off his clothes and stole his campaign literature. “A Look Back in Time: Close Shaves,” Casper Star-Tribune, Oct. 28, 2012, p. In 1960 he gained 1,703 votes in a three-person primary, losing to Hepburn T. Armstrong who won with 21,137 votes and Dudley Miles, a Rawlins attorney, who finished second with 16,775 votes. Posvar was clean-shaven in his political ads in 1927, but grew a full beard in 1937, promising to shave only if he were elected mayor. He lost and remained unshaven. Variously listed as an “oil man” or a “rancher” in the Casper City Directories (1924, 1940), he was accused of claiming a vacant lot as his residence in order to run for mayor of Casper in the 1960s and successfully challenged a ruling by the municipal judge that he was “not qualified” by virtue of not having a residence in the city. Phil Roberts interview of James Fagan, Casper, summer 1998.
[19] Emerson, a businessman from Evanston and the son of the late Gov. Frank Emerson (1927-1931), lost in a close contest to political newcomer Keith Thomson who was elected that fall over Tully. Thomson remained in the U. S. House until 1960 when he successfully won election to the U. S. Senate over Democratic challenger Ray Whitaker 78,103-60,447 (56.4%-43.6%), Thomson died three weeks later of a heart attack while hunting near Cody and appointment of a successor set off a political firestorm that impacted the Democratic Party to the end of the century. After unsuccessfully trying to fill the seat with two possible appointees, Gov. Hickey resigned from the governorship, his fellow Democrat Jack Gage, the Secretary of State, became acting governor and appointed Hickey to fill the remainder of Thomson’s term. Two years later, Hickey lost the Senate seat to Milward Simpson. In the same election, Thomson’s widow, Thyra, was elected Secretary of State and began a 24-year career in that office, a longevity record for any Wyoming statewide officeholder. Hickey was appointed by President Johnson to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1966, a position he held at his death on Sept. 22, 1970. Wyoming Blue Book III, p. 11.
[20] Walter Phelan was a state representative from Laramie County from 1949 until his death in 1965. He was Speaker of the House at the time. After the Democrats gained control of the House after the 1964 election, he had been challenged for the speakership by Edness Kimball Wilkins. She had two more years of seniority in 1965, but Phelan had the advantage of serving as state party chairman earlier in his career. Following Phelan’s death after the session ended, Wilkins became House Speaker, the first woman to hold the post in Wyoming history, even though she never formally presided over the House. Interview of Edness Kimball Wilkins, Casper, May 2, 1979, by P. Roberts. OH-415, Wyoming State Archives Oral History Collection.
[21] C. J. “Doc” Rogers, acting governor since 1952, lost to Milward Simpson in the Republican primary. Four other candidates sought the nomination as well. Cheever worked in the Secretary of State’s office. In that period, state employees were mostly politically appointed and expected to work on behalf of their bosses in election years and make campaign contributions, too. All work was to be done on non-state time, however. Informal conservations with Katherine Halverson, Burton Thompson, Zan Lewis, and other long-time or retired state employees in the 1970s.
[22] Rothwell, running for State Auditor in 1954, served as secretary to the Board of Charities and Reform from 1947-59. A native of Buffalo, he retained his residence there despite his state position with the Board.
[23] The only television station broadcasting in Wyoming at the time was KFBC-TV, Cheyenne, owned by Frontier Broadcasting Co., the majority interest held by Tracy McCraken, also owner of the Wyoming State Tribune and Wyoming Eagle as well as state Democratic National Committeeman for many years. KFBC-TV went on the air March 21, 1954. Peggy Bieber-Roberts, “Media Monopoly in Cheyenne,” unpublished M.A. thesis, University of Wyoming (1985).
[24] The firm was founded in 1932 to make union-label advertising matchbooks. The company is still in business.
[25] D. A. Dexter, a Casper businessman, was Scotty Jack’s only opponent in the Democratic primary for governor, losing in the primary by a vote of 35,000 to 6,300. Dawson A. Dexter was born in Detroit, came to Wyoming with an automobile agency, and later worked variously as a tool salesman and parts manager for an auto supply company. He died in Mesa, Ariz., in 1977. Casper Star-Tribune, “Morgue Records,” Western History Center, Casper College.