By Phil Roberts, 5-22-23
Odd things happen when people try to impress, particularly, newly hired directors of state agencies like Vincent Foley was at the Wyo State Archives and Historical Dept. in the late 1970s. Soon after his arrival, the State Historical Society, then what he considered mostly as an auxiliary support group for him personally, was holding its annual trek to some important Wyoming sites. He traveled from Cheyenne to the trek beginning outside of Buffalo with three AMH staffers–Marian Huseas, Pat Hall, and one other–I think it was Bill Barton. (I was later told that, by the time they reached Casper, he thoroughly annoyed the three with his Eastern arrogance and know-it-all attitude)..
At the trek beginning, he was angry when he thought that he hadn’t been properly introduced and praised as a department savior. But the new boss noticed that the “important people” were in the lead cars as the caravan moved from site to site. He grabbed Pat. “You know where they’re going next?” Pat said, “Well, yes, the itinerary is printed in the program.” Vincent responded, “I want you to drive and be sure we’re at the next spot FIRST.”
He told Pat, “Maybe you can find a short cut…?” Pat nodded. Vincent smiled, “Excellent!” Thinking better about his boast, Pat said to the new boss, “I’m not completely sure where we’re going, but we’ll just follow the first car to leave!”
Soon, an old rancher in a pickup with a hand-made stock rack pulled out before the last speaker finished. “Quick! Follow him,” Vincent ordered. Pat complied. He did get a bit worried when it appeared the pickup was headed in what Pat thought was the opposite direction from the next site. But Vincent, his new boss, was insistent. “Follow him!” Away they went in the blue state car. Over hills, up and down draws…Soon, they pulled off of the pavement, and then off the gravel on to dirt and then to two tracks. “We’re close!” Vincent shouted, savoring the future scene when the lead cars would find they were beat by the new director!
Finally, the pickup turned left and pulled up to a barbed-wire gate. The old rancher got out just as the state car pulled up. “Boy, glad to see it’s you guys,” the rancher admitted. “I was going home early to feed the cattle and wondering who was following me home, especially, those last 20 miles!”