News – Sheridan Media
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Governor Gordon and all of Wyoming mourn the loss of former United States Senator Al Simpson, who passed away Friday, March 14 in Cody.
The Governor has ordered both the U.S and Wyoming flags to be lowered immediately to half-staff. They will remain at half-staff until sundown at the day of interment. Once that date has been established, the Governor’s office will send out another notification to advise when the flags will be returned to full-staff. During remarks on the Senator floor Friday, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis talked about Simpson’s legacy.
A native of Cody, Simpson was elected to the United States Senate in 1978. He served as both Minority and Majority Whip until his retirement in 1997. He previously served in the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1965 until 1977. In 2022 Simpson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his years of public service and statesmanship.
Governor Gordon issued the following statement:
Al Simpson was an amazing friend, an incredible statesman, a thoughtful courageous politician, and a wonderful human being who brought humor, wisdom, and razor-sharp insight to any situation. Wyoming has lost a true light.
Al embodied the best of Wyoming – what America used to be. Throughout his life, Al was an independent thinker who wasn’t afraid to reach across the aisle (or, as Al would say, “grab folks in the pew behind him by the short hairs”) and work collaboratively to solve problems. He was never afraid to say what was on his mind, but he believed to his core that humor mixed with civility was best in politics and in life.
His service in the Wyoming Legislature and the U.S. Senate always reflected his goal of making our state and our country a better place to live. For that we also owe a debt of gratitude to Ann. Together they were unstoppable. Al and Ann’s generosity and philanthropic work benefitted so many people and institutions throughout our state, and his legacy is reflected at the University of Wyoming, the Buffalo Bill Center for the West in Cody, and so much more.
Jennie and I cherished his friendship, his unique humility, his encouragement, savage wit and sage advice. Al’s warm disposition and sense of humor were still evident when I visited with him two weeks ago. It is hard to imagine that was our last visit.
Our hearts are broken. All our condolences go out to Ann, Pete, and the entire Simpson family. We should all take a moment to think about a remarkable life as we remember one of the greats of our lifetime.
U.S. Senator John Barrasso’s statement:
“Wyoming lost one of its most beloved and fiercest champions today. Al Simpson is known for his devoted lifelong service and unparalleled sense of humor. Whether serving in the United States Army, the Wyoming House of Representatives, or the United States Senate, his commitment and contributions made a consequential difference. While others ran from tough issues, Al embraced the opportunity to solve them. He cherished every fight to do what he thought was right. He was a mentor and a dear friend.
“Al’s incredible legacy will influence generations to come. My prayers are with his wife Ann, their children Bill, Colin and Sue, and their entire family.”
Statement from the University of Wyoming:
The University of Wyoming is mourning the death of Alan K. Simpson, one of the most influential alumni in the university’s history and an unwavering friend and supporter of UW.
“The University of Wyoming community joins Sen. Simpson’s family, the entire state and his legion of friends across the globe in mourning the loss of and paying tribute to Sen. Simpson. He was a proud alumnus of Wyoming’s university and contributed endlessly to our students, faculty and staff in building our programs, facilities and reputation,” UW President Ed Seidel says. “He leaves an amazing legacy of statesmanship, humor, civility and accomplishment that will never be forgotten.”
“Al Simpson was a force of nature, a champion for Wyoming and a true friend to so many. His love and pride for the University of Wyoming were unconditional, just as his commitment to this state and its people never wavered,” says John Stark, president and CEO of the UW Foundation. “His humor, wisdom and larger-than-life presence will live on in the lives he touched and the legacy he built. Our hearts are with Ann and the entire Simpson family — we share in their sadness and in profound gratitude for a life so well lived.”
Simpson, from Cody, earned a bachelor’s degree in history from UW in 1954 and his Juris Doctor in 1958. At UW, he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, a member of the student senate and president of the “W” Club lettermen’s organization, lettering in both football and basketball. In 2009, he was inducted into the Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame along with his brother Pete. In 1954, Simpson married the love of his life, Ann (Susan Ann Schroll), who was a fellow UW student from Greybull. He also served in the student senate with Ann.
“I spent six years of my life on that campus, two of them married, and that’s where I was shaped and forged, right there in that place,” Simpson said. “And it matters not whether I was on a lark or finally taking it seriously; the issue is that those people and those professors were really the root of what I am.”
Simpson’s service to UW included serving as chair of UW’s five-year fundraising campaign, 2001-05, which raised $204 million; and being a member of the UW Foundation Board of Directors, the UW Art Museum National Advisory Board, the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources Board, the Alumni Advisory Board and the Alumni Association Board, where he served as president. Occasionally, he taught at UW with his brother Pete.
Through his 18 years in the U.S. Senate, Simpson developed friendships with world leaders and other luminaries, and he was instrumental in bringing those leaders to UW, including Mikhail Gorbachev, George H.W. Bush, George McGovern, James Baker, David McCullough and Sandra Day O’Connor. Simpson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022.
UW bestowed its highest honor, a Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa, to Simpson in 1999. Other awards from UW included the Distinguished Alumni Award, 1985; the College of Arts and Sciences Exemplary Alum Award, 1993; the President’s Best Friend Award, 2002; and the College of Law Distinguished Alumni Award, 2004.
The Alan K. Simpson Center for Clinical and Experiential Learning, officially opened in 2024 as part of the UW College of Law expansion, enhances hands-on legal education, supporting Simpson’s dedication to the field of law. The Alan K. Simpson Institute for Western Politics and Leadership at UW’s American Heritage Center preserves historical records of influential figures and supports research through programs such as the Alan K. Simpson Institute Fellowship on Western Political History. Al and Ann helped endow the Ann Simpson Artmobile, a mobile art outreach program with the UW Art Museum. Additionally, Al and Ann have been loyal supporters of Wyoming athletics through the Cowboy Joe Club.
Located near Prexy’s Pasture in the heart of campus is the beautifully landscaped Simpson Plaza — the first plaza of its kind around Prexy’s — named for the entire Simpson family.
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Last modified: March 15, 2025