DRIVING IT HOME Wedemeyer Family Maintains Ranch, Rural Lifestyle for More Than 100 Years

FEATURING THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY GREAT! OurFaces

DRIVING IT HOME Wedemeyer family maintains ranch, rural lifestyle for more than 100 years

The Heritage Issue What’s inside: • Tucker Fagan reflects on 30 years in the Air Force • Mother-daughter pair, Jane Eickbush and Shareen Muldrow, share plans for bloomin’ 37-year-old floral business • Wyoming Bank and Trust marks its centennial year in business and much more!

MORE THAN A NEWSPAPER A2 2 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a

Sharon K Eskam, MD David M Lind, MD Gynecologic & Gynecologic & Generations of Excellence, Obstetric Care Obstetric Care Caring For Women.

• Routine & High Risk OB COVER • Gynecologic Surgery

• Fertility PL Bert Wagner, MD Michael R Nelson, DO Gynecologic Care Gynecologic & SLICK • Birth Control Obstetric Care • Premenstrual Syndrome • State of the Art Ultrasound Imaging • Hormone Replacement Therapy Samantha L Michelena, MD Carlotto A Fisher, MD Gynecologic & Gynecologic & • Menopausal Symptoms Obstetric Care Obstetric Care • Laparoscopic Surgery • Urinary Incontinence • Bone Density Scanning

FEATURING THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY GREAT!

Sharon K Eskam, MD David M Lind, MD Gynecologic & Gynecologic & GenerationsOur of Excellence,Faces Obstetric Care Obstetric Care INSIDECaring For THIS Women EDITION:. HAPPENINGS

• Routine & High Risk OB • Gynecologic Surgery

• Fertility PL Bert Wagner, MD Michael R Nelson, DO A century of family at WedemeyerGynecologic Ranch Care...... Gynecologic . . 4 & • Birth Control 4 Obstetric Care • Premenstrual Syndrome Tom Annear shares his life’s work while flowing • State of the Art through retirement...... 8 Ultrasound Imaging • Hormone Replacement Bouquets Unlimited a mother-daughter partnership. . . . . 10 Therapy 12 Samantha L Michelena, MD Carlotto A Fisher, MD • Menopausal Symptoms Gynecologic & Gynecologic & Women’s Club leaves a lasting Obstetriclegacy. . Care ...... Obstetric 12Care • Laparoscopic Surgery • Urinary Incontinence Tucker Fagan’s career in government...... 14 • Bone Density Scanning

14 Jeff Wallace builds Wyoming Bank & Trust...... 16 Phyllis A Tarr, CNM Lisa E Meeker, NP-C Gynecologic & Gynecologic & 307.634.5216 Obstetric Care Obstetric Care cheyenneobgyn.comEhernberger tracks railroad history...... 18 2301 House Ave • Ste 400 Cheyenne WY 82001 Located next to CRMC Accredited by the American Institute New Patients18 Welcome! of Ultrasound in Medicine A4 4 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a A century of family Wyoming history converges at Wedemeyer Ranch

Russ and Karen Wedemeyer pose for a portrait in the hayloft of their barn at the Wedemeyer Gard Schulz Ranch on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. The barn was built in 1912, and Karen’s grandparents had a piano in the loft and used to host dances there. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE By Jonna Lorenz Wedemeyer said. “I like the cow/calf operation of about 200 and established the original Karen Wedemeyer remembers outdoors. I like the animals.” Hereford cattle and nearly 8,000 homesteaded 10 miles south of helping her grandfather separate Both sets of Karen Wedemeyer’s acres of dryland pasture. The Chugwater in Laramie County. cream from milk as a child on grandparents homesteaded about couple manages the ranch on Karen Wedemeyer’s maternal their ranch south of Chugwater, two miles from one another in their own, with occasional help grandparents, Peter and Hedwig where her grandfather would Laramie and Platte counties. from their four adult daughters Schulz, immigrated to America exchange cream and eggs for Today, Karen Wedemeyer and – Shelly Van Why, Carrie Gross, from Germany. The Schulzes sugar, flour and other staples. her husband, Russ, both in their Kristy Senn and Cindy Kahl – came to Wyoming in 1912 and The ranch has seen many early 70s, maintain the combined and 11 grandchildren, who take filed a homestead claim at the changes – it no longer has milk ranch that has been in the family part in brandings and other urging of Hedwig’s brother after cows, and the wheat fields the for more than 100 years. projects. living in Hartford, South Dakota. family cultivated for decades have “We love what we do,” Russ The Wedemeyer Gard Schulz The homesteads grew as been turned back to grass for Wedemeyer said. “I’m 73, I’ll be Ranch was established in neighboring homesteaders sold pastures – but the heritage passed 74 years old, but as long as my 1913 after Karen Wedemeyer’s their land or returned it to the down through the generations health holds up, I’m gonna do paternal grandparents, Homer U.S. government. remains strong. what I’m still doing.” W. and Theresa Gard, moved “A lot of people didn’t endure “I love the ranch,” Karen That involves maintaining a to Wyoming from Nebraska and stay,” Karen Wedemeyer said. A5 June 2019 a OUR FACES / HERITAGE a 5

“So, my grandparents picked up dances. The kids would fall asleep, land, a little corner here and a and they’d put us in the back Wedemeyer Gard Schulz Ranch timeline little corner there, to add to their room and just pile coats. When 1877 – Homer Willard Gard is born in Crown Point, Indiana homesteads.” our kids were there, they had 1877 – Peter Schulz is born in Hamburg, Germany The homesteads were Halloween parties. The adults and 1880 – Theresa Massoth is born in Cordova, Nebraska combined in 1946, when Karen kids and everybody would dress 1901 – Peter Schulz immigrates to America, making his way to Wedemeyer’s parents, Francis up. We just had a ball.” Hartford, South Dakota Gard and Hildegard Schulz, were The ranch straddled the 1902 – Peter Schulz marries Hedwig Pensold in Hartford, South married. They raised their two Yellowstone Highway, and Karen Dakota daughters, Karen and Patricia, on Wedemeyer recalls dashing 1906 – Homer Gard marries Theresa Massoth in Geneva, Nebraska the ranch. across the highway as a child 1907 – Homer “Francis” Gard is born History is rich on the from her parents’ house to visit 1908 – Hildegard Schulz is born Wedemeyer Ranch, including the her grandparents in the original 1912 – Peter and Hedwig Schulz move to Wyoming with their Cheyenne-Deadwood stage route, Gard homestead. Now, the daughters, Meta and Hildegard, and file for a homestead claim which ran through the property, Wedemeyers live on the original southeast of Chugwater and later the Yellowstone homestead site, and daughter 1913 – Homer Gard moves to Wyoming to homestead 10 miles Highway before Interstate 25 was Shelly Van Why lives with her south of Chugwater and work as a carpenter, building homes built. The ranch’s large barn has husband, Michael, and three and businesses in Chugwater long been a landmark along the children, ages 4 to 14, in the 1914 – Homer Gard’s wife, Theresa, and children, Francis and route. house where Karen Wedemeyer Regina, join him in Wyoming During the blizzard of 1949, grew up. 1925 – Francis Gard is among the first graduating class of Karen Wedemeyer was an infant, “When I got pregnant with our Chugwater High School and her parents hosted some first child, we just wanted to move 1931 – Hildegard Schulz receives a teaching degree from the travelers who were stranded in back home,” Van Why said. “So, University of Wyoming the storm and also had an infant we went ahead and we bought 1942-45 – Francis Gard serves as a sergeant in the Army during with them. the house here, my grandparents’ World War II “Dad followed the fence line place, and then 40 acres that 1945 – Russ Wedemeyer is born and grows up on a ranch west of along to hold onto something were just right with it so that we Wheatland on the Laramie River so he didn’t get lost to get over could come back home here. 1946 – Francis Gard marries Hildegard Schulz, joining the Schulz to milk the cow for milk for the This was always home. You can and Gard ranches babies,” Karen Wedemeyer said. go a million different places and 1948 – Karen Frances Gard is born, 16 months after her sister, She remembers social visit all over the world, but this is Patricia gatherings at the Grange a few always home.” 1954 – Hedwig Schulz dies miles south of the ranch, and She remembers growing up 1954 – Homer Gard dies Ladies Club meetings hosted at with her three sisters, helping 1958 – Peter Schulz dies people’s homes and organized feed cattle, pick up hay bales, and 1967 – Theresa Gard dies through the Extension Office in learning the value of hard work 1970 – Karen Gard marries Russ Wedemeyer Cheyenne. and integrity. 1972 – Russ and Karen Wedemeyer move back to the Gard Schulz “I remember as a child going to “They’re very independent and ranch, where they raise daughters Shelly, Carrie, Kristy and the Grange,” Karen Wedemeyer very hard working,” Van Why Cindy said. “That’s where our social life said of her parents. 1976 – Rebecca Wedemeyer dies in childhood was. The folks played cards. The Van Why is a teacher like her 2003 – Hildegard Gard dies kids played with each other. … mother and grandmother before 2004 – Francis Gard dies, and Russ and Karen Wedemeyer assume They had a dance hall and a filling her, and her husband runs a ownership of the ranch station there. We’d go there for See Wedemeyer Ranch, 6 6 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a

Karen Wedemeyer plants tomatoes in her garden at the Wedemeyer Gard Schulz Ranch on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Karen's grandparents homesteaded there over 100 years ago, she grew up on the ranch, and she and her husband still live there and operate it. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE

Wedemeyer Ranch from 5 the family. All of the grandkids Van Why teachers fourth and parents knew each other through mechanic business out of their always come back and always fifth grades in Chugwater, where the years, but they didn’t get home. They have a few horses and help with branding.” she, her sisters, her mother and married until they were about 40 4-H animals for their kids, and The Wedemeyers are passing grandfather graduated. years old, both having pursued their lifestyle on to their “They used to have rural education and careers elsewhere. they help out with branding and grandchildren and are planning schoolhouses out here,” Karen Francis Gard attended rural other projects on the ranch. But for their oldest grandson to Wedemeyer said. “My grandpa schools in his younger years and they haven’t pursued ranching as stay with them for a month in and my dad moved a rural was among the first graduating a career. the summer. Van Why said her schoolhouse into Chugwater, class at Chugwater High School “There are four of us, so it’s not parents always supported her and and that was the schoolhouse. in 1925. He went to the University a place that would support all her sisters in all of their activities. And then they converted it to a of Wyoming for one year, then four families,” Van Why said of “Mom is wonderful with the church. About 20 years ago, we took a job in Cheyenne before the ranch. “But having both of grandkids,” she said. “She has built a new church, and that old joining the Army during World my sets of great-grandparents’ taught my daughter how to schoolhouse/church is now the War II. Hildegard Schulz attended homesteads, it’s more of a sew, and she’s always working library in Chugwater.” high school in Cheyenne, sentimental place than anything. with all the grandkids with her Education is important to boarding with a doctor and his Definitely we want to keep it in gardening.” the family. Karen Wedemeyer’s wife during the week and coming June 2019 a OUR FACES / HERITAGE a 7 home on the weekends. She later received a teaching degree from the University of Wyoming and taught school in Cheyenne for 13 years. Karen Wedemeyer also received a teaching degree from the University of Wyoming and was still in school when she met Russ Wedemeyer during a rodeo in Wheatland. “I went to school at Wheatland, and I never knew her until after I got through school and she was going to college,” Russ Wedemeyer said. “We met, and that was it. Six months later, we were married.” Russ Wedemeyer grew up on a ranch on the Laramie River west of Wheatland, where his grandparents moved after leaving a settlement on Iron Mountain because of wolves. “That’s all I knew ever since I was a little kid,” Russ Wedemeyer said of ranching. “That’s all I did. My dad raised a lot of sheep and then went to cattle.” The Wedemeyers moved into the original Russ Wedemeyer feeds protein pellets to his cattle on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. The Wedemeyers have about 200 Gard homestead house in the early 1970s, head of Hereford cattle. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE when Karen Wedemeyer’s parents were ready to retire. Karen Wedemeyer gave up This year, they got through the blizzard in Office. “These people in the state of Wyoming her full-time teaching career once the couple mid-March before calving started. They were are a huge economic force, not just ag-wise, decided to start a family, but she continued to ready for the storm, having brought the cattle but in so many different ways. It’s impressive. substitute teach for 30 years. closer to the house, ready to put them up in And they keep on doing it, and their next The couple endured their share of hardships, a shed Russ Wedemeyer built after those first generation keeps on doing it. including the death of their first daughter, rough winters. “You have to admire that tenacity. They have Rebecca, in 1976 and a fire that destroyed The Wedemeyers are among 286 Wyoming good years. They have bad years. They have all the house in 2006. They’ve also seen the ups families that have been recognized by the of the trials and tribulations of any family, and and downs of the ranching industry, which Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office’s yet they’re also a business.” operates at the mercy of agriculture markets Centennial Farm & Ranch program since She noted the challenges farmers and and weather. 2006, honoring families that have owned and ranchers in the state face, including the ups “It’s been hard,” Karen Wedemeyer said. operated farms and ranches for 100 years or and downs of the markets, unpredictable “There were a lot of years that we wondered more. weather and pressure from competing land how we were going to meet the bills.” “First and foremost, you have to admire uses, such as development, energy extraction The winters have been milder in recent the pioneer spirit that kept these people in and wildlife preservation. years, and Russ Wedemeyer called this past the ag business that long. Obviously, they’re “These people are wonderful stewards of winter one of the best he’s seen. the backbone of the agricultural business the land, stewards of our history and stewards “When I first moved here, the first couple in Wyoming,” said Renee Bovee, temporary of the agricultural process, and are often weeks of March, we had about three blizzards Centennial Farm & Ranch coordinator for founding members in their communities,” right in a row,” he said. the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Bovee said. 8 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a Tom Annear shares his life’s work while Flowing through retirement

Tom Annear poses for a portrait next to Crow Creek on his property at the Wyoming Hereford Ranch on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. Annear spent 38 years with Game and Fish securing water rights to protect fish populations and fishing opportunities for the residents of Wyoming. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE By Elizabeth Sampson water flowing in a stream channel After obtaining his master’s and other countries. The book Anyone who has enjoyed to protect or restore habitat for degree in wildlife ecology from “Instream Flows for Riverine Wyoming’s recreational waters – fish – all while balancing the Utah State University, Annear Resource Stewardship” was a especially for fishing – probably competing uses of that water flow. started working for Game and huge effort by Annear and 15 owes something to Cheyenne’s For example, the water may also Fish. At the time, instream flow other volunteers from all over Tom Annear. be needed for out-of-channel wasn’t widely understood. But by the U.S. and Canada. The book A 38-year employee of the uses like irrigation, hydropower, the time Annear retired, all that integrates stream science, public Wyoming Game and Fish recreation or municipal uses. had changed. involvement, water law and Department, Annear retired Throughout his tenure of He helped create the Instream institutional capacity. Working in 2018 as the department’s developing the model of how Flow Council, an international nights and weekends, in addition water management supervisor. water is managed in the state, organization of stream flow to doing his day job, he and He spent his career protecting he was always passionate about biologists from fish and wildlife his team finished the book in fishing opportunities and fish his job. agencies in the United States two years. populations for the people of “I always wanted to go to work,” and Canada. Plus, he literally “It blows me away to think Wyoming. he said. “I really felt like I was wrote the book on the concept of about it today,” Annear said. “I He did this by immersing making a difference. I started instream flow. Annear authored was just driven. We were going himself in the concept of instream this job as a youthful idealist, or co-authored four books that to get this done.” The book came flow, which is managing the and I retired as a somewhat less- helped shape the discipline of out in March of 2002, and they youthful idealist.” instream flow in North America had sold every one of the 1,000 June 2019 a OUR FACES / HERITAGE a 9

Tom Annear takes a break from working on instream flow policy for the State of Wyoming during a salmon and halibut fishing trip to Alaska. Annear published or co-published four books on instream flow and developed the international Instream Flow Council during his tenure with Wyoming Game and Fish. Courtesy copies of the book they had riverine system.” good working relationships Anyone who fishes in three printed by July. Next, they went to When it comes to being a with people in agencies all over different instream flow segments work gathering illustrations to go water management supervisor in the state. can fill out an application and along with the first version, and Wyoming, a big part of the year is “One of the things I am send in photos of themselves they published the updated book managing ice. proudest about in my career is doing so to earn a prize. More in 2004. “I became an expert on ice having good relationships with information about X-Stream This book continues to guide processes and patterns,” Annear sister agencies that used to be Angler and a map of the water managers all over the world said. This knowledge helped adversaries,” Annear said. “I have qualifying stream segments can and can be found on the desk the department protect the good friends all around the state be found at https://wgfd.wyo.gov/ of anyone who has anything to fish population in the winter in all those agencies. There’s this Fishing-and-Boating/Instream- do with water, Annear said. He and helped Annear make element of trust that has come up Flow-XStream-Angler. Tom Annear poses for a portrait next to Crow Creek on his property at the Wyoming Hereford Ranch on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. Annear spent 38 years with Game and Fish noted it is even used by people recommendations on new because I like to think I’ve been Now that he’s retired, Annear securing water rights to protect fish populations and fishing opportunities for the residents of Wyoming. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE managing the Yellow River in dams. In fact, Annear worked a reasonable and open-minded has no intentions of slowing China. on every proposed dam project person. Those relationships down. He teaches a graduate More locally, Jeff Geyer, a water that the state considered since were gold.” level course at the University conservationist with the Laramie the formation of the Wyoming Not only did Annear work of Wyoming called Instream County Conservation District, Water Development Commission with people in departments Flows for Riverine Research said Annear’s work has been vital in 1983. around the state, he also worked Stewardship. He publishes articles to Wyoming. “I did the environmental fishery with members of the public, on instream flow, and he’s a “Tom has made a true impact studies on every one of those for encouraging them to learn about part of the Crow Creek Revival on the conservation of Wyoming’s 35 years,” he said. He also made the importance of instream flow. organization that is working water resources,” Geyer said. recommendations for the releases He created a program called to restore the creek for both “His instream flow work was of water flows through each dam X-Stream Angler, whose purpose recreation and for wildlife habitat. not only foundational for the that would make for a better is to help people understand “Even though he’s retired Wyoming Game and Fish stream fishery than before the where protected streams are in from Game and Fish now, he’s Department, but is used across dam was built. the state. still providing his knowledge the world. His life’s work has Because the ownership of water “It’s about education,” he said of to the younger generation so really made an impact on water rights and how they are used has the program. “You don’t have to that they understand how the policy, resource collaboration, a tendency to be a contentious catch a fish. It’s all about helping real world works,” Geyer said. and, most importantly, people issue, Annear said he wasn’t people understand and demystify “I really admire the fact that Tom understanding the value always loved by everyone. Despite instream flow and what it’s never gives up on the work he of a natural-functioning that, he said he has developed good for.” believes in.” 10 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a

when she opened in the very early 1980s. “I didn’t even think about that,” Eickbush said. “This is what I wanted to do, and I did it.” That can-do attitude helped when she decided to design a new, much larger flower shop in the same location. Her 3,000-square-foot building went up right behind the older, smaller building in 1995, and then they ripped down the original store to create parking space for the new one. She had visited plenty of flower shops by then and had enough experience to know just how to design the new shop for Bouquets Unlimited maximum effectiveness. “We’ve had a lot of people come through here and say it is awesome the way it flows – the way Jane designed it,” Muldrow capitalizing on a said. Eickbush created a large, x-shaped work surface so several florists could work on projects in mother-daughter partnership the same area, but have their own workspace. She included a work Shareen Muldrow and Jane Eickbush pose for a portrait at Bouquets Unlimited on Thursday, May 16, 2019. Eickbush opened the flower shop 37 years ago and is now passing it down to her daughter, Muldrow. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE room where the shop receives its large shipments of boxed flowers By Elizabeth Sampson working in a flower shop is no breathe a sigh of relief when smaller building. Her original that need to be prepped before Some people may have time mystery. Eickbush has owned Valentine’s Day is over, then do it building was a 900-square-foot they find their way into floral to stop and smell the roses, but Bouquets Unlimited for 37 years. all over again at Mother’s Day – at former gas station that had also designs. the women who own Bouquets She is getting ready to retire in the same time as creating prom been a veterinary clinic. When Design styles have changed Unlimited know those roses June, and her daughter is buying boutonnieres and corsages for she moved into the space, she had significantly through the years need de-thorned and de-leaved, the business from her. three high schools. Working 12- to clean out a few animal bones they have been in business, carefully shaped into a beautiful Muldrow has worked at the hour days during all the holiday before she could open her new Muldrow said. Gone are the bouquet and quickly put on a van shop with her mother for 27 rush times is just family history shop. days of everyone wanting strictly to be delivered to 400 front doors years, so she knows just how for her. In a city and state whose triangular shaped bouquets in around town. much work it actually takes When Eickbush opened her heritage famously includes early baskets. Now people are starting For Jane Eickbush and her to accomplish delivering 400 business, she was in the same spot rights for women, she said she to enjoy more natural-looking daughter Shareen Muldrow, the Valentine’s Day bouquets. She she is now, at 5709 Yellowstone didn’t really think about the fact bouquets with an assortment of behind-the-scenes experience of also knows what it means to Road, but she was in a much she was a female business owner flowers. June 2019 a OUR FACES / HERITAGE a 11 when she opened in the very early Another big change for their As Muldrow prepares to take changes. She learned what she 1980s. business was the advent of the over the business, the avid cyclist, knows from her mother, so she is “I didn’t even think about that,” internet. People now order who bikes on the Spradley Barr well prepared. Eickbush said. “This is what I flowers online. The shop works Wind Chill cycling team, said “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” wanted to do, and I did it.” with both FTD Floral and she doesn’t plan to make any big Muldrow said. That can-do attitude helped Teleflora, and can deliver flowers when she decided to design a locally that people order from all new, much larger flower shop over the world. in the same location. Her A wall in their shop is covered 3,000-square-foot building went with top-seller plaques from both up right behind the older, smaller organizations, with Bouquets building in 1995, and then they Unlimited receiving yearly ripped down the original store to recognition for the amount of create parking space for the new business they do. They frequently one. place in the top 500 sellers of She had visited plenty of more than 20,000 flower shops. flower shops by then and had Being a Cheyenne business has enough experience to know just helped them to be successful, they how to design the new shop for said. maximum effectiveness. “I love living in Cheyenne,” said “We’ve had a lot of people Muldrow, a fourth-generation come through here and say it is resident. “Everybody seems to awesome the way it flows – the be so friendly, and they like to way Jane designed it,” Muldrow support small businesses.” said. The mother-daughter pair said Eickbush created a large, one of their favorite memories x-shaped work surface so several is arranging the flowers for florists could work on projects in Muldrow’s wedding. It had more the same area, but have their own flowers than any other wedding workspace. She included a work they have helped with, and PHOTO COURTESY BOUQUETS UNLIMITED room where the shop receives its Muldrow loved getting to design large shipments of boxed flowers the whole thing, that need to be prepped before “Of course, she got anything she they find their way into floral wanted,” Eickbush said. designs. They also love how happy their Design styles have changed product makes people, and their significantly through the years customers have become like they have been in business, family to them. Muldrow said. Gone are the “The best part is seeing smiles days of everyone wanting strictly on customers’ faces,” Muldrow triangular shaped bouquets in said. She remembers a customer baskets. Now people are starting who came in to pick up a flower JUNE 6 - AUG. 25, 2019 to enjoy more natural-looking delivery she had missed. “She BOX OFFICE 970.744.3747 ONLINE WWW.COLORADOCANDLELIGHT.COM bouquets with an assortment of started crying because she was 4747 MARKETPLACE DRIVE . JOHNSTOWN, CO 80534 . I-25 & EXIT 254 flowers. literally so happy.” 12 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a

Women’s Club leaves a lasting legacy

(At right) Longtime X-JWC members pose for a portrait at the home of Beverly Campbell on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. From left: Norine Samuelson has been a member for 19 years, Iris Tropser has been a member for 41 years, and Beverly Campbell has been a member for 12 years. Trosper installed Samuelson and Campbell as presidents of the club. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE By Elizabeth Sampson group to be with,” Trosper said. and even their 100s. the other one being the Women’s When you have been alive for When the club originally formed, “You look at our group and Civic League of Cheyenne. almost 100 years, you’ve had time it truly was a junior club and was you think, ‘junior? junior what?’” Whether they are raising funds to figure out what you like in life. only for women who were 35 or Campbell said. “We’re starting to for their two Laramie County For Cheyenne resident Iris younger. Once they reached 35, pick up some younger members, Community College scholarships Trosper, who turned 99 on May they were required to go into and hopefully that will continue, or buying defibrillators for local 18, that thing is being a member the women’s club, instead of the because we’re only going to go so fire departments, the members of the X-JWC. She has been a club junior version. far. We get excited when a 55- to of X-JWC look for ways to help member for 41 years, and the club “They didn’t want to, so 60-year-old joins us.” people in the city, the state, the has been a part of the Cheyenne they added an X in front of Part of the international country and the world. community since 1940. their name,” said treasurer Bev General Federation of Women’s “I think there are many Trosper is one of many in the Campbell. Clubs, the X-JWC focuses on people who really like living in X-Junior Women’s Club who have Now members can stay through community improvement, as Cheyenne, and they want to give been involved for years and are any age – and they do. It isn’t volunteers work to enhance the back,” said club President Trish still going strong. unusual for the club to celebrate lives of others. They are one of Peoples. “I only moved here “It’s just a fun group – an active birthdays of members in their 90s two GFWC groups in town, with nine years ago, and I consider June 2019 a OUR FACES / HERITAGE a 13

Cheyenne home. I would never as part of the Friendship Train The club was proud to have the feel right living in a community that went through Cheyenne gazebo built from scratch in Park friendship playground, and that is so giving without giving collecting donations for the time for Cheyenne’s centennial this year they are supporting the back. The members feel like citizens of France who were celebration with the help of Cheyenne Animal Shelter and they are fortunate people, and struggling after the end of the members and their husbands. the Unaccompanied Students they want to give back to the war. Another iconic club project Initiative. community.” A club history book includes from 1984 and 1985 is the large They also make sure to have Their long history of identifying information from the 1940s brick-and-metal map located at fun. community needs and looking about the group taking a stand the corner of Lincolnway and “There is always something for solutions means many on legislation concerning Capitol Avenue in the Depot going on,” said member Nadine Cheyenne residents may have margarine and gambling. It also Plaza. The club paid for the Samuelson. “Everybody just has benefited from their volunteer reveals a long-held club secret. map by writing, directing and fun. It’s not all work.” work without even realizing it. A raffle for a quarter-horse took producing a musical, raffling a They host bunco, literary X-JWC formed in 1940 when 50 an unfortunate turn when the 1930 Ford and asking people to and craft sessions, too. The Cheyenne women organized a donated horse was found dead adopt a brick in the map for a combination of helping the junior women’s club under the in its pasture the morning of the donation. The bricks themselves community and having fun builds sponsorship of the Cheyenne raffle ticket drawing. After a quick were 100-year-old paving bricks camaraderie among the members. Women’s Club. Within a year, conference, the women agreed donated by the Union Pacific “It adds something to your life,” World War II started, and the to a substitute a sister horse and Railroad for the project. However, Campbell said. “There are very young mothers were busy rolling then swore each other to secrecy. the 60,000 pounds of bricks were few of our members who you bandages, canvassing for the With decades of projects to pick in Laramie and needed to be couldn’t call and they would be Red Cross, explaining the point- from, Trosper said her favorite collected. Members donned work there for you if you needed them.” rationing system to the public and one is usually whatever their clothes and got the job of loading Members meet on the first working in the U.S.O. After the current project is, but one from them up done with the help of Tuesday of the month at 11:30 war, they turned their attention her time as president really stands family and friends and a trucking a.m. at the Red Lion Hotel at to Cheyenne and the needs of the out. company. 204 W. Fox Farm Road. New community, and they have been Trosper calls the gazebo the More recently, the club has members are always welcome, active ever since. club erected at the Cheyenne held many fundraisers to support and those who are interested After the war, they supported Botanic Gardens in 1990 her baby other local organizations who should call Peoples at the DePaul hospital and because she was the president are helping the community. They 805-757-2125. purchased three bushel of wheat when they gave it to the gardens. donated $5,000 to the Cahill 14 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a

One simple thing: behind Fagan’s storied career in government Tucker Fagan poses for a portrait next to a launch control console at the ICBM & Heritage Museum on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. Fagan worked on a similar console for six years after starting his career at at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in 1968. He rose to wing commander and vice-commander of the 20th Air Force, wrote the U.S. nuclear war plan and taught President Reagan our nuclear protocol. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE By Elizabeth Sampson the tires he had purchased on reminded himself to not let his When they were finished, the There was 18 inches of snow on Nationway in Cheyenne, and brain or his mouth go into hyper- president turned to the other men the ground in northern Virginia he knew he could make it to the speed. in the room and said that if our when White House staffers called White House. Suddenly, the door opened and country should go to war, Fagan Tucker Fagan’s home and said He put the highly classified the president came into the room, was the guy he wanted to talk to. they were coming to get him for information he had to share with cracking a joke that there were “I said, ‘Mr. President, that’s my a top-secret meeting with the President Ronald Reagan in the rooms in the White House he had job,’” Fagan remembered. president. Volkswagen and headed out. He never even heard of. So how did Fagan go They only had one question did, indeed, make it to the White As everyone in the room from buying a Volkswagen – which vehicle was going to be House, and when he arrived, laughed, Fagan realized Reagan in Cheyenne to being in a able to make it through the snow they took him to the Presidential was a regular person. He conference room with the to get him? They had a four-wheel Emergency Operation Center. He immediately felt at ease, and president? Like Cheyenne, drive Secret Service vehicle, a was on one side of a conference launched into the complicated Fagan’s history is connected Secret Service Cat and, if all else table opposite a list of the Who’s process of telling the president all to the Air Force. The retired failed, they had a helicopter. Who in national security, waiting about what was in the Football – colonel’s 30-year military career Fagan told them not to worry to teach the president about our the name for the black briefcase was bookended by Cheyenne, because the 18 inches of snow nation’s nuclear protocol. that is always with the president with an impressively long and wouldn’t be a problem. He had While he nervously waited and contains multiple nuclear winding tale in between. While in a Volkswagen with chains on for the president to arrive, he strike plans. the Air Force, he did everything June 2019 a OUR FACES / HERITAGE a 15 from writing the war plan for the friends down.” arrived here, he said he felt a little they would create four or five war United States to picnicking with a Starting when he was a senior out of his element, so he mostly plans a night. member of the KGB at the foot of in high school, and all through stayed in his room and studied Soon, he ran the nuclear a destroyed statue of Stalin. college, he was a Teamster who the missile launch system. section for the Joint Chiefs of Fagan’s first and last duty worked in a warehouse, loading “Eventually, I memorized the Staff, working with several other stations were here, and following groceries onto trucks. The entire system,” Fagan said. “Every military officers. his retirement, he and his family warehouse employees were a single light or switch that wasn’t “Our number one job was to made Cheyenne their home. mix of Irish immigrants and a in the right position, I could tell build the Football,” Fagan said. He credits his upbringing by few men who had spent time in you why. They looked at me and “That black bag is always near his hardworking parents and prison. said, ‘OK, that dude’s a geek. the president. Inside was the some advice he received from an “It was a beautiful education,” There is something wrong with document I produced. It’s called Irish immigrant named Jack with Fagan said. His first day on the him.’” Even though he jokes the Black Book.” His knowledge setting him on his path to success. job, a man named Jack, who about it, others noticed how of what went into the black Raised in Scarsdale, New York – had come from County Clare, much he knew and pulled him bag is what led him through one of the wealthiest cities in the Ireland, in his teens, approached into the group who evaluated a snowstorm in a Wyoming nation – Fagan said his family was him and told him about some other crew members. This led Volkswagen into a conference surrounded by extreme wealth, unwritten rules. First, don’t ever to a job in Omaha, Nebraska, room with Reagan. but they were a regular family. cut in line, because that means in Force Application with the His military career story next His father was a fireman, and you think you are better than the Joint Strategic Target Planning winds into a time where he did his mother was a homemaker. people behind you. Second, don’t Staff, whose job was to build the top-secret work. Working-class Irish Catholics, the ever make somebody look bad nuclear war plan. “Then I went black,” Fagan said. Fagans did everything they could in front of the boss. Finally, don’t “If you are going to pick this “I didn’t wear a uniform anymore. for their six children. Years later, dig. Fagan explained there was a kid who used to play stick ball in I did things I can’t even tell my his brother said something that box where all the work orders for the street to be one of the eight to family 30 years later.” He and his really stuck with him. the warehouse were placed, and build the U.S. war plan, I’m going co-workers had been warned that “We were born in Heaven, and digging through the pile for an to learn it,” he said. “I’m going to if they ever revealed the content we didn’t know it,” Fagan said. As easy job while leaving the hard devote my entire life to knowing of their work, they would find he thought about his childhood, jobs for someone else was not every single weapon – where it is, themselves in Fort Leavenworth, he realized his brother was right. allowed. how big, how fast, how accurate, the military prison. He attended “We had a good mom and dad “They were human rules,” can it penetrate enemy defenses? the National War College for a who took care of us,” he said. Fagan said. “Months later he I tried to learn every single target year, during which time he was “We didn’t have fear. We didn’t said to me, ‘You know the in the Warsaw Pact and in China. part of a delegation that traveled have want. We didn’t have nice reason we came to America? For For many of those first couple of to Russia. He continued to move things or nice clothes, but we had generations, we’ve worked with years, I never ate lunch. It was an up the ranks, serving as vice a family.” our back. We came to America so awesome job.” wing commander at Malmstrom Fagan said the work ethic he our kids and grandkids could go When he first started, they used Air Force Base in Montana and learned from his dad stuck with to college. You’re the one.’” IBM punch cards to create war then on to Cheyenne as the wing him throughout his career. Fagan listened. He graduated plans, which were an answer to commander. “I want to be around people from The College of Christ the question of what they would As wing commander, he lived who stand with me in the good the King in Wilkes-Barre, do if there was a nuclear threat in the biggest brick house on times and the bad times,” Fagan Pennsylvania, in 1968, during the from a particular enemy. With base. On the refrigerator, he kept said. “Even in the bad times, you height of the Vietnam War. He the punch cards, it took about a photo that he had taken of that don’t walk away. You help me, joined the Air Force, and soon four months to create a single same brick house when he and and I will help you. That was the found himself at F.E. Warren Air war plan. By the time he left six his wife first lived at F.E. Warren. firefighter ethic I learned from Force Base as a missile launch years later, they had a massive At the time, they lived across the my dad. You don’t ever let your officer. When the New Yorker computer that filled a room, and See Tucker Fagan, 22 16 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a

Jeff Wallace builds Wyoming Bank & Trust with one-on-one service Jeff Wallace poses for a portrait at Wyoming Bank and Trust on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE By Jonna Lorenz Jeff Wallace said. “But, honestly, Cheyenne in 1995, it had about as Habitat for Humanity and an Jeff Wallace grew up in Burns it’s still about the same size as it $14 million in assets. The bank Honor Flight to send military as the son of the community was in ’95.” also ranks first in the state based veterans to Washington, D.C. banker, and he has continued the The limited opportunity for on return on assets, which was “I just love this bank,” said family atmosphere as CEO of growth in Burns spurred Dennis 2.16% last year. Tom Bass, the bank’s president. the century-old bank his father Wallace to make the move. The “We’re not looking for fast “I’ve worked at other banks bought in 1970. bank also expanded to include growth,” Wallace said. “It’s been throughout my career. It’s just a Wyoming Bank & Trust, which trust services and a mortgage a slow, steady growth, and that’s great, family-owned bank. Jeff is celebrating its 100th year, was department. That diversification, what we want to continue doing.” and his dad are great owners. I charted in 1919 as Farmers State along with the bank’s focus on The branch in Burns still just really, really enjoy working Bank of Burns. Dennis Wallace one-on-one service, have been has three employees, while the h e re .” remains chairman of the board of key to the bank’s growth. Cheyenne branch has grown The bank’s welcoming the bank, which moved its main Wyoming Bank & Trust had from about 12 employees to atmosphere extends to the office and charter to Cheyenne in $195.2 million in assets as of nearly 40. Turnover is low, with customers. 1995. March 31, according to its latest some employees staying with the “We get to know our customers “We still have the branch in Call Report with the Federal bank for 45 years. The bank and really well,” Bass said. “When they Burns, and they still do very well,” Deposit Insurance Corporation. its employees also are active in walk through the door, they’re not When the bank moved to community service projects such a number. We know them. We June 2019 a OUR FACES / HERITAGE a 17 know their family. They become wave of change to the bank, since 1995 and works to keep up bank for a credit card touting friends. I think people really and it continues to keep up with new developments, such as the ability to open an account on gravitate to that.” with changes in technology and mobile banking apps and remote your phone in five minutes and Lorna Dunlap, branch manager regulations. deposits. decided to try it out himself. in Burns, has worked at the bank With a bachelor’s degree in “We don’t have the resources “It works, and it was easy,” he for 42 years, having been hired by business administration from to develop those programs said. “I couldn’t believe how easy Dennis Wallace as a teller. Hastings College and an MBA ourselves, so we rely on third it was. I got an account in five “It’s been a pleasure to work from the University of Denver, parties, and that makes it harder, minutes. I didn’t even have to here all these years, and it’s Wallace started his career as a because sometimes we’re not send them a picture of my driver’s something I still look forward CPA at McGladrey Hendrickson necessarily their priority,” Wallace license or anything. … That keeps to,” she said. “As long as I’m able, & Pullen, and later worked said. us motivated to figure out how to I think this is the best place to for various managed health- The bank recently rolled out keep things efficient and simple. be. I love my bank. I love the If they can do it, we ought to be community. I love the people I able to do it, too.” work with. I love the people I Wyoming Bank & Trust timeline Wallace said banks often face work for. It’s just been an excellent 1919 – Farmers State Bank of Burns is chartered and operated criticism for holding on to legacy experience.” by Andrew Kendig. software systems, but upgrading She described both Dennis 1930 – Clarence Schliske takes over the bank. is complicated and can be risky. and Jeff Wallace as “extremely 1970 – Dennis Wallace buys Farmers State Bank of Burns. “There are so many little intelligent” and forward-looking. 1987 – Jeff Wallace earns a bachelor’s degree in business nuances that if you come in and “(They) are always looking administration from Hastings College. try to start from scratch kind of forward to what’s coming down 1991 – Jeff Wallace earns an MBA from University of Denver. get overlooked,” he said. “It ends the pike,” Dunlap said. “What 1995 – Jeff Wallace joins the bank, the main office and charter up being a lot more complicated can we learn? What can we offer are moved to Cheyenne, trust services are added, and the than it seems like it should be. so that we don’t stay static, and, name is changed to Wyoming Bank & Trust. … We have a lot of regulation especially, don’t go backward? 2004 – Wyoming Bank & Trust acquired real estate brokerage around what we can and can’t do, Jeff Wallace poses for a portrait at Wyoming Bank and Trust on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE They’ve both been excellent, as far company #1 Properties. too. We just can’t go out and try as I’m concerned. Good bosses. 2019 – Wyoming Bank & Trust celebrates its 100th anniversary. something new next month and They’ve got to be for someone to see if it works. We’ve got to be stick around 42 years.” pretty sure that whatever systems The bank focuses on real estate care companies in Colorado, Zelle, a digital payment network are in place are very well tested.” and commercial lending. negotiating contracts before his established by a conglomerate of Regulatory changes are another “Our loan decisions are father lured him back to the bank. large banks. challenge the bank faces, and they made right here, and we don’t “He didn’t want to make it feel “There are so many different can be particularly difficult for necessarily have a program like I was obligated to come back, options out there for new tech, small banks, such as Wyoming that determines who gets but the guy that he actually hired you kind of have to pick the Bank & Trust, which has one qualified and who doesn’t,” to open up the Cheyenne office winners and loser because some compliance officer, compared Wallace said. “We look at said that if your son’s ever going of them are gonna cost you, and with larger banks that have many. each loan individually, and we to come back, now would be the people aren’t going to use it or like “The amount of time we make a decision based on that time to do it,” Wallace said. it, and you end up losing money,” spend making sure we stay in application. I like to say we’re Since then, the bank has seen Wallace said. compliance with a lot of the more of a character lender than continual changes. He pays attention to new new rules and regulations is some of the bigger banks.” Technology is an ongoing developments and tries out new not pleasant,” he said, citing the The 2004 acquisition of #1 challenge for the bank, which has products he sees. He recently saw Home Mortgage Disclosure Act Properties brought another had three core system providers an advertisement from a large See Jeff Wallace, 22 18 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a

James Ehernberger: Tracking railroad history From steam engines to today Jim Ehernberger photographed Big Boy steam engines with this Graflex camera when the trains were still running in the 1950s. Photographed at Holliday Park on May 1, 2019. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE By Jonna Lorenz the trains all the time in Bushnell two photographs to be published Ehernberger has been donating James Ehernberger has (Nebraska) in 1944,” Ehernberger in a national magazine appeared his collection a piece at a time witnessed Cheyenne’s rich said. “Seventy-five years ago, I in the March 1955 edition of since 1999. “It’s quite large and railroad history unfold from the was watching trains. I watched Trains magazine. Since then, quite detailed. It’s especially rich Big Boy steam engines of the various things take place. I was he has contributed to countless in material relating to the Union 1940s to the diesel locomotives quite alert. A kid really takes in magazine articles, books and Pacific.” of today. a lot.” documentaries, and amassed an The collection includes His work as a railroad historian His fascination with trains extensive collection of railroad photographs, more than 100,000 began before his 34-year career emerged through photography, memorabilia. negatives, postcards, maps, with the Union Pacific Railroad which he took up in childhood. “It’s one of the most diagrams, blueprints, financial and continues decades after The chance to buy a coveted outstanding collections of records, accident reports and his retirement, resulting in a Graflex camera led Ehernberger railroad memorabilia probably more, encompassing 567.44 cubic treasure trove of information and to his first job as a call boy for in existence,” said William feet in 1,042 boxes. memorabilia he is keen to share. the Union Pacific 1953 when he Hopkins, manager of collections “If you’re a railroad enthusiast, “I must have railroading in my was 16. at the University of Wyoming this is a must-look-at collection,” blood, because I started watching He was still a teen when his first American Heritage Center, where Hopkins said. “It gets quite a bit June 2019 a OUR FACES / HERITAGE a 19

to the railroad, watching the said, adding that the Railway Post station agent and the telegraph, Office lasted until 1967. and even learning the telegraph Ehernberger remembers seeing code. He saw the mail crane troop trains carrying military that the postman would hang a service members. mailbag on to be retrieved with a “They had windows open, and hook as the train went by. they’d talk to us and everything,” “The high-speed train would he said. “The ones I remember come by, and they had a hook, best, they had sailors on them, and they could pick up that mail because I remember their bag on the fly, and they’d kick white hats.” off one for us also,” Ehernberger See Ehernberger 20

Jim Ehernberger photographed Big Boy steam engines with this Graflex camera when the trains were still running in the 1950s. Photographed at Holliday Park on May 1, 2019. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE Jim Ehernberger, age 18 at the time, is seen holding his Graflex camera in this photograph taken in 1955 somewhere in Colorado. COURTESY of use.” Wyoming’s capital city. Ehernberger, who never “Cheyenne wouldn’t have married and has no children, existed if it hadn’t have been for began donating his collection in General Dodge,” Ehernberger an effort to ensure its preservation said, noting that the arrival of the after watching the collections track brought about the rapid rise of other railroad enthusiasts go of Cheyenne. astray. The collection includes Ehernberger spent his early items dating to 1846 and tracks childhood in Bushnell, Nebraska, Cheyenne’s beginning in 1867, where his father operated when Gen. Grenville Dodge, a welding, blacksmith and a chief engineer for the Union hardware store before moving his family to Cheyenne in 1950. In Jim Ehernberger photographed Big Boy steam engines with this Graflex camera Pacific Railroad, surveyed the when the trains were still running in the 1950s. VALERIE MOSLEY/FOR THE site for what would become Bushnell, Ehernberger was drawn WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE 20 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a

Ehernberger from 19 Cheyenne, the first thing I did Graflex camera like theirs. there was going to be a change He observed the arrival of was spend time at the depot,” he At that time, the local steam from steam power to diesel the last of the Big Boy steam said. “I was very friendly. I got shop was operating full force power, and the Cheyenne shop locomotives in 1944. The steam acquainted with everybody. In around the clock, repairing gradually declined,” Ehernberger engines have drawn widespread those days, nobody ever paid any steam locomotives until the said. “The last shopping of the public interest through the attention much. I could walk over railroad bought its first 250 Big Boys was actually done in the years, with thousands of people to the roundhouse.” diesel locomotives in 1954 and later part of 1956, perhaps one in gathering along the track in early ’57. I saw that shop go from May to see the Union Pacific’s three shifts a day to one shift, and refurbished Big Boy 4014 leave Timeline by 1959, when the last regular 1937 – James L. Ehernberger is born in Omaha, Nebraska. Cheyenne on its way to Ogden, steam operations took place, they 1944-50 – As a child in Bushnell, Nebraska, Ehernberger Utah, in commemoration of just had a skeleton force.” becomes fascinated with watching trains, including the 150th anniversary of the Another significant change witnessing the arrival of the last five Big Boy steam Transcontinental Railroad. Ehernberger witnessed was the locomotives. Some of Ehernberger’s first establishment of a new line that 1950 – Ehernberger moves to Cheyenne and begins hanging photographs were of the blizzard bypassed Sherman Hill west of around the train station and taking pictures of trains. of 1949, another event of Cheyenne and eliminated the 1953 – Ehernberger meets well-known Denver photographers historical significance. need for the helper locomotives Richard Kindig and Otto Perry and is impressed with their “I was able to go to the depot, that assisted trains to the Graflex cameras. After he turns 16, he gets a job as a railroad and I overheard the station summit. He also saw gas turbine call boy to earn enough to buy a Graflex camera for $250. agent and the section foreman locomotives come and go, and 1955 – Ehernberger’s first two photographs published in a discussing conditions on the communications on the railroad national magazine appear in the March edition of Trains railroad,” said Ehernberger, who advance from telegraph to radio magazine. participated in a 2017 Wyoming communications to the computer 1957 – “The Age of Steam” by Lucius Beebe is released, PBS documentary about the age. including nine of Ehernberger’s photos. It is the first of storm. “The blizzard was so During his 34-year career with many books Ehernberger participated in, including with Bill bad that the engineer could not the railroad, Ehernberger held Kratville and Francis Gschwind. observe the block signals. So, they many different positions with 1968 – A westbound hump yard goes into operation in North station blocked them, sort of like Union Pacific, including secretary Platte, Nebraska, leading to a significant reduction in yard we do in a road construction, to the superintendent, train jobs in Cheyenne. where they hand you a flag or dispatcher and division rules 1972 – Ehernberger accepts a position as secretary to the something. The trains could only examiner. superintendent. go when they reported at the next “I was not afraid to take any 1974 – Ehernberger becomes a train dispatcher. station. Well, the first train froze job,” he said. “I took on some 1980 – Ehernberger is appointed as division rules examiner. to the track at Hillsdale, so that pretty responsible positions. … 1988 – Ehernberger takes an early retirement buyout, and meant nothing else could move. I always felt that the secret to continues to produce railroad books and magazine articles Things were tied up for about success was to work, and I always and build his railroad collection. two weeks on that. It was a major tried to give my boss more than thing on the Union Pacific.” they asked for. In other words, my In 1950, as Ehernberger was goal was at least 110 percent. That entering his teenage years, After meeting photographers established a diesel shop at North paid off, actually, because that’s he moved with his family to Richard Kindig and Otto Perry, Platte, Nebraska. how I got promoted to some of Cheyenne. Ehernberger went to work for “When those 250 diesels the jobs I got because they could “Of course, coming to Union Pacific with the goal of came in, that was when the depend on me.” earning enough money to buy a handwriting was on the wall that Bob Fryml, who is on the June 2019 a OUR FACES / HERITAGE a 21 archive committee of the Union Pacific Historical Society, said serving as secretary to the superintendent provided a unique opportunity to travel with and learn from the superintendent. “He saw aspects of the railroad that a normal craftsperson like switchman, brakeman, conductor, maintenance, way employee, mechanical car department, clerical would not see,” Fryml said. “Along with his responsibilities to handle correspondence, filing and dictation, he had to be very discreet. He was probably keeper of a lot of secrets that he will never tell.” By the mid-1980s, mergers and changes in leadership led to job cuts and a preference for hiring managers with college degrees. Feeling the pinch from that, Ehernberger signed up for an early retirement buyout, leaving the company in 1988 at age 51. Since then, he’s been pursuing his avocation as a railroad historian. “He has spent hours and hours at the microfilm machines at the State Library, and does a tremendous amount of tedious research,” said A.J. Wolff, a friend and fellow photographer, who met Ehernberger in 1971 when he was working on a book about Sherman Hill. “He contacted me for pictures related to the modern diesel and gas turbine power,” Wolff said of their meeting. “So, I supplied him with prints, and he gave me my start in getting published.” The men worked together over the years on various projects. “When the steam engines would run, we’d go out and travel together and have a good time, chasing the train up and down the track and getting the pictures,” Wolff said. “I just PHOTO BY JIM EHERNBERGER/COURTESY enjoyed his company. I think the last time we the Union Pacific Historical Society to in Utah that marked the completion of the did anything like that was like in ’95.” Promontory, Utah, to give a presentation on Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. Wolff called Ehernberger a “gifted his photography for the group’s convention, “People ask me if I miss the railroad,” photographer” and a “strong researcher.” held in conjunction with the 150th Ehernberger said. “Well, I railroad every day. In May, Ehernberger traveled with anniversary of the Golden Spike ceremony I’ve got a wonderful library.” 22 a Wyoming Tribune Eagle a

Jeff Wallace from 17 process loans. complicated banking needs, such to and keep up with things, but I as an example of new regulations Changes in the way customers as a mortgage or business loan. don’t know that it’s going to be the that require tedious reporting by use banking services also is “I’ve been hearing for 10 years end of community banks, either. banks. a moving target. Younger how the internet is going to kill us “I’m betting my future that New rules are a learning curve, generations are more interested little banks,” Wallace said. “Well, there’s still going to be a need for but technology can help simplify in conveniences like mobile we’re still here and growing, so community banks for as long as the process. The bank’s lenders banking. But, Wallace said, they it hasn’t happened yet. And it’s I’m around.” and loan processors recently often come back to a local branch certainly something we have to completed training for software to office once they have more keep our eye on and pay attention

Tucker Fagan from 15 jumped at the chance to return yes, and she won. She went on family dinners that include his parade field in a small house, and to Cheyenne. He served as to serve four terms, and during wife, three sons, a daughter, their one day they decided to drive vice-commander of the 20th her time as representative, Fagan spouses and grandchildren. over to take a picture of the big Air Force under three different served as her chief of staff. When he considers the many house – but they were afraid to commanders, and retired from He retired for a third time, leadership roles he’s had, the work get too close when they took the the Air Force after 30 years – in and now he does some work for he has done for the state and the photo. the same duty station he started Gannett Peak Technical Services, country, and the many accolades When he came back as the in. a software development company he’s received, Fagan says what wing commander, he didn’t want He retired on a Friday night, owned by his two oldest sons. He got him where he is today is one his airman to feel that same fear, and the following Monday serves on several boards in the simple thing. so he gave some instructions morning, he started working for community and enjoys having big “We were born in Heaven, and to all the colonels on base that the State of Wyoming. He was we didn’t know it.” exemplified his leadership style. the first director of State Parks “They should know us,” Fagan and Cultural Resources, and said. “We have hopes and dreams. then became the director of the We do some things right. We Wyoming Business Council. do some things wrong, just like During his tenure there, he them. So don’t ever let me see you promoted the idea of growing berating or demeaning or treating businesses that were already someone in a bad way.” in Wyoming. He also helped After his term as wing Wyoming cities qualify to be the commander, it was back to home of corporations looking to Washington, D.C., to be the chief relocate to the state by improving of organization for the entire Air city infrastructure, and he helped Force under the Chief of Staff of secure federal research dollars for the Air Force. They worked to Wyoming companies that had streamline Air Force operations, ideas for new patents. and while he was working there, One day, after he retired from the commander of the 20th Air working for the state, he was Force called him and asked if he outside painting his house. would come replace a retiring Cynthia Lummis, who was vice-commander in Cheyenne. planning to run for election to the Fagan had two children U.S. House of Representatives, attending the University of called and asked if he would help Wyoming at the time, so he her with her campaign. He said June 2019 a OUR FACES / HERITAGE a 23

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