Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released the following statement on the passing of former Wyoming Senator Al Simpson.
“Today, our state and country mourn the passing of our dear Senator Alan Kooi Simpson,” Lummis said. “Al was larger than life and spent his entire life working on behalf of the state and people he loved. For 18 years in the U.S. Senate, 12 years in the Wyoming House of Representatives, and 28 years as an elder statesman – he worked to make Wyoming a better place for our citizens and an even greater place to work and raise a family. There was no stronger advocate for the needs, industries, and interests of Wyoming. During his Senate tenure, he was repeatedly elected by his colleagues to serve in leadership as the Republican Whip and was a close friend of both President Reagan and President Bush.
“Known for his famous humor and wit, Al was loved both in Wyoming and far outside our borders. Those who met Al knew that he never forgot a face or interaction. In addition to his service in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Senate, Al repeatedly stepped forward as a private citizen to work on important issues like the Iraq Study Group and the Simpson-Bowles Fiscal Responsibility Commission. In a deserving tribute commemorating his lifetime of service, Al was honored in 2022 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“A proud son of Cody, Wyoming, Al came from an early pioneer family dedicated to public service. Wyoming and our nation have benefited greatly from Al Simpson’s many decades of work and leadership. At every gathering Al Simpson attended, people flocked to Al for a moment with a man each considered one of their closest friends. That’s the incredible effect he had on the people he served. I extend my deepest thoughts and prayers to his wife of more than 70 years, Ann, his children Colin, William, and Susan, and his grandchildren during this difficult time.”
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