Famous People from Wyoming

William “Buffalo Bill” Cody (1846 - 1917) Founder of Cody, Wyoming and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in Nebraska; born in Iowa.

Leonard S. Hobbs (1896 - 1977) Developed the engine for turbo jet airplanes; born in Carbon County.

Curt Gowdy (1919 - ) Sportscaster, TV play-by-play man for AFL, NFL and major league baseball.

Jedediah S. Smith (1799 - 1830) Mountain man and first American to get to California from the East.

Alan K. Simpson (1931 - ) Wyoming senator from 1979-1997.

Francis E. Warren (1844 - 1929) First state governor.

James G. Watt (1938 - ) Former secretary of the Interior; born in Lusk.

Joseph M. Carey (1845 - 1924) Mayor of Cheyenne, first U.S. Senator from Wyoming, Wyoming Governor; born in Milton, Delaware.

Patricia MacLachlan (1938 - ) Author of children’s books and Newberry Medal for Sarah, Plain and Tall; born in Cheyenne.

Esther Hobart Morris (1814 - 1902) Helped women receive the right to vote in Wyoming and the nation’s first female judge; born in New York.

Jackson Pollock (1912 - 1956) Artist well known for his abstract paintings; born in Cody.

James Bridger (1804 - 1881) Trapper, guide and storyteller.

Dick Cheney (1941 - ) White House Chief of Staff to President Ford, U.S. congressman, Secretary of Defense and Vice president of the U.S.; grew up in Casper.

Nellie Davis Tayloe Ross (1876 - 1977) Governor of Wyoming; born November near St. Joseph, Missouri.