Al Simpson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House on July 7, 2022.

It’s the highest civilian award of the United States and has been awarded to an average of fewer than 11 recipients annually since it was established in 1963.

In making the award President Joe Biden said, “Al exemplifies our national ideals of responsible governance, civil discourse and public service.”

"He was one of the most decent, stand-up, genuine guys I’ve ever served with,” Biden added. “At his core, Al always believed in the common good and what’s best for the nation.”

Three other major awards came Al’s way in July, August and September 2024.

• On July 27, 2024, the Mineta Simpson Institute was dedicated at the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center near Cody. The 7,300 square-foot facility is designed to foster empathy, courage and cooperation in the next generation of leaders. Al and Norm Mineta, later a congressman from California and Secretary of Transportation for two presidents, met and became friends at Boy Scout meetings at the Heart Mountain Internment Center during World War II. As fate would have it, they later served together in Congress.

• A month later, on Aug. 22, 2024, Al and Ann were honored in Laramie when the ribbon was cut on the newly named University of Wyoming College of Law Alan K. Simpson Center for Clinical and Experiential Learning. The Simpson Center at the law school houses a number of departments, including the Civil Legal Services Center, Defender Aid Clinic, Family and Child Services Legal Advocacy Clinic, as well as offices for human rights and environmental law. Al was a 1958 graduate of the UW College of Law. 

• And on Sept. 26, 2024, Al and Ann were jointly honored by the Ucross Foundation near Buffalo with the Raymond Plank Award for Visionary Leadership. Ucross president William Belcher said the Simpsons both “have demonstrated a history of leadership," citing Al’s service in the Wyoming House and U.S. Senate and Ann’s long advocacy for the arts and mental health.

But the “award” the Simpsons were most proud of came in June 2024 when they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary at an Ice Cream Social in Cody City Park.

“We always worked as a team,” Ann said at the time.

Daughter Sue Simpson Gallagher quoted her parents about marriage: “Every day is a decision and a recommitment to the relationship.”

“I really believe that kind of pragmatism is what allowed them to keep their romance alive for 70 years,” Sue added. "They presented as one to the public and in private.”