Dear editor:

Everybody has an Al story and I would like to share some more. 

I first met Al Simpson in the early 80s when Bill Mack would invite the politicians in for interviews. Both Al and Dick Cheney showed up for donuts and interviews but it was Al who had the microphone and wouldn’t give it up. Dick just sat back and ate donuts. 

When Wyoming played Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl, I ran into Al at the Cowboy tailgate party where he insisted we have a beer on the rooftop of the hotel in San Diego. I told him that I don’t usually drink beer at 9:30 in the morning but, it was Al, and I complied. Hours later, I was on the Oklahoma State pep bus wearing my Wyoming gear on the way to the game. 

Thanks, Al. 

In the 90s we were invited to broadcast on the White House lawn as the Clintons were pushing Hillary Care medical cards. All the big networks lined the lawn from L.A., Chicago, Miami, Powell and Boston. We had lined up our reps to speak to us there and they all showed up at the same time, followed by the throng of media. Al, Malcolm Wallop and Craig Thomas came sauntering up the White House drive and Al, of course, grabbed the microphone and didn’t want to give it up. To pay for our trip, we had live ads to read and I started in about Linton’s Big R. Al interrupted me to tell us that he and Ann always go to Linton’s and that he was wearing socks from the store. Jim loved it. 

Al insisted that we take the tour of his offices at the Capitol. He had two, his regular office and his Minority Whip office. Both had refrigerators filled with beer and he, again, insisted. He told the story of finding a way up into the rotunda where, when people would take pictures of the ceiling, he would put his head through the opening on top so he would get in the picture. 

Classic Al. 

When I was mayor, I would get into the Cody Stampede Parade every year. Roger Sedam warned me about Al’s trunk. The big Caddy had a cooler in the back where everyone gathered. One year, Craig Thomas introduced whiskey from a Kentucky senator. My daughter Shea was always with me in the parade and couldn’t believe the 9 a.m. cocktails but, that was Al. He loved the Stampede celebration. 

After my son’s accident, I received notes from Ann and Al asking about updates. They always want to know about family and they were generally concerned. Sometimes, he would call just to see how things are going. Genuine friend. 

I was an emcee for the Congressional Tour that had some opening ceremonies at the Buffalo Bill Museum. Our guest speaker was Al and after I introduced him, he grabbed me and kissed me on the head. I said something about being kissed by a senator but I think I made the staffers uneasy. 

I got a message from Al on my phone last August and when I called him back, we spent about an hour on the phone. He indicated that he and Ann wanted to contribute to my campaign and that he wanted to send a check. I told him no, I wasn’t accepting money for my campaign and there was paperwork involved. He agreed not to send money but I got a check later with the word, “Ha” in the memo. I haven’t deleted his message on my phone and never will. 

We all lost a good friend and, thank goodness, his kids inherited his humor. When you talk to them, you can hear some of Al come out. Now, we must figure out a way to honor him. A statue, a highway, an airport? 

Nothing will fill the shadow of Al Simpson. 

Scott Mangold

Powell