Democrat • Rawlins
Governor 1959-1961
US Senator 1961-1963
Justice of the US 10th Circuit Court of Appeals 1966-1970
Joseph John Hickey was born on August 22, 1911 in Rawlins to a pioneer family which came to Wyoming prior to 1873. His father, a Union Pacific Railroad employee, died in 1914. It was necessary for him to assist the family financially at an early age. He worked as a newsboy, blacksmith apprentice, theater usher, and tire repairman. After graduating from high school in 1929 and receiving a law degree from the University of Wyoming in 1934, Hickey practiced law in Rawlins. He was active in political affairs, and served as city treasurer, county attorney, U.S. Attorney and Democratic State Chairman. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was active in numerous civil organizations.
Hickey was elected governor in 1958 but resigned on January 2,1961 to assume the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Keith Thomson. Defeated in the 1962 election, he returned to Cheyenne and practiced law until 1966 when he was appointed judge of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
He married Winifred Espy in 1946 and they had two sons, John Hickey and Paul Hickey.
Hickey died in Cheyenne on September 22, 1970.
Inaugural Address 1959
Message to Legislature, 1959
The records of Governor Hickey in office include:
- Subject Files
- Adjutant General
- Aeronautics
- Agriculture
- Archives & Museums
- Attorney General
- Budget Officer
- Capitol Building Commission
- Charities and Reform
- Civil Defense
- Education
- Employment Security Commission
- Engineer
- Equalization
- Examiner
- Game and Fish
- Geological Survey
- Governor's Conference
- Governor's Office
- Highway Department
- Indian Affairs
- Insurance Office
- Judicial
- Labor
- Land
- Legislation
- Library
- Liquor
- Livestock
- Mine Inspector
- Natural Resource Board
- Oil and Gas
- Public Health
- Public Lands
- Public Service Commission
- Public Welfare
- Reclamation
- Retirement System
- Revenue
- Secretary of State
- Supreme Court
- Travel Commission
- Treasurer
-
Uniform Laws Commission
- University of Wyoming
- Worker's Compensation
- Wyoming Governor's Conference
- Yellowstone National Park
- Youth Council
- Extraditions & Requisitions
- Charities & Reform - Pardons
- Missouri River Basin Project - Publications
- Oil & Gas Conservation Commission - Maps
- Publications - Miscellaneous
- University of Wyoming - Reports
- Appointments - Boards & Commissions
Additional Resources
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