Republican • Cody
House of Representatives 1927-1928
Governor 1955-1959
US Senator 1963-1967
Milward L. Simpson was born on November 12, 1897, in Jackson and was raised on the Wind River Indian Reservation and in Lander, Meeteetse, and Cody. His grandfather, Finn Burnett, came to Wyoming in 1865 with the Powder River Expedition which was led by General Connor. His grandfather, John Simpson, who came to Wyoming in 1884, opened the first store and post office in the Jackson Hole area. His father, W.L. Simpson, was an attorney in Wyoming for fifty years.
Simpson attended the University of Wyoming where he was outstanding as an athlete, debater, student, and editor. He continued his law studies at Harvard University, financing his education by working as a coal miner, a day laborer, cook on the road construction crew, and a ranch hand. During World War I, he was an infantry lieutenant. After the war, he returned to Cody, established a law practice and oil business, and was active in numerous educational and civil organizations. In politics, he was elected as state representative in 1927, and governor in 1954. Failing to win a second term as governor, he ran successfully for the US Senate in 1962.
He married Lorna Kooi in 1929 and they had two boys, Pete Simpson and Alan Simpson. Alan followed in his father's footsteps and also served as US Senator.
Simpson died on June 11, 1993 in Cody.
Inaugural Address 1955
Message to Legislature, 1955
Message to Legislature, 1957
The records from Governor Simpson's term in office include:
- Subject Files
- Adjutant General
- Aeronautics
- Agriculture
- Attorney General
- Charities and Reform
- Civil Defense Agency
- Education
- Engineer
- Equalization
- Esther Morris
- Game and Fish Governor's Office
- Highway Department
- Judicial
- Liquor
- Livestock
- Mine Inspector
- Natural Resource Board
- Oil and Gas
- Public Health
- Public Lands
- Public Welfare
- Secretary of State
- University of Wyoming
- Wyoming Governor's Conference
- 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
- Milward L. Simpson papers, 1887-1995, Collection Number 26, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
- Alan K. Simpson personal and family papers, Collection Number 10449-s06, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
- Milward L. Simpson family oral history project, 2003-2005, Collection Number 11387, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
- Interview with Milward Simpson, July 18, 1977, Wyoming State Archives Collection, transcript and audio available on WyoHistory.org
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