Teno Roncalio

Teno Roncalio was born March 23,1916 in Rock Springs to Frank and Ernesta Roncalio. His family had come to Wyoming in 1903 and for many years his father worked in the Union Pacific Railroad's coal mines. Teno Roncalio graduated from Rock Springs High School in 1932 and eventually completed work on his law degree at the University of Wyoming in 1947.

He served in the U.S. Army as an infantryman during World War II, including a 33-month stint in North Africa, Sicily and Europe. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in June of 1944.

Roncalio practiced law in Cheyenne for many years, including a term as deputy county attorney. After becoming involved in politics he became the chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee and served in that capacity from 1957 until 1961.

Teno Roncalio was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1964 and served one term before making an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in 1966. In 1970 he was again elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was re-elected to that seat in 1972, 1974 and 1976.

Following his retirement from public service Roncalio returned to Cheyenne. He accepted occasional legal assignments, most notable among them service as a special master in the early stages of the legal case which eventually quantified water rights for the tribes of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Roncalio died March 30, 2003, in Cheyenne.

Roncalio and his wife Cecelia had two children ( Frank, John).