Picture this: the most interesting man in Wyoming is surrounded by his beautiful wife, his pretty daughters in law, daughter and pretty granddaughters. He raises a glass in a toast and looks into the camera and says:

         “I don’t normally drink, but when I do . . . I drink Wyoming Whiskey.” 

         That could be the key line in a TV commercial as a takeoff of the amazing beer campaign that got me thinking a few weeks ago about just who is the most interesting man or woman in Wyoming?

         After putting it to a vote of my readers, retired U. S. Senator Al Simpson of Cody won hands-down.

         And coincidentally, he was featured recently at a promotion for the Wyoming Whiskey distillery where he had his own barrel of bourbon made.  Big Al carefully and methodically signed and numbered all 216 bottles in his name.

Here is Al Simpson`s toast at the Wyoming Whiskey party:

"My friends, I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject at this particular time. However, I want you to know that I do not shun controversy. On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time, regardless of how fraught with controversy it might be. You have asked me how I feel about whiskey. All right, here is how I feel about whiskey.

"If when you say whiskey you mean the devil`s brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it.

"But, if when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman`s step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life`s great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our mute, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it.

"This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise." (Note: Simpson was quoting a fella named Sweat who first spoke these words, back in 1952.)

Other top vote getters were former Vice President Dick Cheney, Laramie adventurer Mark Jenkins and former governors Mike Sullivan and Dave Freudenthal.  Historian Phil Roberts also received a lot of votes.

In that recent column, I threw out the names of about 75 Wyoming folks who I thought might qualify for this selection.

Several others were nominated who did not make those original lists who are worthy of mention, for example:

• John Washakie, Starr Weed and Beatrice Haukaas of the Wind River Indian Reservation were nominated by folks, including Ross Hopeman, who read my column in the Riverton Ranger.

• Legislator Richard Cannady of Glenrock got some votes and was nominated by Joe Barbuto after reading about it in the Rock Springs Rocket Miner.

• Jim Davis of Evanston was nominated for his love of Wyoming. He was nominated by Ruth Hughes who read about this vote in the Evanston Uinta County Herald.

• Dave Patterson of Powell was nominated by his brother Tommy Patterson who saw the column in the Powell Tribune. 

• Dave Bragonier, a former game warden, was nominated by Ally McIver, who read my column in the Greybull Standard.

• Jerry Paxton of Encampment and Kelly Bohanon of Rawlins were nominated by John Farr who reads my column in the Rawlins Daily Times.

• Gay Hale of Sheridan wants to nominate several old-timers for this honor, but unfortunately they are deceased! She reads my column on Sheridan Online.

• Steve Thulin from Powell was nominated by Astrid Northrup who read about it in the Powell Tribune.