State officials around Wyoming mourned the death of former U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi on Tuesday, remembering him as someone who always worked for Wyoming.
Gov. Mark Gordon, who ordered all American and Wyoming flags flown at half-staff Tuesday in Enzi’s honor, remembered the four-term U.S. senator as a dedicated public servant.
“Mike was a friend and a dedicated public servant who cared deeply about Wyoming and its people,” he said. “His leadership in the Senate was tireless and productive. He was a strong advocate for the state’s interests and was always committed to finding consensus where possible. He understood what is important for America.”
Enzi, 77, died late Monday after suffering serious injuries in a bicycle wreck in Gillette on Friday. According to a post on his Facebook page, he never regained consciousness after being taken by air ambulance to the UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colorado.
Secretary of State Ed Buchanan referred to Enzi as a quiet but effective legislator.
“I met Senator Enzi while a volunteer in the (1996) campaign,” Buchanan said. “He was the epitome of grace in a business often filled with vitriol and hyperbole. He was understated, but effective. He listened more and talked less. In essence, he was a statesman that represented Wyoming well for 24 years in the U.S. Senate.”
Other state officials also expressed sorrow at Enzi’s death, including state Sens. Tara Nethercott and Anthony Bouchard, both R-Cheyenne, and Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower and state Rep. Charles Gray, R-Casper.
“While we mourn Senator Enzi’s passing, we are eternally grateful for his distinguished service to Wyoming and our nation, his advocacy and love for all things Wyoming, and the incredible example he set for us all as a true statesman and committed public servant,” Nethercott wrote on her Facebook page.
