U.S. Sen. John Barasso and the rest of the world mourned the passing of former U.S. Senator Al Simpson, who died at the age of 93 early Friday.
Barrasso said on Cowboy State Daily’s Morning Show with Jake that he had spoken to Al’s wife Ann Simpson, who said it was a full moon in Cody early on Friday when he died, and that “Al went to heaven on a moonbeam.”
Barrasso said Simpson’s entire life was built on a commitment to serving Wyoming.
He met with Simpson in Cody about 10 days ago along with other former colleagues and friends. Barrasso, like Simpson was, is now the No. 2 ranking member of the Senate and serves as Whip.
Legendary Impact
Barrasso and Sen. Cynthia Lummis honored Simpson on the Senate floor on Friday. Barrasso said he considered Simpson a personal mentor and friend.
“Al boldly fought to uphold the values and ideals of this nation,” Barrasso said. “He always did what he thought was best for the country.”
Lummis said one of her greatest joys in life was knowing Simpson, describing him as “absolutely larger than life.”
“His family was our pride and joy and he was our pride and joy as a beloved son of Wyoming, a great mentor, a fabulous human being,” Lummis said. “I ask you all to join us in celebrating the tremendous, extraordinary, curious life of United States Senator Al Simpson.”
Barrasso said one of the most valuable pieces of advice Simpson gave to him was to never let others distort who he is.
He also spoke to Al’s relationship with Ann, both of whom he said “made a legendary team.” Lummis agreed and described them as an “inseparable duo.” Last year, the couple celebrated their 70th anniversary at a public gathering in Cody.
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman also spoke of Simpson’s significance in a Friday statement.
“Al Simpson’s life was defined by public service,” Hageman said. “From Wyoming to Washington, he spent decades of his life in the Senate and beyond working to make this country a better place. We honor his life and send our heartfelt prayers to his family and loved ones.”
On Friday, Gov. Mark Gordon ordered the U.S. and state’s flags to be flown at half-staff until sundown of Simpson’s day of internment.
“Al Simpson was an amazing friend, an incredible statesman, a thoughtful courageous politician, and a wonderful human being who brought humor, wisdom, and razor-sharp insight to any situation,” Gordon said. “Wyoming has lost a true light.
“Al embodied the best of Wyoming – what America used to be. Throughout his life, Al was an independent thinker who wasn’t afraid to reach across the aisle (or, as Al would say, “grab folks in the pew behind him by the short hairs”) and work collaboratively to solve problems. He was never afraid to say what was on his mind, but he believed to his core that humor mixed with civility was best in politics and in life.”
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West put out a statement on behalf of the Simpson family on Friday morning, recognizing the incredible contributions Simpson made to the museum, including serving as the chair on its board.
“What I really admired was his independence of spirit,” his brother Pete Simpson said in the statement. “Nothing put him in a position where he’d have to simply give up a principle or be less than who he was going to be.”
The Center of the West attributed Simpson's death to a failure to recover from a broken hip suffered last December, a recovery that was hindered by complications from frostbite to his left foot suffered about five years ago. As a result, Simpson’s left leg was amputated below the knee a few weeks before his death.
Lighthearted
Simpson was easy to spot around town in Cody, standing around six foot, seven inches. Lummis said Simpson had a natural aura that drew people to him.
In true Wyoming fashion, Barrasso told Cowboy State Daily he ran into Simpson by chance a few years ago at the Fast Lane gas station in Shoshoni.
“Al was always out and about, just as we are,” Barrasso said.
Similarly, Barrasso said Simpson always made it a priority to meet with Wyoming people who were visiting Capitol Hill, as the current delegation still does.
“That’s the Al Simpson standard, people of Wyoming come first, always have, always will,” Barrasso said.
Last summer, Simpson spoke at the groundbreaking of the University of Wyoming College of Law’s Alan K. Simpson Center for Clinical and Experiential Learning, named in his honor. Barrasso said Simpson “had the crowd in stitches” with his jokes at this event.
“This is the only institution on this campus named after a ‘C’ student,” Simpson said, the Laramie Boomerang reported. “I never did graduate cum laude, [but] I graduated, thank the Lordy, [and] there would be legions of young lawyers who would be here this day.
Lummis said Simpson’s one-liners were memorable. On Halloween, he would dress up as Frankenstein, calling himself “Franken-Al.”
Simpson was a close ally to former presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and “danced with queens” from around the world, Barrasso said.
Simpson deeply valued bipartisanship, and Barrasso said he would have taught a master class on persuasion.
“He would say, if you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”
One of Simpson’s sons, Colin Simpson, offered a similar sentiment in the Center of the West statement.
“He was gifted in crossing party lines and building bipartisan consensus,” Colin Simpson said. “He would relate to legislative colleagues in a manner that allowed them to feel valued and listened to without being taken advantage of.”
Barrasso said former President Barack Obama shouldn’t have abandoned the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform that Obama set up and appointed Simpson to as co-chair.
“It would’ve been a lot better if they had adopted what Al Simpson was talking about back then because we’d be in a better course right now had it been doing the sorts of things they recommended 10 years ago or 12 years ago,” Barrasso said.
Wolfgang Dietz, a resident of Germany, told Cowboy State Daily his father met Simpson while the two were attending the University of Wyoming in 1951. A few years later, Simpson and his wife were stationed in Germany while Al was in the Army and the two rekindled their friendship. Dietz was given the middle name Alan in Simpson’s honor.
Dietz also continued a relationship with Simpson, who as a young attorney worked with Simpson’s staff in 1982 for the Subcommittee on Immigration.
“Al's handling of political problems including perspectives independent from their origin impressed me from the very first day, combined with his gift of an enormous sense of humor,” Dietz said. “In that respect he was absolutely unique among those Washington egos seeking for the headlines.”
Other Mentions
Many people took to social media on Friday morning to express their condolences for Simpson’s passing.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, expressed his condolences on X.
“Saddened by the loss of former Senator Al Simpson, who served our country and the people of Wyoming for over 30 years. My thoughts and prayers are with his family,” he wrote.
Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin worked with Simpson as a member of the fiscal reform commission, calling it one of the most enjoyable and educational experiences of his life. A sense of humor, Durbin said on the Senate floor Friday, is something sorely missing in the Senate these days.
“In addition to his good humor and nice way about him, he was a wonderful person to work with,” Durbin said. “He took me under his shoulder like any member of his own party or family.”
The Wyoming Democratic Party also put out a statement and expressed their condolences to the Simpson family.
“While we as Democrats did not always agree with his perspectives or decisions, there was never any doubt about his profound love for Wyoming and his deep commitment to the nation,” said state party chair Joe Barbuto.
Mary Throne, chairman of the Wyoming Public Services Commission and a 2018 gubernatorial candidate, said on X she volunteered for one of Simpson’s campaigns even though she was a Democrat.
“I believe I switched parties to vote for him in the ‘78 primary for the first and only time in my life,” Throne said. “His legislative legacy will no doubt continue to pay dividends for Wyoming, but his wit and wisdom will last forever.”
Plans for Simpson’s funeral haven’t been announced but the Center of the West said the event will be held at the Christ Episcopal Church in Cody, a fitting venue when considering the street the church is located on is named after the Simpson family. Barrasso said he expects a large attendance at this event.
“The impact that he’s had on Wyoming and the nation is continuing to ripple through generations,” Barrasso said.
