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Writer

Jackie Dorothy

Jackie Dorothy is a reporter for Cowboy State Daily based in central Wyoming.

Over the past 20 years, Jackie has worked in television, radio and print across Wyoming. In this role, she has won numerous writing and history awards including the Wyoming Governor’s Journalist of the Year and SBA Journalist of the Year.

Jackie is also the podcast host of ‘Pioneers of Outlaw Country’ that explores little known historical stories of Wyoming with entertaining narrative.

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Latest from Jackie Dorothy

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem made a pit stop in the Bighorn Basin overnight Sunday. Her Coast Guard jet landed in Worland and Noem spent the night at a ranch near Ten Sleep. She was gone early Monday before most people knew she was there.

Kristi Noem Lands In Worland, Spends Night On Ranch Near Ten Sleep

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem made a pit stop in the Bighorn Basin overnight Sunday. Her Coast Guard jet landed in Worland and Noem spent the night at a ranch near Ten Sleep. She was gone early Monday before most people knew she was there.

Jackie DorothyDecember 30, 2025

Railroad man Dick Nelson witnessed the wild times at rowdy railroad towns and wrote about his adventures, preserving the history for future generations, including his own grandchildren who are honoring his legacy. (He is the furthest right man standing on the caboose deck.)

Wyoming History: Dick Nelson, The Pioneering Railroad Man With Ice In His Veins

Dick Nelson was 12 when he came to Wyoming Territory in 1887 and spent 45 years watching shootouts as a railroad man. He also earned a reputation early as having ice in his veins, not even flinching when Texas cowhands shot at him.

Jackie DorothyDecember 30, 2025

The Dry Gulchers gang ran their own agenda around Sheridan in the 1960s, robbing banks, hanging outlaws and harassing tourists. They paid $1,500 each to be part of the posse that staged fake Wild West adventures for visitors.

Wyoming History: Sheridan’s Dry Gulchers Gang Paid To Rob, Hang, And Harass Tourists

The Dry Gulchers gang ran their own agenda around Sheridan in the 1960s, robbing banks, hanging outlaws and harassing tourists. They paid $1,500 each to be part of the posse that staged fake Wild West adventures for visitors.

Jackie DorothyDecember 29, 2025

For years, Baggs, Wyoming, Deputy Sheriff Bob Meldrum had legally — and eagerly — killed accused rustlers and outlaws. A quick-draw artist, his bloodlust caught up with him in 1912 when he killed the wrong man and was nearly lynched by a mob. 

Wyoming History: The Baggs Quick-Draw Lawman Who Liked Killing Too Much

Bob Meldrum was known as "Wyoming’s mysterious badman” for his skill with a rifle — and eagerness to use it. He was hired as an assassin by the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association and later went on to kill a man just because he was annoyed by his singing.

Jackie DorothyDecember 29, 2025

In the height of the gold rush, South Pass City was the place for men to strike it rich — and for 22 of them, get murdered if they did. That’s because Polly Bartlett, the “Deadly Damsel,” would seduce, poison, and rob them.

Wyoming History: The Deadly Damsel Of South Pass Who Seduced, Then Murdered 22 Men

In the height of the gold rush, South Pass City was the place for men to strike it rich — and for 22 of them, get murdered if they did. That’s because Polly Bartlett, the “Deadly Damsel,” would seduce, poison, and rob them.

Jackie DorothyDecember 27, 2025

Jackie tags 12 24 25

Jackie Dorothy: Wyoming Sleuths Help Return WWI Dog Tags Buried In France For A Century

Jackie Dorothy writes, "As a historian, I have heard it said that a 'second death' occurs is when someone is forgotten here on earth. It is thus one of my greatest joys when I get to be part of someone coming back to life, so to speak, when their story is shared. "Of all the stories I was able to unearth in 2025, my favorite story that exemplifies someone ‘coming back to life’ would be the story of the World War I dog tags and how strangers came together half a world apart to find the families that they belonged to."

Jackie DorothyDecember 24, 2025

Then a teenage runaway, Joe Meek survived a brutal winter stretch lost along the Yellowstone River before finding Capt. William Sublette’s mountain men right before Christmas 1829. Though young, he’d impressed them enough to call him one of their own.

How Christmas 1829 Turned Joe Meek From A Greenhorn Into A Mountain Man

Then a teenage runaway, Joe Meek survived a brutal winter stretch lost along the Yellowstone River before finding Capt. William Sublette’s mountain men right before Christmas 1829. Though young, he’d impressed them enough to call him one of their own.

Jackie DorothyDecember 24, 2025

Red Butte overlooking the Salt Creek Valley and the bandits' lair.

Wyoming History: Locals Visit Outlaws In 1888 To Spread Christmas Cheer

It was Christmas Eve in 1888 when a father and his two young sons brought gifts to their neighbors — four outlaws hiding out in Salt Creek Canyon in the Wyoming Territory. They almost got shot before making friends with the bunch.

Jackie DorothyDecember 23, 2025

Clay Gibbons, Washakie County Historian, has stood on several historic sites exactly 100 years after the event occurred. He said that it is a profound experience.

Worland Man Relives Wyoming’s Wild West Past — Exactly 100 Years To The Day

Clay Gibbons has made it his mission to visit the site of Wyoming's most notorious historical events, including the shooting of 14-year-old Willie Nickell, the hanging of Tom Horn and the Spring Creek Raid. He does this exactly 100 years after they happened.

Jackie DorothyDecember 21, 2025

When Prohibition began in 1919, Joe Carey made bank-funded runs to Canada to “import liquor” for the good citizens of Greybull. He did so well that he was able to buy several businesses, including the Greybull Hotel, and retired from the “importing business” in 1923 to marry and raise his family.

Wyoming History: Rum Runner Joe Carey Ran Greybull’s Underworld In The 1920s

During Prohibition, 23-year-old Joe Carey of Greybull ran bootleg liquor from Canada with help from a local banker. His daring rum runs made him rich enough to buy businesses and go legit once Prohibition ended.

Jackie DorothyDecember 21, 2025

The National Finals Rodeo saw tighter competition this year with a trial run of a new quarter-point scoring system. A computer system upgrade meas judges can score by full or half points, which opens the door for averages with quarter-points instead.

New Rodeo Points System At NFR Makes Scoring More Precise And More Competitive

The National Finals Rodeo saw tighter competition this year with a trial run of a new quarter-point scoring system. A computer system upgrade means judges can score by full or half points, which opens the door for averages with quarter-points.

Jackie DorothyDecember 16, 2025

Left, this original authenticated tintype of Billy the Kid sold for $2.3 million at auction. This record sale, the most ever paid for an outlaw photo, created a buzz and a surge of fake Billy the Kid photos. That's what many historians think this photo at the right is, an image that claims to show the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid in a sweater playing croquet. American West historian Corey Recko, who has authenticated other historic photos, believes the croquet player is not Billy the Kid.

Photo Of Billy The Kid Playing Croquet Debunked Just Like All The Others (Except One)

There has only been one verified photo of Billy The Kid and it sold for $2.3 million in 2011. Since then, there have been a wave of newly "discovered" Billy The Kid photos but all have been debunked, including the one of him supposedly playing croquet.

Jackie DorothyDecember 14, 2025

Other Authors

Brody Cress of Hillsdale, Wyoming, secured a top spot at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas on Monday by riding Virgil, a legendary animal voted the best saddle bronc horse of 2025.

Brody Cress Rides Legendary Bronc To Thrilling Top-2 Finish At NFR

Brody Cress of Hillsdale, Wyoming, secured a top spot at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas on Monday by riding Virgil, a legendary animal voted the best saddle bronc horse of 2025.

Jackie DorothyDecember 11, 2025

Saddle Bronc riders Brody Cress and Brody Wells and bullfighter Dustry Tuckness are all participating in the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas

Wyoming Cowboys Take Center Stage At National Finals Rodeo In Las Vegas

Brody Wells of Powell and Brody Cress of Hillsdale are both competing this week in the country’s most prestigious rodeo — The National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. They're joined by Meeteetse bullfighter Dusty Tuckness who's been invited an unprecedented 17 times.

Jackie DorothyDecember 08, 2025

Darious Tillman, one of the "Generation Warrior" participants.

'Generation Warrior' Documentary Dives Deep Into Lives Of Wyoming’s Native Youth

“Generation Warrior," a documentary that premieres on Wyoming PBS on Tuesday, follows eight Native teens from the Wind River Reservation over four years. It highlights their family bonds, culture and resilience in the face of big life decisions.

Jackie DorothyDecember 08, 2025

The first Christmas tree in Wyoming was put up in Deer Creek, near present-day Glenrock in 1859. Captain Raynolds read scriptures in English and Braeuninger preached the gospel in German. They sang hymns, enjoyed the Christmas tree and presented small gifts to Indians in attendance

Wyoming History: German Missionaries Put Up The First Christmas Tree In 1858

It was 167 years ago when Wyoming’s first Christmas tree was decorated with candles by German missionaries who had brought their traditions to the remote territory. From this, the tradition grew until nearly every home had a tree of its own.

Jackie DorothyDecember 08, 2025

Warren “Bud” Wittstruck was a Cheyenne stonemason and artist whose hand-carved monuments and historic markers are works of art. His craftsmanship left a legacy etched in stone long before technology replaced his craft.

Cheyenne Stonemason's Hand-Carved Monuments Are Etched Deep Across Wyoming

Warren “Bud” Wittstruck was a Cheyenne stonemason and artist whose hand-carved monuments and historic markers all across Wyoming are works of art. His craftsmanship left a legacy etched in stone long before technology replaced his craft.

Jackie DorothyDecember 08, 2025

Calamity Jane in Billings, Montana, before she boarded a train for Deadwood, South Dakota in the spring of 1903. When she got aboard, she didn’t have a ticket and conductor Dick Nelson explained he was going to have to let her off in Sheridan, Wyoming. Instead sympathetic fans paid her fare and everyone made sure she made it safely to her destination.

Wyoming History: Fans Saved A Destitute Calamity Jane On Her Last Ride Home

Destitute and convinced she was dying, Calamity Jane boarded a train in Billings, Montana, without a ticket. When she was about to be kicked off in Sheridan, Wyoming, sympathetic fans paid her way so she could get home to Deadwood.

Jackie DorothyDecember 07, 2025

Joey Puettman of Sheridan, Wyoming, has been building fly rods since he was 10 years old. He now owns two fly rod companies and has taught over 3,000 people how to build their own fly rods.

Sheridan Man Builds Premium Fly-Fishing Rods — And Teaches Others To Make Them

Joey Puettman of Sheridan turned his passion for fly-fishing into a career building premium fly fishing rods. Over the past 20 years, Puettman has also taught more than 3,000 people how to fly fish and build their own rods.

Jackie DorothyDecember 07, 2025

O.P. Hanna was a frontiersman, American Indian fighter and the first to claim a homestead in Sheridan County. He was prompted to write down his adventures after a meeting up with a Sioux warrior who was once his enemy,

O.P. Hanna: Trapper, Indian Fighter Who Claimed First Homestead In Sheridan County

O.P. Hanna was a frontiersman, American Indian fighter and the first to claim a homestead in Sheridan County. He was prompted to write down his adventures after a meeting up with a Sioux warrior who was once his enemy.

Jackie DorothyDecember 01, 2025

The LIM-49 Spartan was designed to intercept attacking nuclear warheads from ballistic missiles at long range. A 5-megaton thermonuclear warhead was planned to destroy the incoming ICBM warheads, but the test missile had a dummy warhead.

At Height Of Cold War, Wyoming Man Tested Missiles To Shoot Down Russian ICBMs

At the height of the Cold War, a new University of Wyoming grad from Buffalo became part of a team testing antiballistic missiles on the Marshall Islands. His charge was to make sure America could shoot down Russian ICBMs.

Jackie DorothyNovember 30, 2025

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