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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

When historian and rancher Clay Gibbons saved the logs from an old cottonwood cabin, he was unaware that the rifle slots hand carved into the logs would have been protection against lawmen. The cabin was the temporary hideout for Teton Jackson, a notorious horse thief, who was captured in the cabin by Sheriff Frank Canton in 1885.

Wyoming Man Had No Idea His Pile Of Old Logs Was Outlaw’s 1885 Hideout Cabin

Historian Clay Gibbons unknowingly rescued a notorious outlaw's 1885 hideout cabin, complete with rifle slots from a sheriff’s raid. Gibbons discovered that not only had he stood in the cabin he was looking for, but the cabin was on Gibbons' own property.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 18, 2026

For decades, Gene Baldwin was known around Weston County as the “Voice of the Dogies” at Newcastle High School football games. He also was a rancher, teacher and cowboy poet. He died in December at age 99.

Wyoming People: Gene Baldwin Was The ‘Voice Of The Dogies’ For Newcastle Football

For decades, Gene Baldwin was known around Weston County as the “Voice of the Dogies” at Newcastle High School football games. He also was a rancher, teacher and cowboy poet. He died in December at age 99.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 11, 2026

Thornburgh, an orphaned pup from a 1879 Ute battle, became Fort Bridger’s hero dog by stopping thieves, saving soldiers from knives, and alerting soldiers to Indian raids. Thornburgh was so well-loved he was buried in a fenced grave with a headstone.

Wyoming History: Meet Thornburgh, The Hero Dog Of Fort Bridger

Thornburgh, an orphaned pup from a 1879 Ute battle, became Fort Bridger’s hero dog by stopping thieves, saving soldiers from knives, and alerting soldiers to Indian raids. Thornburgh was so well-loved he was buried in a fenced grave with a headstone.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 11, 2026

Larry Kloster of Casper is passionate for all things Corvette and believes that the cars are made for driving, not just for admiring. He has taken his cars on cross-country trips and will take hospice patients and others for a spin.

Nothing Better For Casper Man Than Taking Hospice Patients For Rides In Corvettes

Larry Kloster of Casper uses his museum-quality collection of Corvettes to connect with people. “I take hospice patients for rides, which is the coolest part,” he said. Kloster has been on the board of directors of Central Wyoming Hospice for 7 years.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 11, 2026

LAPD Policeman Jack Brush would take his vacations in Yellowstone National Park every year and eventually signed up as a law enforcement ranger where his favorite assignment was riding his horse, Ace, on patrol around Old Faithful.

LA Cop Who Helped Catch Charles Manson Found Escape By Patrolling Yellowstone On Horseback

Jack Brush was a hardened Los Angeles cop who worked during the L.A. riots and helped catch Charles Manson. In the summers, he would escape the big city to work as a cop in Yellowstone, patrolling the park on horseback.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 04, 2026

When Thermopolis mom Connie Hoffman was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she was overwhelmed by expenses and relied on fundraising to travel to specialists. She now helps others with cancer in the time she has left raising money for others.

Faced With Her Own Terminal Diagnosis, Thermopolis Mom Helps Others With Cancer

When Thermopolis mom Connie Hoffman was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she was overwhelmed by expenses and relied on fundraising to travel to specialists. In the time she has left, she is spending her time raising money for others who have cancer.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 04, 2026

Sixty of 88 books written by Michael and Kathleen Gear had been illegally downloaded and used by Anthropic to train their AI program how to write using the authors’ personal voices. While the couple received a settlement for the illegal use of their books, Anthropic can still legally scan and use their books to train their robots to think like them.

Wyoming Authors Win Against AI Stealing Their Work, But May Ultimately Lose

Best-selling authors Michael and Kathleen Gear had 60 of their books illegally downloaded and used as training tools for an artificial intelligence company. A judge ruled that their books were stolen, but that it's OK to use legally bought books to train AI platforms.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 03, 2026

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

Other Authors

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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

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

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