As he walked up to the Wyoming Capitol Building on his first day as an elected member of Wyoming’s legislature in 1979, Sen. Charlie Scott, R-Casper, said he was overcome with a deep respect for the tradition of democratic government.

“That first day, I really got hit with just a feeling of tremendous awe and responsibility,” he said in a Friday phone call with Cowboy State Daily. “Electing the Legislature, having it meet and govern things. That's how free people govern themselves. And here, I had been elected by free people to help in that process.

“That's a pretty awesome responsibility, when you think about it,” he added.

Scott said he was so profoundly struck by this feeling that he vowed never to lose it. Forty-seven years later , the state's senior legislator said it still hasn’

See Full Page