Larry Gilbertz

Lawrence Eugene Gilbertz (February 3, 1929 – November 26, 2011) was an American politician who served in the Wyoming Senate from 1993 to 1998.

Early life and family

Larry Gilbertz's ancestors immigrated to Nez Perce, Idaho in 1905 from Luxembourg. His father Jacob moved near Savageton, Wyoming, after the passage of the Stock-Raising Homestead Act in 1916. After arriving in Wyoming, Jacob enlisted in the United States Army. While traveling to Europe by ship, he fell ill with the flu, and spent the rest of World War I recuperating in a New York City hospital. Jacob Gilbertz returned to Wyoming in 1919. In 1928, he married Lena Schlautmann DeCourcey, whose first husband had died the previous year. Larry Gilbertz was born to Jacob and Lena on February 3, 1929. He had had one biological sibling, a younger sister named Dorothy, and was raised in a blended family.[1][2] Gilbertz graduated from Campbell County High School.[3]

After serving with the United States military in Allied-occupied Germany, Larry Gilbertz met and married Verna Ann Howell in September 1955. Gilbertz worked for a uranium company based in Douglas, but left the industry to maintain the family ranch. The couple retired from ranching in 1986, nine years after the discovery of oil on the property.[1][2]

Public service career

Larry Gilbertz was a member of the District 9 school board, the Court Reform Committee, the farmers' cooperative, and served on the board of two banks in his hometown of Gillette.[1][2] He ran unopposed in the 1992 Republican Party primary for the newly established Wyoming Senate district 23,[2][4] and faced Democratic Party candidate Sandy Daly in the general election.[5] Due in part to his wife's diagnosis of ovarian caner in 1996, Gilbertz chose to retire from the state senate upon the completion of his second term in office.[2] He was succeeded by Steven Youngbauer.[6] Gilbertz died at home in Gillette on November 26, 2011, aged 82.[7] Governor Matt Mead ordered the Wyoming state flag to be flown at half-staff on November 30, 2011 to commemorate Gilbertz.[8]

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References
  1. Brown, Kathy (October 17, 2011). "Campbell County's historic ranches: the Gilbertz Ranch". Gillette News Record. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  2. Payne, Nathan (November 27, 2011). "Former state Sen. Larry Gilbertz dies at 82". Gillette News Record. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  3. "Lawrence E. Gilbertz". Gillette News Record. November 28, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  4. "[continued from A1]". Casper Star Tribune. November 17, 1992. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  5. Pelky, Charles (October 20, 1992). "Campbell's Senate District 23 race: Candidates Gilbertz, Daly differ on state education funding". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  6. "Mineral industry official eyes Senate". Casper Star Tribune. April 19, 1998. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  7. "Former Sen. Larry Gilbertz dead at 82". Billings Gazette. Associated Press. November 27, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  8. "Gillette flags fly at half mast". Gillette News Record. November 30, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
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