Mike Sullivan (governor)

Michael John Sullivan (born September 22, 1939) is an American lawyer and former politician who was the 29th Governor of Wyoming, serving from 1987 to 1995, and United States Ambassador to Ireland, serving from 1998 to 2001.

Mike Sullivan
29th Governor of Wyoming
In office January 5, 1987 – January 2, 1995
Preceded by	Edgar Herschler
Succeeded by	Jim Geringer
United States Ambassador to Ireland
In office October 22, 1998 – June 20, 2001
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Jean Kennedy Smith
Succeeded by	Richard J. Egan
Personal details
Born	Michael John Sullivan (1939-09-22) September 22, 1939 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Jane Metzler
Education	University of Wyoming (BS, JD)
Profession	Attorney

Biography

Sullivan was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His father, J. B. Sullivan, moved the family to Douglas, Wyoming, to open a law practice. Mike Sullivan graduated from Douglas High School as the class salutatorian. He continued his education at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, where he earned a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering and then a law degree.[1]

On September 2, 1961, Sullivan married Jane Metzler of Riverton in ceremonies in Powell. They made their home in Casper.

Sullivan practiced law with the firm of Brown, Drew, Apostolos, Massey, and Sullivan for twenty years. Sullivan had never sought elective office when, in 1986, he ran for and won the Democratic nomination for governor. Many observers believed that, following three terms with a Democratic governor (Ed Herschler) the chances for another Democrat to gain that post would be remote. Nonetheless, after a hard-fought campaign, Sullivan defeated Republican nominee Peter K. Simpson. In his 1990 reelection, Sullivan defeated the rancher and businesswoman Mary Mead of Jackson, daughter of Republican former Governor and U.S. Senator Clifford P. Hansen. Sullivan received 104,638 votes (65.4 percent) to her 55,471 ballots (34.6 percent).

Sullivan tapped the journalist Dennis E. Curran, a native of Wisconsin, to serve from 1987 to 1994 as his press secretary, after which time Curran launched the Wyoming Business Report.[2] He named a Republican, Joseph B. Meyer, as attorney general.[3]

Sullivan ran for the U.S. Senate in 1994, but lost 59-39 percent to Representative Craig L. Thomas during the national Republican wave of 1994.

Four years after his governorship ended, Sullivan was appointed as United States Ambassador to Ireland by President Bill Clinton, a post he held from 1999 to 2001.[4]

His official gubernatorial portrait was painted by artist Michele Rushworth and unveiled in the state capitol by Governor Dave Freudenthal in 2008. The portrait shows Sullivan holding his signature grey cowboy hat. In 2012, Sullivan was honored at the University of Wyoming with the dedication of a landscaped plaza bordering the university's Prexy's Pasture.[5]

Sullivan retired as a partner at the Casper office of the law firm of Lewis, Roca, Rothgerber, & Christie in 2015.[6][7]

See also

• List of Governors of Wyoming

References

1. "Wyoming Governor Michael J. Sullivan". National Governors Association. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
2. "Fremont County: The Ranger Digest, April 11, 2012". dailyranger.com. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
3. "Joan Barron, "Wyoming State Treasurer Joe Meyer's career arc left tracks", October 9, 2012". Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
4. Wyoming State Archives official gubernatorial biography Archived 2011-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
5. https://www.lrrc.com/Michael-J-Sullivan-Honored-with-Dedication-of-Plaza-at-University-of-Wyoming-10-16-2012
6. Rothgerber, Johnson & Lyons' biography of Michael J. Sullivan Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
7. "Lewis Roca Rothgerber to Change Service Model for Wyoming Clients - Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie". www.lrrc.com. Retrieved 2018-07-04.

External links

• National Governors Association
• Appearances on C-SPAN

Party political offices
Preceded by Edgar Herschler	Democratic nominee for Governor of Wyoming 1986, 1990	Succeeded by Kathy Karpan
Preceded by John P. Vinich	Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Wyoming (Class 1) 1994	Succeeded by Mel Logan
Political offices
Preceded by Edgar Herschler	Governor of Wyoming January 5, 1987 –January 2, 1995	Succeeded by Jim Geringer
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Jean Kennedy Smith	United States Ambassador to Ireland October 22, 1998 – June 20, 2001	Succeeded by Richard Egan