Former state senator Geis remembered for his service

WORLAND – Former state senator Gerald “Jerry” Geis is being remembered this month as a thoughtful and great statesman by friends and colleagues

Jerry passed away on Nov. 2 surrounded by his family in Loveland, Colorado.

His friend and former colleague in the Wyoming Senate, U.S. Senator John Barrasso, said that Geis was his friend and mentor, and that he was thoughtful and great to work with. He said his favorite memory of him was “a time in the state senate where someone was talking about all the federal money we could get if we did something, and Geis said ‘Don’t take it! It’s bribery and it’s blackmail!’”

Governor Mark Gordon said, “Gerald Geis was one of the wisest legislators that I ever had the opportunity to work with. He was a thoughtful man with a true understanding of Wyoming agriculture. He will be missed.”

Jerry Geis was born in Ten Sleep on Aug. 31, 1933. When he was 11 years old his family moved to Worland, where he went to school and became involved in the FFA program. At age 14 he started working in his families livestock trucking business, which took him all around the state meeting members of the livestock and agriculture communities. He would go on to own the business and operate it until 1991, after which he worked for McGarvin-Moberly Construction Company until he retired.

Geis’ career in politics began in 1967 when he was elected to the Worland City Council as a write-in candidate. He served on the council until 1975.

Geis was recruited to run for the Wyoming State Senate, and was elected in 1974. He started his career as senator as a member of both the Revenue Committee and Appropriations Committee, and served on these until 1980. From 1981 to 1982, he served as the Wyoming Senate vice president, and from 1983 to 1984 he was the Senate majority floor leader and a member of Rules and Procedures Committee. From 1985 to 1986, Geis served as the president of the Senate. In 1986 he ran for Secretary of State and lost the election, which ended his political career temporarily.

He was later called back into service in 1993 when then Senator Rankin fell ill, and his position had to be filled. He was selected after an appointment process involving Big Horn, Hot Springs and Washakie counties.

From 1993 to 2016, he was a member of many different committees, including: the Education Committee, Agriculture, Public Lands & Water Resources Committee, Select Water Committee, Transportation and Highways Committee, Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs, the Task Force on Office of State Lands Trust Program, the Joint Task Force on Brand Inspection and Recording Programs, Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources, Agriculture and Energy, the Joint Subcommittee on Federal Natural Resource Management and the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee.

He served as chairman for: Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs, the Select Water Committee, the Joint Task Force on Brand Inspection and Recording Programs, Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources, the Joint Subcommittee on Federal Natural Resource Management and the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee.

Of his time spent in office, former State Senator Eli Bebout of Riverton said “He was the kind of guy you wanted to represent you. He loved Wyoming and he worked hard to protect it.”

Another colleague of his, former State Senator Ray Peterson of Cowley said that Geis “Enjoyed public service and the opportunity to represent the people of Wyoming.”

All of his constituents agreed that his vast knowledge of Wyoming made him invaluable in the realms of water, transportation and agriculture, and his experience and achievements in these fields earned him the respect of all as a legislator.

State Representative Mike Greear of Worland, who served his first six years in office alongside Geis, said that he was a great mentor and was very patient. Greear said of him “As a legislator he knew right from wrong and did a lot of good for our county.”

Geis, at the age of 83, retired from his position as Senator in 2017, but would still go on to serve on the advisory board of the Worland Senior Center, where he frequently visited to play cards and enjoy company.

Worland Senior Center Executive Director Wendy Fredricks said, “He was a great person, and I feel like I learned a lot from him.” Fredricks credits Geis with inspiring her to become involved in local government after telling her that “no matter how small you think you are your voice matters.”

Former Wyoming State House Representative Debbie Hammons said she knew Geis as a friend and as a legislator, and that he was remarkable in both capacities. She said, “He didn’t care what political party you were a part of, if he thought you were a good person whose interests were for the benefit of the people who voted you to serve in the legislature, he worked with you.”

In 2005, Geis was inducted into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame in recognition of his efforts to protect the industry that spanned his entire political career.

In 2021, he was inducted into the Washakie County School District No. 1 Hall of Fame.

Worland Mayor Jim Gill said, “He definitely left a living legacy in this community.”

Ten Sleep Mayor Ernie Beckley said, “We were lucky to have him representing us for so many years.”

A celebration of life for Gerald Geis will take place this Sunday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. at the Worland Middle School Auditorium.Former state senator Geis remembered for his service

By SEAN MORTIMER

Staff Reporter

WORLAND – Former state senator Gerald “Jerry” Geis is being remembered this month as a thoughtful and great statesman by friends and colleagues

Jerry passed away on Nov. 2 surrounded by his family in Loveland, Colorado.

His friend and former colleague in the Wyoming Senate, U.S. Senator John Barrasso, said that Geis was his friend and mentor, and that he was thoughtful and great to work with. He said his favorite memory of him was “a time in the state senate where someone was talking about all the federal money we could get if we did something, and Geis said ‘Don’t take it! It’s bribery and it’s blackmail!’”

Governor Mark Gordon said, “Gerald Geis was one of the wisest legislators that I ever had the opportunity to work with. He was a thoughtful man with a true understanding of Wyoming agriculture. He will be missed.”

Jerry Geis was born in Ten Sleep on Aug. 31, 1933. When he was 11 years old his family moved to Worland, where he went to school and became involved in the FFA program. At age 14 he started working in his families livestock trucking business, which took him all around the state meeting members of the livestock and agriculture communities. He would go on to own the business and operate it until 1991, after which he worked for McGarvin-Moberly Construction Company until he retired.

Geis’ career in politics began in 1967 when he was elected to the Worland City Council as a write-in candidate. He served on the council until 1975.

Geis was recruited to run for the Wyoming State Senate, and was elected in 1974. He started his career as senator as a member of both the Revenue Committee and Appropriations Committee, and served on these until 1980. From 1981 to 1982, he served as the Wyoming Senate vice president, and from 1983 to 1984 he was the Senate majority floor leader and a member of Rules and Procedures Committee. From 1985 to 1986, Geis served as the president of the Senate. In 1986 he ran for Secretary of State and lost the election, which ended his political career temporarily.

He was later called back into service in 1993 when then Senator Rankin fell ill, and his position had to be filled. He was selected after an appointment process involving Big Horn, Hot Springs and Washakie counties.

From 1993 to 2016, he was a member of many different committees, including: the Education Committee, Agriculture, Public Lands & Water Resources Committee, Select Water Committee, Transportation and Highways Committee, Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs, the Task Force on Office of State Lands Trust Program, the Joint Task Force on Brand Inspection and Recording Programs, Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources, Agriculture and Energy, the Joint Subcommittee on Federal Natural Resource Management and the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee.

He served as chairman for: Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs, the Select Water Committee, the Joint Task Force on Brand Inspection and Recording Programs, Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources, the Joint Subcommittee on Federal Natural Resource Management and the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee.

Of his time spent in office, former State Senator Eli Bebout of Riverton said “He was the kind of guy you wanted to represent you. He loved Wyoming and he worked hard to protect it.”

Another colleague of his, former State Senator Ray Peterson of Cowley said that Geis “Enjoyed public service and the opportunity to represent the people of Wyoming.”

All of his constituents agreed that his vast knowledge of Wyoming made him invaluable in the realms of water, transportation and agriculture, and his experience and achievements in these fields earned him the respect of all as a legislator.

State Representative Mike Greear of Worland, who served his first six years in office alongside Geis, said that he was a great mentor and was very patient. Greear said of him “As a legislator he knew right from wrong and did a lot of good for our county.”

Geis, at the age of 83, retired from his position as Senator in 2017, but would still go on to serve on the advisory board of the Worland Senior Center, where he frequently visited to play cards and enjoy company.

Worland Senior Center Executive Director Wendy Fredricks said, “He was a great person, and I feel like I learned a lot from him.” Fredricks credits Geis with inspiring her to become involved in local government after telling her that “no matter how small you think you are your voice matters.”

Former Wyoming State House Representative Debbie Hammons said she knew Geis as a friend and as a legislator, and that he was remarkable in both capacities. She said, “He didn’t care what political party you were a part of, if he thought you were a good person whose interests were for the benefit of the people who voted you to serve in the legislature, he worked with you.”

In 2005, Geis was inducted into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame in recognition of his efforts to protect the industry that spanned his entire political career.

In 2021, he was inducted into the Washakie County School District No. 1 Hall of Fame.

Worland Mayor Jim Gill said, “He definitely left a living legacy in this community.”

Ten Sleep Mayor Ernie Beckley said, “We were lucky to have him representing us for so many years.”

A celebration of life for Gerald Geis will take place this Sunday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. at the Worland Middle School Auditorium.