Longtime Ten Sleep rancher to be inducted into Cowboy Hall of Fame

Ten Sleep rancher and native Wyomingite Samuel (Sam) Reed Hampton will be inducted into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame next month.

Hampton was born in Thermopolis, Wyoming, on June 10, 1935, to Carl and Wanda Hampton.

Hampton has worked with sheep and cattle on the family ranch outside of Ten Sleep, built in 1911, known as Hampton Sheep Ranch, since he was a child. "Working with livestock has its rewards. You take care of them, and they take care of you," Hampton said. Phyllis Hampton, Sam's wife, recalled that he used to take his children cow trailing with him. "He lived his life on a horse," she said.

Phyllis was born to John and Ann Lass Hefenieder on August 24, 1936. Phyllis and Sam spent their childhood together until she turned 9 years old. At that time, the Hefenieder family moved to Portland, Oregon, to be closer to Ann's family.

Phyllis' family visited Worland frequently over the years to ensure the kids could see each other. It wasn't until the summer between their junior and senior years that Sam and Phyllis went on their first date. Due to the fact, that Phyllis lived in Portland, they had to make long distance work. Sam felt confident enough after nine dates to travel to Oregon and ask for her hand in marriage. On Aug. 21, 1955, Phyllis and Sam were married. Throughout their 69 years of marriage, they have raised four children - three sons and a daughter. Their children are Dan; Jana; Steve; and Justin.

Throughout their childhood, their children have helped with the ranch. "They learned how to drive a truck or a tractor early, and those that liked horses were on their horses early in life, like our daughter started her life on a horse," Phyllis said. The ranch has been maintained by Sam and Phyllis' kids, along with their spouses, since Sam and Phylis's retirement in 2015.

Sam and Phyllis never seemed to struggle with getting help if they needed it. "If you want good, good neighbors, first you must be one," Sam said.

There were many fond memories of Sam among each of his children. Jana Branger remembered, "Dad would get together with his cousin and his best friend. He would get out his old guitar, and he would play, and they would sing Jambalaya. It was fun because that didn't happen very often."

"Dad's genuine and generous. He'll help anyone that's in trouble. He'll give his shirt off his back and help you out whenever he can," Steve explained.

The WCHF State Board of Directors voted on the nominees from across the state during its annual meeting April 27. The 11th annual induction ceremony will be at the Ramkota Hotel in Casper, Oct. 11 and 12. It is open to the public.

Regional committees in 10 different areas of Wyoming researched and scored over 50 nominations and sent the top picks to the WCHF State Board of Directors. The State Board also selected several nominees.

Formed for historical, cultural, literary, and educational purposes, WCHF's chief goal is "To preserve, promote, perpetuate, publish and document Wyoming's working cowboy and ranching history through researching, profiling and honoring individuals who broke the first trails and introduced that culture to this state. WCHF plans to collect, display and preserve the stories, photos and artifacts of such individuals and anything else that will honor and highlight their contributions to our history."

Among the Class of 2024 are the following: Region 6: Washakie County - Samuel Reed Hampton, Worland; Park County - George E. Brown, Cody Region 5: Johnson County - John P. Gammon, Buffalo Region 8: Hot Springs County - Jim Dowdy, Thermopolis; Fremont County - Richard D. Ellis, Lander; Carl Riley, Riverton; and Charles Randall "Tuffy" Van Patten, Lander.