As a young 20-something editor of the Star Valley Independent, I was impressed that a U.S. Senator would give me time for an interview.

Al Simpson did. He came through town and stopped by the newspaper office, now the optometrist office,  pulled up an old metal chair that had once belonged to my father’s cafe, and sat down next to my desk for a series of questions.

U.S. Sen. Al Simpson gave  me the time and I appreciated it so many years ago.

At another time he was traveling though Star Valley with his wife Ann and they stopped at the high school for a brief assembly.

After they walked out, I caught them by their car for a quick photo and they agreed. It wasn’t a fancy, stop and pose shot, just a quick shot of the Simpsons while they were in  town.

It turned out to be a great photo, despite my lack of planning.

The Senator’s office called after I had published it and asked if they could use it on some of their formal publications. Without hesitation I agreed.

Later when he was no longer serving as Senator, he was asked to come back and help with the nation’s budgeting process as part of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. Pres. Barack Obama had created the commission which became known as “Simpson-Bowles,” named after the co-chairs Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles.

Tasked with deficit reduction and balancing the budget, the  Simpson Bowles team released their reports.

However, it was an individual, less formal report, that I remember that came from  Sen. Simpson when he was attending an event in Cheyenne and sat down for a short time with a group of us from the State Senate and delivered the news that was something like this, “Boys, we can’t cut ourselves or tax ourselves enough to get out of this.” I remember being a little stunned by his comment, but years later I find there may have been great insight in his comments.

We seem to still be working on it with DOGE.

Finally, one other encounter along the way.

One spring I had traveled from the close of the Legislature in Cheyenne to Cody to help the SVI team with basketball tournament coverage.

We had finished the broadcast for the day and I was outside near the high school loading cameras and gear into the back of the SVI suburban when I became aware of someone standing over me as I was gather up the equipment. I looked up to see Al Simpson, inquiring about our work and SVI.

I introduced myself and noted my current service in the Legislature. That led to a long extended conversation with a few stories from his Wyoming Legislative days.

Each time, Al Simpson was cordial and seemed to enjoy a good conversation. He had time for another person from Wyoming. It didn’t go unnoticed.