Working with people across  Wyoming, I’ve come to know some great public servants. The emphasis is on the designation of servant.

I’m impressed with those that are servants in every way — simply, quietly serving their neighbors, without a lot of public recognition.

This past week a colleague and friend in the Legislature lost his battle with cancer.

I had worked with John Eklund on various assignments for about 15 years, such as agriculture and water development.

He was with the Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources visit to Afton for a two-day meeting a few years earlier.

(As I do that on occasion, I’ll have the people I work with over to our house for dinner. My wife, Kim has been good to host committees like Ag, the governor, a congressional members and others over the years for a quick meal and friendly conversation.)

At the Afton committee meeting I recall Rep. Eklund  inquiring about some time on the river after the committee work was done. So, after we closed out the meeting, I took him to an outdoor shop and lined him up with the right gear and counsel for a day on the Salt River.

Ag, water or a good fishing trip, John researched all of it and was successful, but more important, I was impressed with his quiet work ethic.

John was a rancher and good Christian man from Albin, Wyoming.

His obituary included this statement, “He established a pattern of life defined with kindness, hard work, and a gentle spirit. He cared deeply for anyone who was blessed and honored to know him.”

That’s my kind of public servant. It was obvious others felt the same way. The Albin Elementary School gymnasium was packed Monday, when I made a quick trip across the state to honor a friend and his family.

I accidentally left my suit hanging  by the front door when I left, so a I made a quick I-80 Walmart stop to pick up nice pants, shirt and tie. When I got there I realized I could have been just fine in my blue jeans and casual shirt. This was Wyoming farm and ranch country. Albin sits just this side of the Nebraska border.

Good memories and good lessons! I understand and relate to people who just quietly roll up their sleeves and go to work.

I’ve tried to make that my approach along the way. If someone has a problem with a state agency, we make the trip to Cheyenne for a simple face-to-face conversation.

The same at the federal level, water problems for Afton with a federal agency, means an in-person visit with the D.C. delegation or breached dams that could affect our western Wyoming power supplies — a quick run to D.C. for a personal visit with the key decision makers.

I appreciate what I see in public servants like John Eklund and others, who simply go to work and get the job done!