Hansen, Clifford P. (Clifford Peter), 1912-2009

Senator, governor.

Clifford P. Hansen was born October 16, 1912. He grew up in Jackson Hole, WY. He received a bachelor's in animal science from the University of Wyoming in 1934. The same year he married Martha Close, whom he was married to for 75 years until his death. From 1943-1966 he was a Teton County commissioner, and opposed the expansion of Teton National Park. From 1946-1966 he was a member of the University of Wyoming's Board of Trustees. Hansen was active in several agriculture and ranching groups and served as president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association from 1953-1955. He became governor of Wyoming in 1962. Hansen served as a U.S. senator for Wyoming from 1967-1978. He served on the Finance Committee, Special Committee on Aging, and the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. During his term in the senate he backed reservoir projects in Wyoming, designated national recreation and wilderness areas in Wyoming, and placed a ceiling on federal expenditures. He was integral in passing a bill to increase the percentage of Wyoming's mineral severance tax. He was one of eight senators to vote against sending the Equal Rights Amendment to the state level. After resigning from his term in the senate he returned to Jackson, WY and lived there until his death in October, 2009.

Rancher, president of University of Wyoming Board of Trustees (1955-1962), vice president of the American National Cattlemen's Association, governor of Wyoming (1963-1967), and U.S. senator (1967-1979).

Clifford P. Hansen was born October 16, 1912. He grew up in Jackson Hole, WY. He received a bachelor’s in animal science from the University of Wyoming in 1934. The same year he married Martha Close, who he was married to for 75 years until his death. From 1943-1966 he was a Teton County commissioner, and opposed the expansion of Teton National Park. From 1946-1966 he was a member of the University of Wyoming’s Board of Trustees. Hansen was active in several agriculture and ranching groups and served as president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association from 1953-1955. He became governor of Wyoming in 1962. Hansen served as a U.S. senator for Wyoming from 1967-1978. He served on the Finance Committee, Special Committee on Aging, and the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. During his term in the senate he backed reservoir projects in Wyoming, designated national recreation and wilderness areas in Wyoming, and placed a ceiling on federal expenditures. He was one of eight senators to vote against sending the Equal Rights Amendment to the state level. One of his best-known achievements was increasing the percentage of Wyoming’s mineral severance tax. After resigning from his term in the senate he returned to Jackson, WY and lived there until his death in October, 2009.