Joseph John Hickey was born in Rawlins, Wyoming in 1911 and established a legal practice in Rawlins following his graduation from the University of Wyoming Law School in 1934. After serving in World War II from 1943-1946, he was appointed U.S. District Attorney for Wyoming in 1949 and served until 1955. In 1958 he was elected governor of Wyoming as a Democrat. Following the death of U.S. Senator-elect Keith Thomson in December 1960, Hickey resigned as governor to have his Secretary of State, Jack Gage, appoint him to the vacant U.S. Senate seat. Hickey served in the U.S. Senate from 1961-1962 and lost his reelection bid to Milward L. Simpson. He returned to his legal practice following the election and practiced law in Cheyenne. In 1966 he was appointed to the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, a position he held until his death in September 1970. {Biography or History}
From the guide to the J.J. Hickey Papers, 1954-1962, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)
