In remembrance of U.S. Senator Alan Simpson, former Lane Center advisory council member

By
Kylie Gordon
Three male panelists, including Alan Simpson, sit on a stage for a symposium
Former U.S. Senator Alan K. Simpson, far right, sits on a panel at the Bill Lane Center's 2015 State of the West Symposium. Simpson made significant contributions to the Bill Lane Center as an advisory council member.

The Bill Lane Center for the American West is reflecting with sadness on the recent passing of Alan Kooi Simpson, former member of the Lane Center’s Advisory Council​. A three-term U.S. Senator from Wyoming, Simpson was a distinguished statesman and a dedicated advocate for the American West. He passed away on March 14, 2025, at the age of 93 in Cody, Wyoming. Born on September 2, 1931, in Denver, Colorado, he was the son of Milward Simpson, a former Wyoming governor and U.S. senator, and Lorna Kooi Simpson. ​

Simpson's political career was marked by nearly two decades of public service as a Republican member of the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1997. Not without controversy, Simpson was known for a folksy, irreverent style, an ability to bridge partisan divides, and rallying Republican senators around key legislative agendas. By today’s standards, Simpson was politically moderate, supporting abortion and LGBTQ rights and making strong contributions to bipartisan efforts on an Obama-era debt-reduction commission. ​

Beyond his legislative accomplishments, Simpson was deeply committed to preserving and promoting the heritage of the American West. He served as chairman emeritus of the Board of Trustees for the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, an institution dedicated to the art, history, and culture of the region. His passion for the West was a family affair, with his son Colin joining him on the Center's Board of Trustees, his brother Pete serving on the McCracken Research Library Advisory Board, and his daughter Sue Simpson-Gallagher contributing to the Whitney Western Art Museum Advisory Board. ​

While on the Bill Lane Center’s Advisory Council, Simpson’s insights, leadership and guidance were instrumental in advancing the Center's mission to understand and address the unique challenges facing the region. He also made contributions to the Center’s flagship State of the West Symposium assessing the economic and fiscal health of Western North America. In 2015, it was Simpson who introduced Wyoming Governor Matthew H. Mead for his State of the West keynote.

Remarking on both his political and physical stature (Simpson was 6’7” tall), Lane Center Founding Director David Kennedy said, “He stood tall as a man of the West. He was a great public servant, and one of the funniest people in North America.”

In addition to his work at Stanford, from 1997 to 2000, Simpson taught at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and he served for two years as the director of the Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics.

In recognition of his lifelong service, Simpson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden in 2022. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Ann, their three children—Colin, William, and Susan—and his brother, Pete. Simpson's legacy as a public servant, educator, and champion of the American West will continue to inspire future generations.

 

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