Former Wyoming Governor Matthew Mead is the 2023 Citizen of the West.
The National Western Stock Show proudly announces former Wyoming Governor Matthew Mead as the 2023 Citizen of the West. This prestigious award recognizes those who embody the spirit and determination of the Western pioneer—a true representative of Western lifestyle, ideals, agricultural heritage, and traditions. A committee of community leaders selects recipients.
Mead served two terms as Governor of Wyoming. He is a respected community and government leader throughout the Front Range. As the Governor of Wyoming and United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming, Mead has dedicated his service to representing his constituents, defending the law, managing business, and protecting residents’ rights throughout the Rocky Mountain Region.
Born in Jackson, Wyoming, Mead was raised on the family ranch in Teton County. After graduating from high school, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity University in San Antonio and a law degree from the University of Wyoming. Mead began his career as Assistant County Attorney in Campbell County, Wyoming. Mead’s great grandparents homesteaded in Jackson Hole in the late 1800s, and he has a long family history of serving in government. His great grandfather was a Wyoming State Senator, his mother ran for Governor of Wyoming, and his grandfather, Cliff Hansen, was Governor of Wyoming, a United States Senator, and the National Western Stock Show 1996 Citizen of the West recipient. Now, 27 years later, Matt is recognized and honored as the 2023 Citizen of the West, an extraordinary tribute to him and his family legacy.
Mead has served on significant committees that help preserve valuable resources and protect local businesses, including the State Land and Investment Board and other associations supporting Western heritage and maintaining American values. After serving as Governor, Mead returned to co-managing Mead Land and Livestock and XDIAMOND Development with his wife, Carol Mintzer Mead. He’s currently a partner at Hathaway and Kunz, a law firm in Cheyenne, along with running the cattle ranch in Albany County, Wyoming.
Mead’s connection to the National Western Stock Show is a long-standing Mead family tradition. Each year his family would travels to Denver to attend the stock show and rodeos. They loved seeing the livestock, eating their favorite stock show food, spending valuable time with family, and celebrating their Western heritage.
Mead will be honored as the 44th Citizen of the West during the annual award dinner on January 9, 2023. Proceeds from the event support the National Western Scholarship Trust, awarding 100 scholarships to students attending colleges and universities in Colorado and Wyoming for agricultural science, rural medicine, or veterinary medicine studies.
See this article in the January/February 2023 online edition:
January/February 2023
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