[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1427-S1429]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SALUTE TO LORNA SIMPSON
Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, on Sunday, we lost an American Treasure,
with the death of Rose Kennedy. This morning, we have lost another,
with the passing of Lorna Simpson, the mother of our colleague from
Wyoming.
Married to Milward Simpson in Sheridan, WY in 1929, Mrs. Simpson
devoted the next 65 years of her life to her family, her community, and
the entire State of Wyoming.
Even before her husband's election as Governor of Wyoming in 1954,
Lorna Simpson was always reaching out to help others. She volunteered
at the local hospital, served as president of the Cody Red Cross, and
was appointed to the local planning commission.
During this time, she also was raising two sons, and serving as a
full partner in her husband's many business ventures, which included a
newspaper, a radio station, and a dairy.
Mrs. Simpson served as the first lady of Wyoming from 1954-58, where
she was personally responsible for remodeling and restoring some of the
beauty and historical value of the old governor's mansion. Thanks to
her leadership, a building that was once closed to the public, now
stands as a monument to Wyoming's history.
When her husband was elected to the U.S.
Senate in 1962, Lorna continued her tireless devotion to others by
serving as the Representative of the Women of the United States to the
Organization of American States, and as a delegate to the
interparliamentarian union in Australia.
When Milward retired from the Senate in 1966, he and Lorna returned
to Cody, where they dedicated themselves to their community and to each
other. They had been married 64 years when Milward passed away in 1993.
Senator Simpson has told me of a Wyoming chapel that was remodeled
under the leadership of Milward and Lorna. For the inscription on the
stained glass window in the chapel, they chose the words ``I am with
you always.''
Milward and Lorna Simpson will now be ``together always'' in the
hearts of their family, and the many others who loved them.
I know the Senate joins with me in extending our sympathies to
Senator Simpson, to Ann, and to their entire family.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a biography--``On the
Passing of Lorna Kooi Simpson''--be made a part of the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
On the Passing of Lorna Kooi Simpson
Lorna Kooi Simpson was born on August 19, 1900 in Chicago,
IL to Mary Helen Kooi and Peter Kooi. Mr. Kooi was a Dutch
immigrant who came to the United States from Holland. He was
orphaned at an early age and went to work as an employee of
the Burlington Northern Railroad. After working for many
years as a railroad clerk in Chicago, he then ``went West''
with the railroad, and later became a very successful
businessman and eventually the founder of the town of Kooi,
Wyoming--a coal mining community near Sheridan.
After attending schools in the Chicago area and the Lewis
Academy, Lorna was a student at Miss Mason's Castle School in
Tarrytown, NY for 2 years. At the school, Lorna was a
classmate of Clare Boothe Luce and Better Greene Bond, the
mother of former governor and now U.S. Senator Kit Bond. At
the Castle School, Lorna studied art, music, history and
sculpture. Lorna went on to attend the University of
Illinois.
As a young girl, Lorna traveled extensively with her
parents. In 1919 and the early 1920's she visited Egypt,
France, England, the British Isles, Europe, Turkey, Greece,
Algiers, South America, the Andes, Brazil, Chile, Argentina
and Peru. She even flew in a single-engine aircraft over
Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro in those early days--
such extensive travels were rather uncommon in those years
for either an adult or a child! She loved to travel and
visited many historical and archaeological sites over the
years.
On June 29, 1929, in Sheridan, Wyoming, Lorna married a
young lawyer from Cody, Wyoming, Milward L. Simpson. Milward
had been a member of the Wyoming Legislature from Hot Springs
County in 1927. They began their life together in Cody,
Wyoming, where Milward went into private practice with his
father, William L. Simpson. In Sheridan, on July 31, 1930, a
son, Peter Kooi, was born and on September 2, 1931, a son,
Alan Kooi was born.
Kooi was a marvelous homemaker, a creative and
inspirational mother who was strong and talented, fair and
firm. In her home she had a Hammond organ and a piano--and
she played both beautifully. Early in her marriage, there was
a contest conducted throughout the state to determine an
original University of Wyoming ``pep song.'' Lorna's sister,
Doris Kooi Reynolds, urged her to enter, but Lorna was
reluctant to do so. Finally at Doris' urging, she went
forward to finish the work and sent it on to the contest
officials. As she said later, to her
[[Page S1428]] absolute astonishment, she won! The winning
song was called ``Come on Wyoming.'' The band director of the
University of Wyoming at the time, urged her to play the song
and he set it to a band arrangement. The cover of the sheet
music of the piece was illustrated by the great western
artist Bill Gollings, at the request of Lorna's father, who
was a personal friend of Mr. Gollings.
Lorna instructed her son, Peter, on the violin. She had a
beautiful singing voice and she conducted the choir at the
Christ Episcopal Church in Cody. She also served as the
assistant organist for a very dear lady, Mrs. Henry Pool, who
served for
many years as organist in that church. Among her many
talents, Lorna was also a talented amateur artist and
sculptor, and a member of the Cody Country Art League.
With her great humanitarian spirit, Lorna served as a Gray
Lady at the W.R. Coe Hospital, which later became the West
Park Hospital. Lorna was a charter member of that
organization. During the war, she was one of the Presidents
of the Red Cross Chapter in Cody, in charge of Civil Defense.
Lorna was the chairman of the ``Blackout Committee'' which
ensured that all lights within the city were properly out of
view during ``air raid alert'' activities during World War
II. She was also the chairman of the scrap metal drive and
always met every quota set. Lorna was asked to hold a
position on the National Board of the Red Cross, but rejected
that to travel with her husband to Israel on behalf of the
Husky Oil Company, while Milward served as a member of the
Board of Directors of that company.
In Israel, Lorna assisted her husband, Milward, in his
official capacity as a representative for the Board of Husky
during the creation of ISRAM, a joint venture oil company
between the United States and Israel. She was instrumental in
assisting Milward in negotiations with the new state of
Israel in establishing new laws and regulations on oil and
gas development.
In 1940, Mrs. Simpson campaigned vigorously with her
husband in an unsuccessful race against a very popular
Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney for the United States Senate.
Senator O'Mahoney served 26 years for Wyoming.
Lorna was active in all aspects of community life. In 1940,
she was appointed by Mayor Hugh Smith to the Cody Planning
and Zoning Commission. The commission originally submitted to
the city council and mayor the final bond issue for all of
the streets, curbs and gutters of Cody. The city then
presented that to the citizens on a ballot. The people of
Cody twice rejected the bond issue, until Lorna, along with
others, immediately activated a ``person-to-person'' campaign
in order to raise community awareness on the bond issue.
Under her urging, leadership and participation, instead of
just simply ``paving the streets of Cody,'' it was determined
to proceed with curbs, sidewalks and gutters. She was
instrumental in seeing the bond issue pass in 1950. Even
today, Cody remains one of the most beautiful cities in
Wyoming.
Lorna helped obtain the first national network association
(ABC) while she and Milward were co-owners of the local radio
station, KODI. She often did some of the programming and
radio work. She was also the acting editor for a time during
the war, of the local paper, the Cody Enterprise. Milward and
Lorna were also co-owners of the Cody Inn--the old Burlington
Inn--with Les Carter of Billings and Joe Fitzstephens of
Cody. Together they helped to restore the Inn to its former
grandeur.
Lorna was also involved in other business activities. She
encouraged the first pasteurization of milk in Cody through
investment in the Sani-dairy (a local dairy). Later, she
became involved in the support of a local cheese making
industry.
In 1954, Lorna once again vigorously campaigned with her
husband in a successful race for the governorship of Wyoming.
She graciously served as the First Lady of Wyoming from 1954
to 1958. She was known for her many projects and
assistance to various youth groups and organizations in
Cheyenne and through the entire State of Wyoming.
Mrs. Simpson was personally responsible for remodeling and
restoring some of the beauty and historical value of the old
Governor's Mansion. The Mansion had been closed to the public
for many years--the heating system, the carpets and the
furniture had seriously deteriorated and portions of the
ceilings and the floors had fallen. It stands today as a
State and National historical site and also as a tribute to
her creativity. The State Legislature responded generously to
the request to ensure that the residence would serve as a
remarkable showcase of Wyoming's history.
While serving as First Lady, Lorna worked extensively to
assist and entertain various Wyoming groups and
organizations, such as Girls' State and Boys' State. She
hosted many state functions, teas and receptions for the
citizens of the State of Wyoming. After returning to Cody in
1959, Milward continued his law practice with his son, Alan,
and later with partner, Charles G. Kepler.
Milward was one of the founding fathers and trustees of the
Gottsche Foundation Board in Thermopolis. With Board
approval, she asked permission to remodel an old abandoned
storeroom on the Foundations' property and constructed a
Chapel for the patients. It is a functional non-
denominational chapel with a beautiful stained glass window.
Milward and Lorna selected the quotation for the window--``I
am with you always''--a most appropriate biblical reference
with reference to the sorrows and joys of illness and
healing.
Milward and Lorna also began a small endowment fund which
they used to restore the old Episcopal Church in Cody and its
original pipe organ in the old ``Poker Church.'' The citizens
of Cody, in the early years of the city, felt there were far
too many gambling establishments and bars and not enough
churches! The citizens spread the word to the ``city
fathers'' of that day. At this time, a rather remarkable
poker game took place, and the pot increased to a rather
staggering sum. Those gathering around the table that night
stated that the one who ``wins that pot`' (about $2,200)
would agree to start a new church of the denomination of
their choice in Cody. A remarkable pioneer of the community,
a man known as ``Governor'' George T. Beck won it all and saw
to the building of the ``Poker Church''--Christ Episcopal
Church.
Through the years, the marvelous pipe organ suffered
vandalism and decay and eventually became inoperable. Milward
and Lorna restored the organ to its original luster. They
later donated 27 town lots to the Episcopal Church, which
erected a new church upon the site. The old ``Poker Church''
was also moved to this site. The two churches are gloriously
compatible on the beautifully landscaped property.
In the small chapel of the ``Poker Church''--or the
``little Church''--many of the windows were donated by
Milward and Lorna. The original window, ``the Dr. Francis
Lane window,''--the ``Lady Doc''--is over the altar. It was
donated by many loving friends at the urging of Margery Ross,
who came from the East with Dr. Lane. It replaced the oldest
window, now behind the choir--bearing the inscription ``God
is love.'' The third window to the far right portrays the
healing of the blind. It was given by a Denver attorney and
his wife, George and Sally Hopper. Arch Hopper, George's
father, was the rector of the church at one time.
In 1962, it was back on the campaign trail as Milward ran a
successful United States Senate race for the unexpired term
of Keith Thomson, who tragically died in late 1960 after his
election to the U.S. Senate in November of that year.
Lorna and Milward lived in Washington, D.C. from 1962 to
1966 and greatly enjoyed entertaining Wyoming people who were
in the capital city. In 1962, Milward was diagnosed as being
afflicted with Parkinson's Disease. Lorna's care, nurturing
and support encouraged him through the Senate experience. He
retired from the Senate in 1966. He died June 13, 1993.
Lorna was designated by the Senate to be the Representative
of the Women of the United States to the Organization of
American States, which met at the former Pan American
Building. President Lyndon Baines Johnson appointed Lorna as
a delegate to represent the U.S. women participating in the
Interparliamentarian Union in Australia. Mrs. Simpson was
also instrumental in the
refurbishment and extended use of the Senate Chapel in the
United States Capitol.
Throughout this remarkable career of service, love and the
nurturing of others, Lorna always emphasized the importance
of home. It was here there was a haven of support, love and
nurturing for her two sons, Peter and Alan.
During the time the two were in high school, four different
boys from the Cody community often lived with the Simpson
family in their home. Those boys were practically ``raised
up'' by them, all having gone on to great things in their own
lives--all receiving a college education, having families,
children and grandchildren and being very productive
citizens. They all think of Milward and Lorna as their
``Second Mom and Pop.''
Pete married Lynne Livingston of Cody on June 18, 1960.
They have three children, Milward Allen and his wife Amy,
Margaret Ann and her husband Chris Pinto, and Peter Kooi. Al
Married the former Ann Schroll of Greybull on June 21, 1954.
They also have three children: William Lloyd and his wife
Debbie, Colin Mackenzie and Susan Lorna and her husband John
Gallagher Lorna is also survived by five great-grandchildren,
Sara, Elizabeth, Alexander, Daniel, and Eric.
Peter Presently serves as the University of Wyoming's Vice
President for Development and Alumni and University
Relations. Al is in his third term as a United States Senator
from Wyoming.
Upon Milward's voluntary retirement from the Senate because
of ill health in 1966, they retired to Cody. Lorna remained
active in Gray Lady community work and above all else, the
nurturing and care of Milward. For many years, when the
winter winds were kicking up in Wyoming, Milward and Lorna
joined many Wyoming citizens--the ``Snow Birds''--in Sun
City, Arizona. The last few years they spent between Cody and
the South Fork of the Shoshone River at their beloved Bobcat
Ranch. Milward and Lorna lived in a seamless bond of
affection, love and support sewn with strong sinews of faith
and belief in God. they were truly an extraordinary pair.
They are now joined anew.
These were the things that brought great pride and
inspiration to Lorna Simpson. She was a very special woman
who did not seek the limelight and did not wish to boast of
her activities. On once being nominated for ``Wyoming Woman
of the Year'' she said, ``When I received notification they
had nominated me for `Woman of the Year', I felt so
completely inadequate and unworthy of ever being mentioned as
a possibility for the
[[Page S1429]] award, that I did not reply. But I must say
when I saw the rather sparse account of my accomplishments in
a booklet sent to me explaining the qualifications of
candidates, I felt I owed it to those who organizing the
entire project to detail some of the these activities that
they might have it for their records. ``I was always taught
one should never `boast' of any charitable activities, but on
the other hand,'' she smiled, ``the Bible does say, `Let your
light so shine before men that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.' So, as a small
justification for the honor bestowed upon me, I shall then
``boast'' a bit about some of the fine things that have
touched my life.'' That life ended peacefully at 7:45 a.m. on
January 24, 1995.
____________________