From our files: Cal Taggart Day proclaimed in 2001

100 years ago, Feb. 5, 1926

The Cowley Progress

No copy available

75 years ago, Feb. 8, 1951

The Lovell Chronicle

Archie Ames Jr., who is attached to the combat engineers in the 2^nd Division, wrote to his family under date of January 29 from Wonju, Korea. Archie stated that the night before was the first time he had had a cot to sleep on since November 26, 1950, and the first time he had taken off his clothes. However, he said they had plenty of warm clothing, with the weather showing a 25 below zero reading at that time. They also had ample food but not always a variety.

50 years ago, Feb. 5, 1976

The Lovell Chronicle

Construction of the $239,750 Hwy. 14A pioneer trail up the west face of the Big Horn Mountains has been accepted as complete by the Wyoming Highway Department, according to George A. Brown, district engineer at Basin. How soon construction will begin is another matter. The road allowed geologists to test various soils and gather other information along the possible new route for U.S. 14A between Lovell and Burgess Junction.

“The history of 14A is quite unique,” Sen. Cal Taggart noted, “in that the first road built over the mountain was done through the efforts of the Lovell Commercial Club and by certain businessmen signing notes to obtain the necessary money to buy dynamite and do the blasting. They used teams and slip scrapers to build the road.” Construction was reportedly started around 1924-1925.

25 years ago, Feb. 8, 2001

The Lovell Chronicle

Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer signed a proclamation on Thursday, Feb. 1, declaring Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2001, as Cal Taggart Day. The proclamation states the following: “Cal S. Taggart is a quintessential example of what makes our state so great. His compassion, leadership and strong sense of state and community have positively influenced the lives of so many in Wyoming. …

“A Wyoming state senator from 1972 through 1984, Cal also served as the mayor of Lovell between1962 and 1968, president of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities for two terms, president of the Big Horn Highway Association and president of the Big Horn Airport board. He was also one of the original organizers of the Big Horn County Hospital District … and many other commissions and boards that worked toward improving business and the quality of life in Wyoming. 

“Cal has spent endless hours helping individuals, small business owners and his community solve problems, while always promoting his beloved Big Horn County and the Big Horn Canyon.

“Cal, today on the occasion of your 77^th birthday, we congratulate you and celebrate your amazing contributions. You are a beloved and respected member of your community and this state. Thank you for making Wyoming a better place to live. For these significant reasons, I, Jim Geringer, Governor of the State of Wyoming, do hereby proclaim February 6, 2001, to be ‘Cal S. Taggart Day’ in Wyoming.”

10 years ago, Feb. 4, 2016

The Lovell Chronicle

What began as a gesture by the Byron Rec Dance teachers to raise a few hundred dollars at their dance fit class last Wednesday night to benefit the Bates family as they deal with their son Jared’s recent diagnosis of a brain tumor snowballed into a great turnout of support. What started as a hope to earn enough to help with travel expenses soon grew to raising close to $4,000.