Big Wyo Award

The Big Wyo Award is usually presented to a "private sector" person who has done an outstanding job promoting and improving the tourism industry for the State of Wyoming. The award is presented at the Governor's Tourism Conference. Criteria are:

• ●    The individual has made major contributions to generating visitors, servicing and developing the travel industry in the state of Wyoming. These efforts can take place through their business or as a volunteer in travel-related organizations if their fulltime work is not in the travel industry.
• ●    The person has been a member and served actively on civic, community or travel industry association groups.
• ●    There have been exceptions, but usually the individual is not an elected official or travel industry public employee at the time of consideration. It is preferable that they not be currently serving on state boards and commissions. They could be nominated later.

Past Big Wyo Award Winners

• 1977 Harry Smith, Hitching Post Inn	1994 Carol Waller
  1978 Marv Harshman, Rawlins Travelodge	1995 Clay James
  1979 Bob Dohse, Irma Hotel, Cody	1996 Don and Doris Bunn
  1980 Duane Von Krosigk, Travel Commissioner, Cheyenne	1997 Wayne Worthen
  1981 Peter Hassrick, Buffalo Bill Historical Center	1998 Gene Bryan
  1982 Ralph McMullen, Jackson Hold Chamber of Commerce	1999 Bill Sniffin
  1983 Norm Parker, Rainbow Park Motel	2000 Trudy McCraken
  1984 Dorris Stalker, Grand Teton Lodge Company	2001 Gene & Carol Kupke
  1985 Bill Bragg, Casper College	2002 Ted Blair
  1986 Governor Ed Hershler	2003 Jeff Heilbrun
  1987 Clarene and Creed Law, Antler and 49er, Jackson	2004 Edna Kennell
  1988 John Olson, Yellowstone	2005 Manuel Lopez
  1989 Quin Blair, Blair Hotels, Cody and Riverton	2006 Claudia Wade
  1990 Pat Self, Old Corral, Centennial	2007 Dave Rader
  1991 Paul Smith, Hitching Post	2008 Chuck Box
  1992 Pat Sweeney, Gillette Holiday Inn	2009 Jim McCaleb
  1993 Jim Hearne	2010