Colleagues remember Wyoming senator
CASPER, Wyo. – U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas was remembered Saturday as a Wyoming cowboy who didn’t let the Washington political scene influence him.
About 20 members of Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, of Nevada, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, attended the funeral service for the Republican who died Monday after a fight with leukemia. He was 74.
More than 1,000 people overflowed from the First United Methodist Church, where Thomas’ health problems first surfaced about seven months ago, when he became lightheaded during a Sunday service. Thomas was diagnosed with leukemia a few days after he won re-election.
“He was a simple, humble son of Wyoming, and he remained one to the end,” McConnell said.
McConnell said he never met a man who was changed less by “what the world calls riches or power than Craig Thomas.”
Katelynn Thomas talked about her grandfather’s influence.
“We learned a lot from him, how to treat others, how to honor your word and what it means to serve others,” said Thomas, who just graduated from high school. “He was a true Wyoming cowboy and had the discipline and the love and the humility of a Christian man.”
She called her grandfather a humble man who cared about all people.
“My dad said that he was proud to see that whether my grandpa Craig was talking to the elevator operator or the president, everyone mattered, even the Democrats,” she said, drawing laughter.
Dozens of flower arrangements filled the sanctuary and covered the altar behind Thomas’ U.S. flag-draped casket.
A private burial was planned today in Cody, where he was born and where a procession was being organized down the city’s main street.
Thomas is survived by his wife, Susan, four children and nine grandchildren.
Born in Cody, Thomas entered Congress in a special election in 1989 to replace Dick Cheney when Cheney was named defense secretary by the first President Bush. In 1994, Thomas won his first Senate race by beating former Democratic Gov. Mike Sullivan. He previously had served in the Wyoming Legislature.