Cheyenne Mayors

On August 8, 1867, the first charter for the government of the City of Cheyenne was established after a group of citizens had met the day before at a mass meeting. On August 10, 1867, Hiram M. Hook, a livery stable owner, was elected Cheyenne’s first-ever Mayor. At the time, Cheyenne was situated in the Dakota Territory and had a population of approximately 600 people.

For most of the 19^th century, Cheyenne’s top elected official served a one-year term. During the early 20th century a Mayor's term was extended to two years. It wasn’t until the mid 20^th century that a four-year term became customary.

Mayor was the title initially given to Cheyenne’s top elected official and was used from 1867 to 1869. However, from 1870 to 1877 the title of President was used. During that time, the City Council was referred to as the Board of Trustees. Since 1878, each elected official has been given the title of Mayor.   

Joseph M. Carey and Francis E. Warren served as Cheyenne’s 15^th and 16^th Mayor, respectively. Their time at City Hall was a precursor for other political offices. Both Carey and Warren were later elected to serve as Wyoming’s Governor and in the U.S. Senate. Carey also served in the U.S. House of Representatives.  

The legacy of former Mayors can be seen throughout the City. Various streets, parks, buildings, and amenities throughout Cheyenne bare the namesake of a former Mayor. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Sloan Lake
• Carey Avenue
• Judge Joseph M. Carey Cheyenne City Center
• Warren Avenue
• F.E. Warren Air Force Base
• Allison Hall at First United Methodist Church
• Keefe Row
• Holliday Park
• Christensen Road
• Nationway
• George Cox Parking Facility
• Leo Pando Park
• Jack R. Spiker Parking Facility

Six individuals have served non-consecutive terms, with L.R. Bresnahan being elected five different times. The last Mayor to serve non-consecutive terms was Bill Nation (1962-66 and 1973-77).

Francis E. Warren (Jan. 1885 to March 1885) holds the distinction of shortest Mayoral term while the longest belongs to Don Erickson (1977-1989). 

During Cheyenne's sesquicentennial celebration in 2017, a Mayors' Roundtable was held at the historic Atlas Theatre. The event featured Mayors Bill Nation, Don Erickson, Gary Schaeffer, Leo A. Pando, Jack R. Spiker, Richard L. Kaysen, and Marian Orr. Video of the Mayors' Roundtable can be found here. 

Presently, the Mayor is elected at-large every four years. 

1. Hiram M. Hook, August 1867 to January 1868
2.  Luke Murrin, January 1868 to January 1869
3. W.M. Slaughter, January 1869 to December 1869
4. J.H. Martin, December 1869 to December 1870
5. Jervis Joslin, January 1871 to January 1872
6. M. Sloan, January 1872 to January 1873
7. M.V. Boughten, January 1873 to January 1874
8. George Cassels, January 1874 to January 1875
9. I.C. Whipple, January 1875 to January 1876
10. L.R. Bresnahen, January 1876 to January 1877
11. Dwight Fisk, January 1877 to January 1878
12. L.R. Bresnahen (2), January 1878 to January 1879
13. L.R. Bresnahen (3), January 1879 to January 1880
14. F.E. Addoms, January 1880 to January 1881
15. Joseph M. Carey, January 1881 to January 1885
16. Francis E. Warren, January 1885 to March 1885
17. A.H. Reel, March 1885 to January 1887
18. Charles W. Riner, January 1887 to January 1891
19. L.R. Bresnahen (4), January 1891 to January 1893
20. Ed F. Stahle, January 1893 to January 1895
21. Samuel Merrill, January 1895 to January 1897
22. William R. Schnitger, January 1897 to February 1901
23. J.L. Murray, February 1901 to January 1903
24. M.P. Keefe, January 1903 to December 1904
25. Daniel Webster Gill, December 1904 to January 1907
26. P.S. Cook, January 1907 to January 1911
27. L.R. Bresnahen (5), January 1911 to January 1913
28. Daniel Webster Gill (2), January 1913 to January 1914
29. R.N. La Fountaine, January 1914 to January 1918
30. Edward W. Stone, January 1918 to January 1920
31. Ed P. Taylor, January 1920 to January 1924
32. Archie Allison, January 1924 to January 1926
33. Charles W. Riner (2), January 1926 to January 1930
34. Cal Holliday, January 1930 to January 1932
35. J.F. Weybrecht, January 1932 to January 1934
36. Archie Allison (2), January 1934 to January 1940
37. Ed Warren, January 1940 to January 1944
38. Ira L. Hanna, January 1944 to September 1944
39. Bruce S. Jones, September 1944 to January 1946
40. John J. McInerney, January 1946 to January 1948
41. Ben Nelson, January 1948 to March 1951
42. Edward Gowdy, March 1951 to June 1951 *acting Mayor*
43. Ed Warren (2), June 1951 to January 1952
44. R.E. Cheever, January 1952 to January 1954
45. Val S. Christensen, January 1954 to January 1958
46. Worth Story, January 1958 to January 1962
47. Bill Nation, January 1962 to January 1966
48. Herbert Kingham, January 1966 to January 1968
49. George R. Cox, January 1968 to August 1969
50. Floyd Holland, August 1969 to January 1972
51. James D. Van Velzor, January 1972 to January 1973
52. Bill Nation (2), January 1973 to January 1977
53. Don Erickson, January 1977 to January 1989
54. Gary N. Schaeffer, January 1989 to January 1993
55. Leo A. Pando, January 1993 to January 2001
56. Jack R. Spiker, January 2001 to January 2009
57. Richard L. Kaysen, January 2009 to January 2017
58. Marian J. Orr, January 2017 to January 2021
59. Patrick Collins, January 2021 to present