Political Quotes

“today, I rise also to pay tribute to a Cowboy State giant, colleague, and friend, Pat O'Toole. Pat was not born in Wyoming, but you never would have guessed that. There was no one more dedicated to Carbon County or the Cowboy State than Pat. When Pat met his wife Sharon, he fell in love not just with her but, as Senator Barrasso said, his adopted home of Wyoming. Together, they raised cattle, sheep, horses, dogs, and children. My own daughter, Annaliese, was born the same month that Eamon O'Toole was born. Sharon and I enjoyed the fact that our children would get to grow up together. He often joked that he was raising a menagerie with Sharon. His commitment to ranching stretched far beyond his property, as he would ultimately dedicate his life to serving the agriculture and conservation communities. I had the privilege of meeting Pat when we served together in the Wyoming Legislature. His stories and infectious smile loomed large. He quickly earned a reputation for finding common ground with anyone. We always looked forward to hearing his stories about nearly getting arrested in Tierra del Fuego, being accosted by a machine-gun-wielding police officer in Argentina during a revolution, or hitchhiking from Maine to Florida with a buddy in college. Pat O'Toole lived a very interesting and large life. He was also larger than life in the best way, and he cared deeply for the people he served.…”