Ann Hinckley
Ann Hinckley does not act her age. At eighty five years young, she may be one of the most active people you will meet. Volunteer extraordinaire, mother, master gardener, and clog dancer, she does it all.
Wyoming has been Hinckley’s home all her life. She grew up in Greybull and attended the University of Wyoming, where she earned a liberal arts degree in sociology-something not too common for a woman in those days. After graduating, Hinckley worked an office job doing promotions for UW football. She was there nearly a year before taking a job as a case worker with the welfare department in Greybull, something she says she really enjoyed.
While working at the welfare department, Hinckley married her husband, John and soon after they decided to move to Powell. Although Hinckley had quit her job, life did not slow down. In fact it only got busier. She and John were soon raising seven children, and she began her career as, what she calls, a “professional volunteer”.
Hinckley says her plunge into the volunteer world all started when she began helping a friend with 4H. She had only one child at the time and chose to volunteer because, “A person ought to be giving something to society.” She recognized that 4H was an excellent program and for the next 55 years she stayed involved as a volunteer leader.
This is far from Hinckley’s only volunteer experience though. She has served on countless boards and been involved with numerous organizations including the League of Women Voters, Friends of the Library, Community College Commission, and Master Gardeners, to name a few. How did she get so involved with so many organizations? “You start to say to yourself, ‘This is good for the community and for my kids and soon you’re involved in all sorts of things.’” A simple explanation, but it seems there is more to it than that. Hinckley has a sincere interest in all of the organizations she volunteers with and she knows how to inspire people to get things done.
One project that Hinckley spearheaded and helped to “get done” was Powell’s effort to implement recycling. In 1991 she and other members of the League of Women Voters decided to promote a recycling program in town. Their efforts have been hugely successful with a recent grand opening of a new recycling center, making it the largest privately owned center in the state. And all of this has been accomplished by a private, volunteer board.
When asked how she is so successful with making things happen, Hinckley does not hesitate, “Oh, it’s not me. I happen to do things, but you also just run around and find people who are interested.”
Other people will likely tell you it’s her dedication, tenacity and enthusiasm that allows her community to feel the impact of her work. Either way, she has accomplished a great deal and will undoubtedly accomplish much more.
As for her clog dancing: She took it up at age 75 and hasn’t stopped. Well, except for the six month hiatus she had after breaking both ankles- not while clogging. Lucky for Wyoming, nothing seems to slow Ann Hinckley
down!
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