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Mary Kay Schwope
“We used to joke at home that if she had a nickel for every hour of time she had given to others, she would have been rich. Mary K. Schwope was wealthy--in the fruits of her labors: stable home, loving family, community respect and personal satisfaction. We are all richer because of her.” –Mary Kay’s children: Michael, Fachon, Camille, and Murel
Mary Kathryn Viox Schwope was born in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 21, 1917, to Charles Alfred Viox and Mary Frances Moriarty Viox. She grew up in Green River, Wyoming, and graduated from Green River High School in 1935, in the midst of the Depression. Always a go-getter, during her school years, she was an exemplary student, played basketball, and was a lifeguard and swimming instructor for Girl Scouts. She was also a member of the first Girls Scout troop in Green River, appointed as a lieutenant, and served as a counselor at Girls Scout Camp at New Fork Lake in1936.
Schwope moved to Cheyenne in September 1936 where she worked in the Superintendent's office of the Union Pacific Railroad as a timekeeper. She married E. Lawson Schwope in 1940 and in 1945, after resigning from Union Pacific, she became a fulltime homemaker and community volunteer. This, one might say, is where Schwope’s work truly began.
When Schwope first volunteered, many of her commitments revolved around the activities of her four children, Michael, Fachon, Patricia (Camille), and Madalaine (Murel). Her numerous activities ranged from Cub Scout Leader to 4-H sewing instructor, actively taking part in efforts to support not just her children, but other children in the community.
Schwope’s volunteer efforts also reached beyond the activities of her children. An extremely active member of the Cheyenne community, Schwope was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She served in all offices including Unit and State President, VA Hospital volunteer, Rehabilitation chairman coordinating volunteers at the both Wyoming VA hospitals, and National Executive Committeewoman. She was recognized for her dedication to Legion and Auxiliary programs, receiving the National Four Chaplain’s Legion of Honor Certificate. Schwope also attended eight regional conferences for Rehabilitation and for Children and Youth for the Area E thirteen western states. She became interested in the health and safety of children and veterans legislation that the American Legion and Auxiliary advocated for. In fact, it was due to her educational lobbying efforts that eye safety devices are required in laboratories and manual training shops in Wyoming schools.
This interest in legislation is what led Mary Kay to throw her hat into the legislative arena. She was elected as a State Representative for Laramie County in 1975 and was re-elected repeatedly from 1979 to 1991, serving a total of sixteen years. She successfully sponsored the resolution recognizing the Nation's Bicentennial, the bill to require Hunter Safety courses for hunting license qualification, and the bills for snowmobile registration fee increase for Recreation Commission trail grooming, for the establishment of the State Veteran's Oregon Trail Cemetery, for license plates designating Pearl Harbor Survivor, Purple Heart recipient, and National Guard membership, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and to authorize pull tabs for charitable non-profit organizations. She co-sponsored numerous bills such as tuition at UW for Vietnam Veterans and several bills requested by the police, effecting law enforcement.
In the House, Mary Kay served on the Labor, Health, and Social Services Committee, on the Travel, Wildlife and Recreation Committee, Rules Committee and the Journal. During her tenure there, she was appointed to the National Council of State Legislatures. She was appointed by the Governor as a member of the State Advisory Council for Vocational Education, serving 1976-1981. This list of accomplishments is huge for today, let alone thirty-five years ago.
“She was a remarkable woman who gave herself in service to others throughout her life,” says Fachon Wilson, Mary Kay’s daughter. “In the era of media attention to "women's lib" in the 60's and 70's, she was already a "liberated woman" who had found her own way of raising a family and serving her community and state especially in the Wyoming Legislature and the American Legion Auxiliary. Women of the 21st century can look to her as an example of what can be accomplished with personal confidence and guiding principles.”
Mary Kay Schwope was a remarkable woman, indeed.
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