Thyra Thomson

Thyra Godfrey Thomson passed away on Tuesday, June 11, 2013, she was 96 years old. Thyra was born on July 30, 1916, to John and Rose Godfrey in Florence, Colorado, the only girl in a family of seven children. Tragically, her father, who was mine superintendent for the Colorado Fuel and Iron Co., died in a mine explosion when she was three. When she was in her teens, her mother brought her and her youngest brother to Cheyenne, where she graduated from high school. Thyra went on to earn a BA Degree cum laude at the University of Wyoming in 1939, with a major in psychology and minors in sociology and business administration. On August 6, 1939, Thyra married E. Keith Thomson from Newcastle, who was working on his Juris Doctorate and managing the University of Wyoming Bookstore. After earning his law degree, Keith became the youngest infantry battalion commander in the U.S. forces in WWII. While he was overseas, Thyra received a President's citation for her war work at home. Keith returned to Cheyenne in 1945 and he and Thyra became active in state-wide politics. In 1954, Thyra organized the campaign which won Keith the first of his three terms to the U.S. House of Representatives. Thyra, Keith and their three sons - Bill, Bruce, and K.C. - spent Congressional sessions in Washington, D.C. While they were there Thyra kept people back home informed about activities in the nation's capitol with a weekly column, "Watching Washington". Keith was elected to the U.S. Senate in November of 1960, and on December 9, died of a heart attack at the age of 41. After Keith's death, Thyra returned to Wyoming and continued her public service. In 1962 she became the first woman elected Secretary of State beginning a long and distinguished career in elected office. Though her name was repeatedly suggested for higher office, Thyra chose to remain Secretary of State and served as acting governor under both Republican and Democrat administrations. When she chose to retire at the end of 1987, after six terms of office, she had served 24 years, longer than any Statehouse official in Wyoming history. Thyra's vision for Wyoming was beyond its time. She worked to raise Wyoming's profile both nationally and internationally, so that the state could receive economic and political benefits equal to those of other states. Thyra was lauded by both men and women for speaking up for citizens' needs and concerns. As the two-paycheck family became prevalent, she led efforts for equal pay for women and recognition of the comparable worth of women's jobs. She was vocal that adequate daycare at affordable prices was essential. She became noted for regulations on the sale of new issues of securities so that Wyoming investors had a fair balance between risk and reward, and as a result, in 1974 she was elected president of the North American Securities Administrators, encompassing the fifty states, ten Canadian provinces and Mexico. The National Conference of Lieutenant Governors three times elected her Vice President, but because her official title was Secretary of State, she could not serve as President. Internationally, Thyra sat on the United Kingdom's Marshall Scholarships Committee for four years, was a guest of the Federal Republic of Germany for International Women's Year, and served on a committee and council for UNESCO. In 1983, she traveled to Taiwan promoting Wyoming products at the USA-ROC Trade Forum and was instrumental in the Republic of China's purchase of one-fourth of the State's entire wheat crop in 1984. Seeking to further foreign trade she visited Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt and, in the process, secured overseas scholarships for Wyoming high school seniors. In 1985, she led 16 Wyoming businessmen to meet with a Saudi Arabian trade mission, which proved productive. Thyra was named an International Woman of Distinction by women educators, a Distinguished Alumna by the University of Wyoming, a Woman of Achievement by Wyoming press women, and has been cited by professional and academic honor societies in economics, commerce, and education. Throughout the state she was known simply as "Thyra". She had a desire to speak up for peoples' interests and needs. Close daily contact with citizens was her greatest joy and being able to help them was her greatest satisfaction. Since her retirement on January 5, 1987, Thyra devoted herself to good works. She sat on boards for the Cheyenne Symphony, the University of Wyoming, and The Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody. She continued to be a common sense voice on issues impacting Wyoming and the nation through speaking engagements, public appearances and her writings for textbooks, newspapers and magazines. Thyra was nurtured by the outdoors and the beauty of Wyoming's landscape. Continual learning was her greatest pleasure. Thyra found young people stimulating, encouraged them to pursue education, and acknowledged their success. She enjoyed encountering quick intelligence and ready sense of humor. With a twinkle in her eye, Thyra loved a competitive foursome, be it cards or golf. Thyra was beloved by her family. She is survived by her son Bill Thomson and his wife Toni of Cheyenne; son Bruce Thomson of Cheyenne; son K.C. Thomson and his wife Julie of Logan, UT; grandson Keith Thomson of Cheyenne; grandson Paul Thomson and his wife Antonne of Boulder, CO; granddaughter Laura Lewis and her husband Ryan of Cheyenne; granddaughter Jennifer Thompson and her husband Mike of Alexandria, VA; and four great-grandchildren Jack, Charlie and Andrew Lewis and Liam Thomson. The family would like to thank Andrea Manzanares, Don Cody and Alisa Smith for the loving care and the companionship they gave to Thyra. On Friday, June 21, 2013, a memorial service will take place at 1:30pm at the Cheyenne First Presbyterian Church, 220 W. 22nd Street followed by a reception at the Cheyenne Holiday Inn, 204 W Fox Farm Road. Thyra will be interred with her husband Keith at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Thyra's name may be made to the Keith and Thyra Thomson Honors Convocation, University of Wyoming Foundation, 1200 E. Ivinson Street, Laramie, WY 82070; the Buffalo Bill Museum, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, 720 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, WY 82414; or a charity of choice.

Service

Friday, June 21, 2013 1:30pm

First Presbyterian Church

220 W. 22nd St,.

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Interment

Arlington National Cemetery

1 Memorial Drive

ARLINGTON, VA 22202