The Louisa Swain Foundation

   The Louisa Swain award recognizes those who, through their actions or accomplishments, display the qualities of courage, community and character exhibited by Louisa Swain as she cast her historic ballot.

Jane Sullivan

   More than 100 gathered to honor Jane Sullivan at The Petroleum Club in Casper, Wyoming on May 8, 2010.  The Former First Lady of Wyoming was honored by friends and neighbors for her qualities of courage, community and character.

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Sullivan received first Louisa Swain Award

By: Sally Ann Shurmur

Star-Tribune Staff Writer

(Casper Star Tribune, 5/11/2010)

   They were a community representing justice, federal and state politics, education and religion.

   And all were friends--from church, the neighborhood, and from a life lived mostly in Wyoming nurturing preschoolers, planting gardens and improving the places in which we live.

   And they were there, more than 100 of them, to honor Jane Sullivan with the first Louisa Swain Award on Saturday night at the Casper Petroleum Club.

   There were United States senators and judges; a former governor and a current governor; one community college president, two priests and a deacon.

   First lady Nancy Freudenthal said when Jane Sullivan as first lady, she gave wonderful advice.

   "She left me with a deep understand of the role of first lady...every day you wake up, you're one day closer to being a former first lady", Freudenthal laughed.

   Diana Enzi, wife of U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, said Jane Sullivan has been her role model as a political spouse.

   But, more importantly, she has been the "back-door neighbor" Enzi is always telling acquaintances in Washington about.

   "She is a great example of a Wyoming woman. She is there for a good chat, a long cry, to get a little help or a cup of sugar. She is a great back-door neighbor", Enzi said.

   The Louisa Swain Foundation preserves and celebrates the heritage and history of the world's first democratically cast electoral ballot by a woman, Louisa Swain, on Sept. 6, 1870, in Laramie.

   The award recognizes those who, through their actions or accomplishments, display the qualities of courage, community and character exhibited by Louisa Swain as she cast her historic ballot.

   Three friends of Sullivan's spoke on those three characteristics.

   Judge William Downes, chief judge, U.S. District Court, spoke about Sullivan's courage.

   "While we regularly celebrate courage summoned in a moment of peril, Jane Metzler Sullivan is an indomitable soul," Downes said.  "She possesses the purest kind of courage. With honesty and prayerful spirit, she was content to devote her energies to her family, friends and community. Then, with Rosary beads in her purse, she stepped into public life and we are better for it."

   Sullivan's husband, Mike, was governor of Wyoming from 1986 to 1994 and served as U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 1998 to 2001.

   Before and after those two endeavors, the Sullivans have made Casper their home, where they raised three children and are grandparents of seven.

   Maggi Murdock, associate vice-president for academic affairs of the University of Wyoming and dean of its outreach school, spoke about Sullivan as she relates to the community.

   "While Louisa Swain walked alone to cast her ballot, those who know Jane would know she would have led a procession of voters, both men and women, because it was the right thing to do. The act of voting reflects faith in and support for community," Murdock said. "It's one way of taking responsibility for the people and places in which we live."

   Murdock said Sullivan "has the power and ability to be a leader and get people to follow. The human contribution is an essential ingredient to community."

   The Rev. Carl Beavers of Holy Spirit Catholic Community in Rock Springs was raised in Powell, as was Jane Metzler Sullivan. He described the water project that formed the town of Powell just a century ago, and how it formed the character of its residents, including Sullivan, in the process.

   "Always, character and humility are inseparably linked," he said. "All of us matter, all of us belong, all we have to live on is character. We always win when we stay in character."

   Sullivan was presented a handsome bronze of Swain as her award.

   In her acceptance remarks, she said, "I have met a lot of women in Wyoming I suspect Louisa Swain would be proud of."

   She talked of Wyoming's "spirit of connectiveness," she said is a result of "small numbers, small towns, one university, community colleges and civilized politics. Our communities give us the opportunity to make our lives meaningful."

   She said she thinks balance in community is very fragile and needs to be nurtured.

   "The challenge of this seems more important that we maintain the values of livable communities, because we can clearly see what happens when we're not connecting with our neighbors. We should step softly, because we're stepping on our dreams," she said.

Jane Sullivan, recipient of the 1st Louisa Swain Award.

Ray Hunkins, Chair of The Louisa Swain Foundation, presents Jane Sullivan with her Bronze of Louisa Swain

Weldon Tuck, Executive Director of The Louisa Swain Foundation, was the Master of Ceremonies for the event

Diana Enzi, Board Member of The Louisa Swain Foundation, presents a toast at the event.

Senator Barrasso and Governor Freudenthal

1st Lady of Wyoming, Nancy Freudenthal, presents a toast at the event.

Sentator Enzi and Governor Freudenthal 

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Photography by Bruce Nichols, Casper, WY. 

(Re-posted with permission, all rights reserved.)