Mary Budd-Flitner
Class of 1961
Mary Budd’s graduation from Big Piney High School was just the beginning of a life filled with service and accomplishments at not only the local levels but that to the state of Wyoming as well. Not only did her service at the state and local level as well as her work as a “ranch woman” consume much of her time, Mary Budd-Flitner also found time to write numerous articles as well as her highly acclaimed book, My Ranch, Too.
At the state level, Mary served a six-year term of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. She served as an important liaison for the many views throughout Wyoming regarding agriculture and natural resources. Mary also served on the Wyoming State Bar Board of Professional Responsibility. She served on Governor Mike Sullivan’s Intergovernmental Judicial Review Committee. From 1984 through 1986, she served on the Wyoming Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) committee and was a participant in the LEAD program in its early years.
At local levels, Mary Budd-Flitner found ways to support the communities of Greybull, Shell and Cody as well as Big Horn County. Mary served on the Board of Trustees for Greybull Schools. She served on the Shell Valley Planning Group as well as the Big Horn County Library Board. Her work on the Shell Community Hall Board helped preserve the historic community hall and its role as the social center of the community.
Mary along with her husband, Stan, have been agricultural leaders in Wyoming for many years. They served many years as leaders in 4-H as well as the Jr. Herford Association. The work done by Stan, with a “gentle push” from Mary, as President of Wyoming Stock Growers helped ease the way for the Open Dialogue for Open Spaces Group. This group dealt with the conflicts of grazing rights and management of lands and resources. In 1986, as members of the Big Horn Permitees Association, the started a Coordinated Resource Management Program which is still ongoing.
As a result of the work both Stan and Mary dedicated to agriculture, they were named as the 1998 co-winners of Wyoming’s Agricultural Citizens of the Year.
As a Big Piney High School Alumni, a life well lived.