Bill Tanner
Class of 1984
Bill Tanner’s successes at the middle school level readied him for success at the next level. Entering Big Piney High School, Tanner quickly became active in football, basketball and swimming. Impressive and early successes was highlighted by being selected as the winner of the prestigious Robby Douglas Award. This award was given annually to the underclassman with the best potential towards athletic success. Over his four years of high school, Bill Tanner certainly lived up to those goals.
As a basketball player, Bill’s talents and leadership were quickly on display. As a three-year starter, it was evident by the teams’ successes as to his abilities. As a sophomore, Tanner guided a highly talented team to the Southwest Conference championship, the Regional Tournament championship and eventually to the Wyoming State Basketball Tournament culminating with a state runner-up finish. In Bill’s junior season, they repeated as Southwest Conference Champions and as Regional Tournament champion and finished the season as Consolation Champion at the state tournament. With a different conference format, Bill led the Punchers to a second-place finish in the newly formed Rocky Mountain Conference and enabled the Punchers entrance into the state tournament before losing in the state semi-finals. During these years, the Puncher basketball team won 51 games while losing only 18. Also, during these years, Bill Tanner was selected to a number of All-Star teams. Bill was selected to All-Southwest Conference team as a junior and to the Rocky Mountain All-Conference team as a senior. In both his junior and senior seasons, Tanner was selected to the Wyoming 2A All-State Tournament team. At the conclusion of his senior year, Wyoming Coaches association bestowed All-State honors to this Puncher. Bill Tanner was selected to the Casper Star’s Super 25 and also to the paper’s “Cream of the Crop” as being one of five best 2A players throughout the state. As a last accomplishment, Tanner was selected and started in the inaugural Wyoming Coaches Association All-Star Summer game.
As a football player, Tanner was a three-year starter for the Punchers including a stint as the starting quarterback as junior. During his senior season, a nagging hip injury slowed his playing time and eventually ended his career earlier than expected.
Bill Tanner continued his leadership characteristics to Big Piney Schools by serving a number of terms on the Sublette County District 9 School Board.