Jim: [I was] born and raised here. Born here in Casper [and stayed] all the way through high school. [I] graduated from Natrona County High School. [I] went to Casper College for a couple years. [I] finished my undergraduate degree at the University of Wyoming.

My roots go deep. My mom is from here. My grandparents moved here from West Virginia back in the early 1900s. My great grandparents immigrated from Ireland and ended up in Sheridan. So yeah, so my roots go deep,

Nancy: Long family history. What are some things that you love to do around Casper?

Jim: I'm an avid water person. We typically go to Glendale [because] we've got a family cabin at Glendale, so I'll water ski there, float, scuba dive, [and] just hang out and we've got lots of that available to us. [I] used to be an avid, avid backpacker. I've backpacked all over the Bighorns. [I’ve] done some stuff in the Wind Rivers, done some stuff down in the Snowy [Mountains]. 

I was once asked, “Are you more of an ocean person or are you more of a mountain person?” Everybody expected for me to say ocean person because of what I do in the scuba diving industry. And I said, “I'm a mountain guy. That's where I'm from. That's [where] I was born and raised.” I learned how to drive in the mountain roads in the Bighorns up in Story. I've moved away, come back, moved away, come back. This is where home is. 

Nancy: Tell me what it is besides your experiences in the mountains; what is it about the mountains that feel like home to you?

Jim: I just got done testifying in front of the State Land Board. There's been a local kerfuffle regarding one company's desire to mine Casper Mountain. I jumped in on that fight for a number of reasons, one of which, and the primary reason, [is] my granddaughter.

But the other reason is that Casper Mountain is the crown jewel of this area. I look around and the last thing I [want to] see is a massive scar. Up to hundreds of acres right on the face of the mountain. That's the backdrop for everything in and around Casper. And so that's why I jumped in the fight.

When I was testifying on this board… I mentioned whenever you're coming into Casper, when you see the mountain, you know you [are] home. Whether you're coming in on I-25 from Sheridan and you hit 20 Mile Hill, there's the mountain. You're home. 

We all know about the Tetons and Teton National Park [and] Yellowstone National Park, beautiful places. I encourage people to go enjoy those and take in the splendor. The first national monument, Devil's Tower. Fantastic places to visit. My mom wrote a book called Devil’s Tower: Stories in Stone. It’s won one National and two state awards. [It] was entered as evidence in a federal trial.

But what most people don't realize is [that] we have these other gems throughout this state. Casper Mountain, the Bighorns, the Wind Rivers, [and] the Snowies are just [as] spectacular. Whether you're backpacking or just doing a little day hike on some of the established trails, you get back there, and there's a connection. You're back there with, with your friends or your family, and it's just you and the mountains of Wyoming, and it gets into your soul.

If you take your shoes off and you dig your toes into the dirt, there's a connection that you just cannot find anywhere else. Not Colorado, not Idaho, but here in Wyoming. We're the least populated state, but [we’re] home to some of the most resilient, proud, helpful, friendly people you'll ever meet. And yeah, that's what Wyoming is and that's what keeps bringing us back.

Note: The transcript above has been condensed from its original audio recording to improve the flow and readability of the story.