Messenger receives award

Local attorney Michael Messenger was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association convention in Cody on June 21.

Messenger is finishing his 43rd year as a practicing attorney, all of which have been in Thermopolis as he came here during the Pageant Day weekend in 1975. Except for four years as the Hot Springs County and prosecuting attorney from 1978-82, he said, he's "always been on the criminal defense side of that part of the law." Otherwise, he's been in civil litigation and general practice. He was appointed as the attorney for town council in 1986.

Messenger obtained his law degree from the University of Wyoming in 1975, and had several job opportunities but also a strong desire to come back to the Big Horn Basin without being too close to Cody, and Louis Walwrath offered him an associate position. During his time in the office, he estimated he's mentored close to 40 attorneys.

Though he knew he'd been nominated for the lifetime award, Messenger said it as a "complete surprise. I did not know it was going to happen." He has since learned Bobbi Overfield and Marcia Shanor, executive director of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association, spoke to Colin Simpson, president of the association who has the authority to select an award recipient if he chooses.

At the convention, he knew something was up when he saw his three secretaries at the luncheon and he was directed to a reserved table; family members also were there to help celebrate. Several people spoke of Messenger at the ceremony and he said, "I didn't realize I was such a nice guy."

It being a lifetime award, Messenger clarified he's not looking to retire any time soon.

Messenger has served on the association board or on the past president's board since 1977, was president from 1984-85, and has been very active in board activities in that time.

Outside of his practice, Messenger enjoys hunting and fishing, working on his farm, travelling, reading and doing fun things with his son, daughter and grandkids. He said Thermopolis has been good to him and his family, and the service they've provided has been very fulfilling.