Lawmaker’s Family Tree:
It isn’t obvious by looking at the five names on this bronze that they are all related, so the best way to start the synopsis of this bronze is with a brief explanation of the family tree. L.C. Anderson and Reuben V Anderson were brothers, the sons of Karl Victor and Hannah Anderson who homesteaded in southeast Wyoming around 1909. Bill McIlvain is Reuben’s son-in-law, married to Ila Anderson McIlvain, Reuben’s daughter. Rodney “Pete” Anderson is one of Reuben’s three sons. Pete Anderson’s grandson is Matt Teeters, son of his daughter Linda Sue and her husband Rick Teeters.
Sculptor:
Award winning sculptor from Lyons, Colorado, Christine Knapp, has been a professional artist since 1990. She is best known for her realistic bronze creations of both animal and human subjects, ranging from miniature to monumental sizes.
Symbolism in the Bronze:
The barn owl represents the rural roots of each of these lawmakers and is in flight as a sign of the active role each took in representing their constituents. A gavel represents the authority, prestige, and order of the legislative rule-making body. This gavel is a molded replica of the one Speaker McIlvain used during the 1990 Wyoming Centennial session. On the top book is the phrase “The owl is a time-honored emblem of knowledge and wisdom."
Most of these men were involved in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and would have known this first line spoken by the chapter advisor at every FFA business meeting, and it was indicative of the knowledge and wisdom each man contributed during their service as legislators.
The next five books were made to resemble early Wyoming State Statues. They recognize each legislator for their highest position within the Wyoming Legislature, and the number at the bottom shows the last year each served. The choice to place the Holy Bible at the bottom of the statues demonstrates that these men relied on the Bible as the foundational guide, not only for their decisions, but also as the bedrock for a well-run and civil legislative process.
Legislative process and contribution summary:
Prior to 1992, legislators were elected by county. In 1992, the state was divided into districts and since then legislators have been elected by district. For the purposes of this bronze, the legislator’s place of residence and primary county was indicated on the plaque. Representatives are elected for a two-year term, and Senators are elected to a four-year term. As is typical in many states with a large agrarian population, legislative sessions are held in the winter months. Each legislator’s committee and task force appointments are included next to a picture from the legislative composites. Most of this information was obtained from the Legislative Service Office website under Former Members at wyoleg.gov, or the archived Legislative Journals.
Matt Teeters - Goshen County - House 2006~2014
Rodney "Pete" Anderson - Laramie County - House 1993~2010
Bill McIlvain - Laramie County - House 1969~1972, 1975~1990
Reuben V. Anderson - Laramie County - House 1935~1940 & Senate 1941~1944
L.C. Anderson - Laramie County - House 1923~1924
Additional family member’s legislative service:
Along with those who served as legislators, there were other family members who assisted during the legislative sessions -
-Dana McIlvain (Bill McIlvain’s daughter-in-law)
House Page 1991
-Lavonda McIlvain Kopsa (Bill McIlvain’s daughter)
House Session staff 1992, 1996-1999
Legislative Service Office Intern Coordinator 2003 – 2024
-John Mark Anderson (Rodney “Pete” Anderson’s grandson)
House Page 2005
Eagle Bronze Foundry, Lander, WY contributions
Contributing Artisans: Elianna Cobb – Mold, Ethan Cantu – Mold, Joshua Brown – Wax chase & Spure, Nate Martel – Wax Pour, Treidon Federer – Shell, Joe Cook – Metal pour, Melton Nelson – Metal pour, Levi Hanson – Metal chase, JT Spriggs – Metal chase, Michael Benally – Metal chase, Alysia Lenard – Mold & Patina, Kriss Brown – Patina
Owners: Beverly & Monte Paddleford
To learn more about the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project, visit this link . For more information about each artist, sponsoring a bronze, or becoming a donor/supporter at any level, please contact Harvey Deselms at Deselms Fine Art, located at 303 E. 17th Street Cheyenne. Email is deslemsart@aol.com or call at 307 432 0606
