Washington -- U.S. Senators Craig Thomas, Mike Enzi and Representative Barbara Cubin, all R-WY, have announced plans for an official ceremony on May 30th to name the United States Postal office located at 152 North 5th Street in Laramie the "Gale W. McGee Post Office.”  The ceremony is slated to begin at 1:30 in the afternoon. 

“Senator McGee holds an esteemed place in our State’s history, and naming this postal facility in his honor is a highly appropriate way to honor his memory,” the Wyoming Delegation said.  “This is an exciting time for Laramie, and we invite community members to attend the naming ceremony later this month.” 

United States Postal Service facilities require an act of Congress to be named in an individual’s honor.  In January of this year, the Wyoming Delegation introduced legislation in both Houses of Congress to name a United States postal facility in Laramie in McGee’s honor.  President Bush signed the bill into law in March.

“As a professor, a Senator, and a statesman, Gale McGee dedicated thirty years of his life serving the people of Wyoming and their fellow American citizens,” the Delegation noted.  “We are very pleased Congress and the President recognized Senator McGee’s remarkable service by quickly passing legislation to name a postal facility in his honor.”

The public is invited to attend the naming ceremony.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1915, McGee moved to Wyoming in 1946 to serve as an American History professor at the University of Wyoming.  Gale and his wife Lorraine had three of their four children during his tenure in Laramie. 

In 1958, McGee was elected to the U.S. Senate in his first-ever attempt to run for public office.  He was the first Freshman in Senate history to be granted a coveted seat on the Appropriations Committee, where he would serve throughout his entire 18 year Senate career.  McGee also served as Chairman of the Senate Post Office and Civil Service Committee.  As Committee Chairman, he was widely credited with preventing a nationwide rail strike in 1973, and for spearheading the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970.  After his Senate career was over, McGee later served as U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States from 1977 to 1981.

Gale McGee died on April 9th 1992, and his wife Lorraine passed away in March of 2006.

In August of 2006, the Laramie City Council recognized Senator McGee’s service by passing a resolution supporting the naming of their local post office in his honor.