William (Bill) Laycock

William (Bill) Laycock

Born March 17, 1930 in Fort Collins.  He was raised on a ranch northeast of Cheyenne and in Laramie. He attended Laramie High School and University of Wyoming (UW) for his B.S. and M.S. degrees under the Army ROTC program.

While attending UW he met Charlotte Pulscher at a Square Dance.  He was leaving for the Korean War (where he served as a Lieutenant) in a few weeks, and they were engaged within 6 months while he was away. They were married on June 19, 1955, in Laramie shortly after his discharge from the Army. They moved to New Jersey after the wedding where Bill received his PhD from Rutgers University.  During their marriage they lived in New Jersey, Idaho, Utah, New Zealand, Colorado and eventually settled back in Laramie.

With his education in Range Management, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service and USDA before retiring early from the Government. He then became Head of the Range Department at UW.  It was during this time that he started a rangeland consulting business, consulting on many rangeland projects in the mountain’s out west and in Argentina. He was also an external examiner for 3 years for the University of Nairobi’s Range Department, traveling to Africa to ensure exam integrity at the University. He was well regarded in the Range Management field and received many awards and served on many Government Boards.

Besides his family and work his other passions were rodeo and travel.  Bill attended the National Finals Rodeo with Charlotte for over 30 years, and attended countless Little Britches, High School and College rodeos thru the years.  In addition, he was a Rodeo Announcer, Advisor for several Rodeo College Programs (including UW) and served on the College Rodeo Board (NIRA).  Bill and Charlotte also traveled frequently including faraway places like Kenya, Switzerland, Ireland, England, France, Nova Scotia, Australia, Greece and the Antarctica.

He is survived by, son Cody Laycock (Rhetta) and grandsons Bill and Shane Laycock and daughter Donice Wendeln (Tim).

The funeral will be held at held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 23, 2022 Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home in Laramie.  For those that wish to donate in his memory please send donations to the Cathedral Home for Children, 4989 N 3rd St., Laramie Wyoming 82072 (800-676-1909).

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Condolences (7)

  • Lucy Pauley

    I was so sorry to hear about Bill's passing. I got to know Bill and Charlotte while he was a member of the Wyoming Agriculture & Natural Resources Mediation Board. His knowledge and expertise in range management and his understanding of federal agency processes were a valuable contribution to the program. I enjoyed hearing about his dog too, it showed a different side to the business focused member of the board. His legacy will live on in the state that he loved.

  • Jeff & SusN

    Bill is “gone, but not forgotten”. Trite, but true. I need to write a longer eulogy than that by Quenton Skinner, because what with Skinner’s long pontifications and ramblings about yesteryear by Herb Fisser and Doc Beetle, I never got to say much during our departmental faculty meetings. But, Bill, with his quiet patience and business-like determination, always got us back on the diverted main issue. Bill was always attentive and supportive of his faculty, secretaries, and students. Some people may have seen Bill just as a long, tall local rodeo cowboy but he was truly a deep and profound thinker, as evidenced by his many scientific and philosophical papers and his “ball-in-a-cup” theory. He was also a man of integrity and willing to risk censure, as I saw during several controversial meetings during our time together on the SRM Board of Directors. We in New Mexico may honor cowboy writers such as Ross Santee and Eugene Manlove Rhodes, but Bill will always be honored by worldwide academicians, rangeland managers, and range scientists for his teaching and writings. Bill, we’ll all miss you. Hasta La Vista.

  • Kris Brewer

    Bill was a great man and took me into his department at a rocky time in my career. He was kind and generous. He and Charlotte made the department a family. I will always remember them with love and respect.

  • Quentin and Arlene Skinner

    Doenice and Cody we offer our condolences for the loss of your dad. Arlene and I are so privileged to have had both your Mom and Dad as close friends. We generally think of them as one person as it is so appropriate because of their wonderful relationship with each other as true Wyomingites. They both loved the State of Wyoming, its single University, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Range Management emphasis. They gave a lifetime to the science of managing landscapes and rangeland of the Western U.S. and across much of the arid world. Now, together they are at peace in the heavens surrounding their favorite parts of the earth and Wyoming. We miss them both and as you know they have touched so many of us in so many ways. Thank you for letting us borrow their time and talents and may God Bless both of you.

  • Keith Yeager

    It was always fun to visit with Bill and remember the time when Laramie was just a small town and the East Hills were just part of his and Charlotte's world. He and Charlotte will be missed! Wish I could have made it to his funeral.

  • Keith Yeager

    It was always fun to visit with Bill and remember the time when Laramie was just a small town and the East Hills were just part of his and Charlotte's world. He and Charlotte will be missed!

  • Terri Jones

    I feel very lucky to have known Bill through Charlotte and Albany County CattleWomen. Bill was a true gentleman and would always make people feel at home and comfortable in his company. Bill will be missed by so many people, his circle was large.

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