05/13/2026
Congratulations to DICKSIE KNIGHT MAY and JUDY KNIGHT, extraordinary ACHS members! Karen Bard, Chair of the Albany County Historic Preservation Board (ACHPB), surprised Dicksie and Judy by honoring each of them at our meeting Tuesday evening with the well-deserved Albany County Historic Preservation Award from ACHPB.
DICKSIE KNIGHT MAY - For decades, Dicksie has devoted herself to ensuring that the stories, people, ranches, and traditions that shaped this county are not lost to time. Around 2004, alongside now-deceased fellow researchers Shirley Lilley, Bertha Ward, and Rita Parker, Dicksie launched an ambitious project to document every ranch in Albany County from its original homestead to the present day. Dicksie has researched more than 3,000 ranches dating back to the earliest settlement of the region. She has spent countless hours studying newspapers, courthouse records, land patents, maps, etc. She has interviewed ranching families, visited ranches personally, and pieced together stories that otherwise might have disappeared forever. Recognizing the immense value of Dicksie’s collection, the UW American Heritage Center formally accepted the 70 boxes she has compiled of historical ranch records, photographs, articles, maps, and documents. She has become one of the county’s most trusted and respected historical resources. Dicksie’s impact extends far beyond research alone. She has volunteered tirelessly with numerous community organizations. Through Dicksie’s research, preservation efforts, volunteerism, and generosity, she has deepened our understanding of who we are and where we came from. She has ensured that the people, places, and stories that built this county will continue to be remembered long into the future.
JUDY KNIGHT - Since arriving in Laramie in 1965 as a University of Wyoming faculty member, Judy has brought both scholarly rigor and personal passion to local history. Judy helped pioneer the beloved neighborhood and downtown walking tours and her deeply meaningful Greenhill Cemetery tours, bringing Laramie’s past to life. At the Laramie Plains Museum, she is a vital force in preserving historic textiles and strengthening the museum’s collections through successful grant writing, professional consultation, and hands-on volunteer leadership. She also co-directed the Albany County Oral History Project, which identified and cataloged 429 oral histories across multiple institutions—making decades of community memory accessible to the public through a searchable archive. In addition, Judy has been the driving force behind the “Laramie’s Living History” column, now featuring more than 200 articles that illuminate the richness of our region’s past. She has written, edited, and coordinated this ongoing series, and has helped transform it into a lasting public archive hosted by the Albany County Historical Society. Across every project, one theme is constant: Judy Knight is a connector—of people to history, of stories to place, and of the past to the present. Her work is collaborative, generous, and deeply rooted in community. She has inspired others to become stewards of local history and has built an enduring legacy that will benefit Albany County for generations to come.
May is Historic Preservation Month, the perfect opportunity to recognize Dicksie’s and Judy’s significant contributions to Albany County over many years.
