Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call
Mike Enzi, the former Wyoming senator who served in the role from 1997 until 2021, has died. He was 77.
On Monday evening, the politician died following abicycle accidentthat left him seriously injured last week, according to a statement shared on his Twitter account.
“His family expresses their deep appreciation for all of the prayers, support and concern. They now ask for privacy and continued prayers during this difficult time,” the statementcontinuedin a separate tweet. “The family is planning to hold a celebration of a life well-lived, with details to be shared later.”
On Friday, Enzi was riding a bike near his home in Gillette, Wyoming, when an incident occurred and he was injured.
According to attorney and family friend John Daly, who spoke withGilletteNewsRecord, Enzi was found unconscious and sustained injuries including a broken neck and ribs.
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He was then flown to UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colorado, his family announced in a prior statement.
Police Lt. Brent Wasson also toldGillette News Recordthat there was no reason to suspect that “anyone else was near or involved in the accident.”
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“Wyoming and the nation have lost one of the most consequential public servants of our time,” said U.S. Senator John Barrasso in astatement. “Whether he was serving as mayor of Gillette, in the Wyoming Legislature, or in the U.S. Senate, you could not have asked for a stronger champion for Wyoming and our country than Mike Enzi.”
“It was an incredible honor and a great privilege for my wife Bobbi and me to serve the people of Wyoming alongside Mike and his wife Diana,” he added. “Mike was a mentor to me, a dear friend, and I will miss him tremendously.”
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Liz Cheney said in her ownstatementthat Enzi’s death marks “a sad day for Wyoming.”
“Mike was an absolute giant in our state and his sudden loss just months after retiring from the U.S. Senate is difficult for all of us to accept,” she continued.
source: people.com
