John J. Hickey

Who was John J. Hickey?

John Joseph Hickey was an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Wyoming.

Born in Rawlins, Carbon County, Wyoming, Hickey attended public schools and graduated with a law degree from the University of Wyoming in 1934, and practiced law in Rawlins. He served as city treasurer of Rawlins from 1935 to 1940, and Carbon County Attorney from 1939 to 1942, and again 1946 to 1949.

In 1942 Hickey received an Army commission and served for four years, two of which were in the European Theater of Operations. He was relieved from active duty as a Captain in 1946.

Hickey was appointed United States district attorney for Wyoming by President Harry Truman in 1949. He served as Governor of Wyoming from 1959 to 1961, when he resigned; as he was appointed on January 3, 1961, as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator-elect Keith Thomson, and he served until November 6, 1962. It is important to note Governor Hickey appointed himself to the vacated Senate Seat. Hickey was an unsuccessful candidate in 1962 for election to the vacancy and resumed the practice of law.