Harold Hellbaum

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Harold Hellbaum (September 26, 1926 - March 9, 2007), a Republican member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1963-1977, was the House Speaker from 1975 -1977. He was a prominent farmer, rancher, and businessman in Platte County near Wheatland in southeastern Wyoming.

Hellbaum was born in Wheatland to Herman Hellbaum (1892-1970) and the former Lydia Lust (1895-1988). He was reared on the family farm near Chugwater, where he attended all twelve grades of public school, having graduated in 1944. He later attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie. After college, he returned to assist his father with raising wheat and cattle and running the Tri-County Elevator Company.

Hellbaum served on numerous boards and committees, including the Chugwater School Board and the Wyoming State Board of Education. He was a charter member of the Wyoming Wheat Growers Association. He was a board member of the American Heritage Center of the University of Wyoming.

He was first elected to the legislature in 1962. His service ended when he was Speaker during the administration of Democratic Governor Edgar Herschler.

Even after he left the legislature, Hellbaum remained active in Republican politics. He attended several national party conventions as a delegate. When Ronald W. Reagan became U.S. president in 1981, Hellbaum retired from farming to become the Wyoming state director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, a position which he retained until 1994.

Besides his farm and ranch activities, he was also involved in concrete, banking, and commercial development.

On September 17, 1950, Hellbaum married the former Margaret L. "Peggy" Otis (November 30, 1927 - May 10, 2002).

Hellbaum died in Platte County Memorial Hospital in Wheatland. He was survived by two daughters, Rebecca H. "Becky" Hartmeister of Lubbock, Texas, and Holly Johnston (born ca. 1955) of Wheatland; two sons, Robert L. "Rob" Hellbaum (born ca. 1957) of Chugwater and Bruce A. Hellbaum (born ca. 1960) and wife Catherine of Wheatland, and six grandchildren.