Harold Hellbaum

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Harold Hellbaum
Wyoming State Representative from Platte County
In office 1963 – 1977
Preceded by	At-large seat
Succeeded by	At-large seat
Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives
In office 1975 – 1977
Preceded by	C.H. "Cliff" Davis
Succeeded by	Nels J. Smith

Born	September 26, 1926 Wheatland, Wyoming
Died	March 9, 2007
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Margaret L. "Peggy" Otis Hellbaum (1927-2002); married 1950-2002
Children	Two daughters, Rebecca H. "Becky" Hartmeister and Holly H. Johnston; two sons, Robert L. "Rob" Hellbaum and Bruce A. Hellbaum
Occupation	Rancher; Businessman

Harold Hellbaum (September 26, 1926 - March 9, 2007) was a Republican member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1963-1977; he was the House Speaker during his last two-year term from 1975-1977. Hellbaum was a prominent farmer, rancher, and businessman in Platte County near Wheatland north of Cheyenne 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 1955) of Wheatland; two sons, Robert L. "Rob" Hellbaum (born 1958) of Chugwater and Bruce A. Hellbaum (born 1960) and wife Catherine of Wheatland, and six grandchildren.

Hellbaum is interred in Chugwater Cemetery.

After Hellbaum's death, three other former Cheyenne-area lawmakers died within three months: Republicans Joseph D. Selby on April 20 and Larry D. Shippy on June 8, and Democratic Representative Edwin H. Whitehead on May 20, 2007.

Preceded by C.H. "Cliff" Davis (R)	Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives from Platte County Harold Hellbaum (R) 1975–1977	Succeeded by Nels J. Smith (R)