Joseph D. Selby

Joseph David Selby
Wyoming State Representative from Laramie County
In office
1995–1997
Preceded by At-large seat
Succeeded by At-large seat
Personal details
Born August 9, 1950
Monaca, Beaver County
Pennsylvania, USA
Died April 20, 2007 (aged 56)
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Kathryn L. "Kate" Selby (born 1952)
Children Two sons; three daughters
Occupation Attorney; Judge
Religion Roman Catholic

Joseph David Selby (August 9, 1950 - April 20, 2007) was a Cheyenne lawyer who served as municipal judge from 1978–1982 and as a Republican member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from District 41 in Laramie County from 1995-1997.

Selby was born in Monaca in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, west of Pittsburgh, to Frank G. Selby (1922–1996) and Nellie Selby (1923–1992). He earned his law degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1975 and his MBA from the University of Wyoming in Laramie. He was active in the alumni associations of both institutions.

An attorney in private practice, Selby specialized in real estate and bankruptcy law. He was appointed city judge by Mayor Don Erickson (1977–1989) and confirmed by the Cheyenne City Council. He was succeeded as judge by Douglas Munch. Selby won his legislative seat in 1994 by defeating the Democrat Mac McGraw. However, Selby was unable to cement a hold on the district and was unseated in 1996 by McGraw, 1,893-1,651. Selby's father died four days after Selby lost his legislative race. Selby attempted a comeback in 1998 but lost by an even larger margin to McGraw, 1,751-1,185. The seat was subsequently held by the Democrat Ken Esquibel.

An active member of St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral and the Kiwanis International, Selby died in Cheyenne after a long battle with cardiovascular disease. Selby and his wife, Kathryn L. "Kate" Selby (born ca. 1952) had two sons and three daughters.

Three other former Cheyenne lawmakers died within two months of Selby's death: Democrat Edwin H. Whitehead on May 20 and Republicans Larry D. Shippy on June 8 and Robert Schliske on June 21, 2007. In September, former Representative Dean T. Prosser, a leader in environmental legislation from 1971–1983, died in Rhode Island, where he had previously retired.

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