The 50 Greatest Wyoming Sports Figures

This list of the top 50 greatest 20th-century athletes originally appeared in the Dec. 27, 1999 issue of Sports Illustrated. Have someone to add to SI's list? Click here to submit your choices.

20th Century Top 50 Rank Profile 1 Boyd Dowler, Cheyenne NFL Rookie of the Year led Packers in receiving seven times from 1959 to '69; won two Super Bowl rings with Green Bay. 2 Lance Deal, Casper Won silver medal in hammer throw at 1996 Olympics; first American to medal in the event in 40 years. 3 John Godina, Cheyenne Two-time world champion shot-putter took silver medal in 1996 Olympics; won '98 Jesse Owens Award. 4 Kenny Sailors, Laramie Two-time All-America guard at Wyoming is considered basketball's first true jump shooter; led Cowboys to 1943 national title. 5 Tom Browning, Casper Was 20-9 as Reds rookie in 1985; threw perfect game against Dodgers in 1988. 6 Jerry Hill, Lingle Colts fullback ran for 2,668 yards and 22 TDs over nine NFL seasons from 1961 to '70. 7 Jim Crawford, Greybull All-America Wyoming tailback led NCAA in rushing in 1956 (1,104 yards); also set school single-season record for rushing TDs (13). 8 Richard Babka, Cheyenne Matched world discus record in 1960 with 196' 6 3/4" throw; got silver medal at '60 Games. 9 Curt Gowdy, Cheyenne Lettered three times in both basketball and tennis at Wyoming from 1940 to '42; radio voice of Yankees and Red Sox from '49 to '66. 10 Mike Devereaux, Casper Batted .254 in 12 major league seasons; outfielder for 1995 world champion Braves; career-high 107 RBIs for Orioles in '92. 11 Karen Budge, Jackson Won women's combined title at 1967 National Alpine championship; North American women's champion in '71. 12 Bruce Collins, Rock Springs Weber State forward (1976 to '80) set Big Sky Conference career scoring mark. 13 Tom Wilkinson, Greybull Passed for 1,313 yards as Wyoming senior in 1965; quarterbacked Edmonton Eskimos to eight Grey Cup berths, five titles. 14 Joe Alexander, Cora Five-time world bareback rodeo champion; two-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association champion. 15 Vern Gardner, Afton Two-time All-America forward at Utah was member of 1947 NIT champions; played with Warriors from '49 to '52. 16 Lew Roney, Laramie Three-time all-state in football and basketball at Laramie High, held state 120-yard high hurdles mark; coached Cheyenne Central to five Class 4A state titles in basketball from 1973 to '89. 17 Dewey McConnell, Laramie All-America receiver at Wyoming led nation with 47 catches for 725 yards in 1951. 18 Marvin Garrett, Aladdin World bareback riding champion won titles in 1988, '89, '94 and '95. 19 Mike Lansing, Casper In 1989 led NCAA Division I with 101 runs for College World Series champion Wichita State; hit career-high 20 home runs for Expos in '97. 20 Dennis Havig, Powell Two-time All-America guard at Colorado; named to 1972 NFL All-Rookie team, with Falcons. 21 Jim Benepe, Sheridan Won in his PGA Tour debut (1988 Western Open); won '87 British Columbia Open and '88 Victorian Open. 22 Rulon Gardner, Afton Greco-Roman heavyweight won U.S. Nationals in 1995 and '97; lost in finals in '99. 23 Todd Skinner, Lander In 1988, world's top free rock climber completed first free ascent of El Capitan's Salathe Wall, a 3,000-foot climb. 24 Travis Bell, Centennial Won gold medal in four-man bobsled at 1999 America's Cup; won silver in two-man; first rookie to place in top 10 at world snowmobiling championships. 25 David Zuniga, Worland Member of 1996 U.S. Olympic wrestling team qualified for four of last five world championship teams. 26 Nick Bebout, Shoshoni Three-year All-WAC offensive tackle at Wyoming was starter on expansion 1976 Seahawks. 27 Trey Harrington, Cheyenne Three-time Wyoming soccer player of the year at Cheyenne East High; led nation with 0.26 goals-against average with Evansville in 1990. 28 Milward Simpson, Cody Only athlete to captain Wyoming's baseball, basketball and football teams; state's governor from 1954 to '58. 29 Shanelle Porter, Cheyenne At Cheyenne East High set state track records in 200 meters (24.26) and 400 (54.78) in 1990. 30 Mark Miller, Laramie Set state swimming records in 200-yard freestyle and 500 free at Laramie High; second in 200-yard breaststroke at 1988 NCAAs. 31 Latner Straley, Pinedale Junior national cross-country ski champ in 1980, '81; part of U.S. national team from '79 to '83. 32 Stan Dodds, Green River Wyoming forward averaged 16.7 points from 1968 to '70, eighth-best in Cowboys' history. 33 David Edeen, Cheyenne Walk-on defensive end had six sacks and an interception in 1988 Wyoming victory over BYU; spent two seasons in World League with N.Y./N.J. Knights. 34 John Pilch, Thermopolis Led Wyoming basketball team in scoring from 1947 to '50; All-America in '50; played nine games with Lakers in '51-52. 35 Ryan Brieske, Gillette Won Class A super heavyweight title at 1995 Colorado Golden Gloves; alternate on '96 U.S. Olympic boxing team. 36 Rondo Fehlberg, Worland BYU All-America placed fifth in 150-pound class at 1972 NCAA wrestling championships; was 23-2 as a college senior. 37 Keith Bloom, Powell Wyoming's last three-sport letterman (football, basketball, baseball), from 1947 to '50. 38 Dick Ballinger, Cody Three-time All-America wrestler at Wyoming at 167 pounds; was 1960 NCAA champion. 39 Jan Dukes, Cheyenne All-America at Santa Clara threw no-hitter in final collegiate start, in 1967; no wins, but did have 2.70 ERA in three seasons in majors. 40 Don Westbrook, Cheyenne Second in Big Eight in catches (33) at Nebraska in 1974; 23 catches in five NFL seasons with Patriots. 41 Bob Harris, Gillette Spent five seasons in majors, winning career-high 12 games with Browns in 1941; retired in '42 with 30-52 record. 42 Scott Freeman, Laramie Passed for 605 yards as Wyoming quarterback in 1970; had 70 receptions and 1,232 yards as receiver in '71 and '72. 43 Don Bracken, Thermopolis Two-time all-state defensive end and punter at Hot Springs High; NFL punter had best year with Rams in '92, when he averaged 41.1 yards. 44 Bill Strannigan, Rock Springs All-state in football, basketball and track at Rock Springs High; led Wyoming with 10.5 ppg in 1941; 179 wins as Cowboys hoops coach (1960 to '73). 45 John Burrough, Pinedale Second-team All-WAC defensive tackle at Wyoming; played with Falcons from 1995 to '98. 46 Corte McGuffey, Riverton Harlon Hill winner in 1999, runner-up in '98; quarterbacked Northern Colorado to three Division II playoffs. 47 J.J. Syvrud, Rock Springs Set Jamestown (N.Dak.) College record with 17 sacks in 1998; now with Jets. 48 Larry Sandvick, Kaycee Has competed in five consecutive National Finals Rodeos; world's second-ranked bareback rider in 1998. 49 Daryl Watson, Cheyenne Set Augustana (S.Dak.) College records with 24' 11 3/4" long jump and 10.8 for 100 meters. 50 Allyn Griffin, Casper Three-sport standout at Kelly Walsh High led Wyoming in receiving in 1984 and '85; caught 88-yard TD pass in '84 upset of Air Force.

Photograph by AP