Sam R Ratcliff

Sam R Ratcliff, age 68, of Gillette, Wyoming, (wintering in Scottsdale, Arizona) passed away peacefully on January 20, 2011, surrounded by friends. Sam was born March 21, 1942, in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Paris and Opal (Young) Ratcliff as the youngest of six children. Sam enjoyed both working hard and playing hard. He worked at the Dayton Grocery during high school, attended Billings Business College, and moved to Gillette in the sixties and worked at Boyd's Grocery store. His work ethic was important to him and he was proud to have moonlighted as a bartender, even when underage. Help was hard to find in those days and they were glad to have such a willing worker. After Boyd's, Sam then went to work for the Campbell County Clerk and worked there until he ran for the office of County Clerk. After his electoral defeat, he worked running titles at the court house and continued moonlighting, tending bar at the Sands. He eventually went to work for Robert H. Hays buying oil and gas leases. In 1971, Robert Hays, W H Champion, and Sam formed an oil & gas leasing company of Landmark, Inc., eventually, forming Hays-Ratcliff Enterprises. In 1983, Sam and Patsy L. Larson formed the partnership of Ratcliff & Associates, Oil & Gas Leasing and Minerals. Sam survived many oil "booms" and just as many oil "busts" from the 60s Kitty Well fire through the busts of the mid-70s and again in the mid-80s to the coal bed methane leasing "boom." He looked forward to the challenges, always working to succeed. Sam was instrumental in starting many sideline business ventures in Campbell County, Wyoming, among them First Guarantee Savings & Loan, United Securities Corporation stock brokerage branch office, Abstract and Title Company of Gillette and of Newcastle, Flying J Truck Stop, many subdivisions around Gillette, including Champion Ventures, 4-J Subdivision, LVB Subdivision, and Energy Park. All ventures with various partners in the community. In later years, Sam loved going south for the winter as much as possible and started several businesses in Arizona, including a Dairy Queen, a limo service, a car import service, a juice bar, and a watch store. He was a true entrepreneur and enjoyed a challenge. Sam also loved ranching. His first ranch was purchased from CL Brunson east of Gillette. This was later sold and subdivided. He purchased the Herb & Grace Strey ranch in Johnson County and ran livestock with Herb & Grace there for years until their deaths and he still owned the ranch. Sam and Bill Pease operated a ranch above Sheridan for a few years until the opportunity, along with several other oil men, to buy the Vanderhayden, Mankin, and Dye ranches directly south on Hwy 50. Sam operated this ranch for many years with registered Red Angus cows. Sam was a supporter of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, where a bronze bust of Sam is displayed. For many years Sam was actively involved in the Republican Party, the highlight of his political career was his election as one of two Wyoming Representative to the National Republican Party Convention. He was instrumental in helping many local, state, and national election committees for several Presidents. Sam is survived by his good friends and partners, Robert L. Hadley, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Patsy L. Larson, of Gillette, Wyoming, one sister, Betty Reichert, of Dayton, Wyoming, aunt, Hazel Runge, step-grandson Dylan Johnson, several cousins and nieces and nephews, and hundreds of good friends in both Wyoming and Arizona.He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Elaine (Kenny) Morrison, Lucy (Jim) Dudley, brothers Bob (Jean) Ratcliff and Ed (Winona) Ratcliff, and step-son Ayron Johnson,. A service was held in Scottsdale, Saturday, January 22, 2011. Memorial services for Sam's life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 27, 2011, at Gillette Memorial Chapel, Gillette with Pastor Bill Morel of Family Life Church.Memorial contributions may be made to benefit local student scholarships with the Sam R Ratcliff Charitable Foundation, % Tom Lubnau, PO Box 1028, Gillette, WY 82717. Memorials and condolences may also be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or condolences via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.com. Funeral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716