Dennis Almquist retires from WY G&F
January 10, 2005
After 33 years of patrolling the Wind River Mountains and sagebrush basins south and east of Pinedale, Game Warden Dennis Almquist is transferring to a new district: retirement from the Game and Fish Department.
Jan. 2 was his last day serving hunters, anglers, ranchers and wildlife in one of Wyoming’s most high-profile wildlife areas. A retirement party is being held for Dennis at 6 pm on January 15th at the Pinedale VFW Post 4801.
"Dennis developed a great rapport with every group he dealt with," said Bernie Holz, the G&F ’s regional Wildlife Division supervisor. "He’ll really be missed by landowners and sportsmen alike, and most of all by his co-workers."
Almquist began his G&F career as the Riverton game warden in 1971. He transferred to the south Pinedale district in September 1974, where he served ever since. Almquist was born in Garfield, Kansas and graduated from high school in Durango, Colo. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force before earning a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management from the University of Wyoming. He also studied criminal justice at Central Wyoming College.
In 2002, he was cited for his diligent patrolling of mule deer winter range, aggressive boating enforcement and comprehensive wildlife data collection in earning the "Wyoming Wildlife Officer of the Year" award from Shikar-Safari International.
Prior to his 34 years of G&F service, Almquist was a surveyor for the Bureau of Land Management and a quality control technician for Boeing Aircraft. "Dennis was an eager worker and volunteered for many extra duties," Holz said. "He had extensive knowledge of the wilderness area in his district and was an expert source of backcountry locations."
Dennis and his wife, Mary Anne, who teaches at Pinedale Elementary School, will continue to live near Pinedale where they plan to fish, ride horses and work on their ranch. The couple has four daughters and several grandchildren.
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