The members of Wyoming Press Association raised their glasses to the “Queen for Life,” Leslie Blythe, during the Wyoming Press Association Annual Winter Convention luncheon on Jan.19.
At the University of Wyoming Blythe is known as the first female editor of Branding Iron newspaper. She graduated from UW in 1981 with a bachelor of arts in journalism.
Blythe, member of Wyoming Press Association, passed away at the age of 59 on Jan. 5. She died of pneumonia that developed from the flu. Her friends, co-workers and those who never knew her commemorated her life during a luncheon at the 119th WPA convention.
“I knew a Moby-Dick, when it was Nemo,” lobbyist of Rocky Mountain Power and a friend of the late Blythe, Bob Tarantola said in memory of her.
Blythe was a professional who worked in the fields of communications, public relations and journalism. She was a member of not only WPA, but also the Wyoming Broadcasters’ Association, United Way, 4H and Vision 2000.
“We know she was on the board of directors representing associate members of WPA for at least 25 years,” WPA Executive Director, Jim Angell said. “She created the associate contest and invigorated associates group, and thus at one point, earned the title ‘Queen for Life’ from Wyoming Press Association associate members.”
According to her online obituary, she was the first female board member of the Casper Petroleum Club for about a decade.
Blythe began her career at Pacific Power, now Rocky Mountain Power, in 1987, and worked there until present time. She started as a recruit, and later on became community business manager for Northwest Wyoming.
“I was involved in a hiring process when Leslie came to the Pacific Power 30 years ago. It was December, when we celebrated her anniversary with the company,” Tarantola said.
Blythe had outstanding communication skills.
“Leslie was also an outstanding example of communication professional, that can make a connection between media and corporate America,” Tarantola said. “And she did an excellent job doing that, uniting things.”
The very special thing about Blythe was her smile and laughter, that could be seen and heard wherever she was going.
“You would always find Leslie in the very heart of the fun,” Angell said. “Wherever Leslie was, that’s where the fun was.”
“I always marveled at her perfect blend of devotion, professionalism, her magnetic personality, amazing sense of humor and her fun, loving nature,” Tarantola said. “She had this bright smile. It was pretty amazing.”
A memorial service for Blythe will be held this summer.
