Sheridan Attorney Receives Bar’s Professionalism Award

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming State Bar is pleased to announce that Sheridan attorney Rex O. Arney is this year’s recipient of its Gerald R. Mason Professionalism Award. The award was presented at the Bar’s Annual Meeting & Judicial Conference, which took place last week in Jackson, Wyoming.

Arney is the ninth recipient of this annual award. The award was presented by Weston T. Graham, also of Sheridan, the then-President of the Wyoming State Bar.

The Professionalism Award is given to a Wyoming lawyer who represents the highest standards of ethics and dedication to the law, but also recognizes someone who contributes their time and energy to making the Wyoming Bar and its lawyers the best people they can be.

“Rex has been practicing law in Wyoming for many years, and most recently in the Sheridan area. Everyone that knows him or that I have seen him interact with, regardless of their generation or status, respects him as a lawyer and likes him as a person,” said Graham. “He is knowledgeable in many areas of the law, courteous to his fellow man/woman (lawyers and clients alike), reasonable in his positions, and articulate with any commentary. In my opinion, Rex defines humility. He is very approachable and always willing to listen and try out new things/ideas. For me personally, Rex has been a real joy to get to know and work around over the past several years. Although he has a wonderful (albeit sometimes dry) sense of humor, he is a consummate professional.”

Arney obtained a B.A. in 1962 and an M.A. in 1963 from the University of Wyoming in political science. After two years as an instructor at Black Hawk College in Moline, Illinois, he enrolled at the University of Illinois College of Law where he obtained his law degree in 1968. He returned to Wyoming and practiced for 20 years with the firm of Redle, Yonkee and Arney in Sheridan, Wyoming, during which time he also served in the Wyoming Legislature for sixteen years. He was honored to be recognized as an Outstanding Freshman Legislator in 1973.

From 1988 to 1990, Arney was General Counsel for the National Endowment for Humanities in Washington, D.C. Thereafter, he came back to Wyoming and joined the Sheridan branch of Brown, Drew & Massey. Currently, he is the sole member of the firm of Arney Law Office.

Currently he serves on the Board for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming and a member of Presbytery Council. Historically, he has served on the Board of Professional Responsibility, the Wyoming Retirement Board, the Wyoming State Bar Foundation, the Board of Visitors for the University of Wyoming for the College of Law, the Board for Northern Wyoming Mental Health, the United Way Foundation, and as a member of the Advisory Committee of Civil Division of the Permanent Rules, the Steering Committee for Wyoming Heritage Society, and original member for the creation of Green House for Living, an assisted living facility.

Arney was also named an Exemplary Alumni of the University of Wyoming College of Arts and Sciences in 1994.

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