Henry C. Phibbs, II
Hank Phibbs (Henry Clandillon Phibbs II), longtime Wilson resident, conservationist, attorney, musician, skier, golfer, climber/hiker, Teton County commissioner and friend of many, died of cancer at 79 on Oct. 4 at Sage Living hospice care.
Hank was born on an Army base in Abilene, Texas, on July 14, 1944. In 1952 the family moved to Casper, Wyoming. Hank attended grade school and high school in Casper, where he excelled academically and at skiing and debate. He went to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and majored in art history. He went to law school at Hastings College of the Law, now known as UC College of the Law, San Francisco. There he studied under some giants of the law, especially in the field of land use. After he graduated from law school and passed the California bar exam he worked in legal services and spent two years on the south side of Pittsburgh helping underprivileged people.
Hank started his law practice in Jackson in 1972 and almost immediately began to get into "good trouble" with his work in conservation. In 1975 he became the deputy county attorney for civil matters and was counselor to the Teton County Commission during the tumultuous period of the adoption of the first Teton County Land Use Plan.
In 1973 and 1975, Hank went to the 40-day Wyoming legislative session as a volunteer staffer for his friend John Turner. While there Hank met Leslie Petersen of the CM Ranch in Dubois. In May of 1976 she and Hank were married outdoors in front of the Murie Cabin at the foot of Snow King, where Hank had his law practice. Hank and Leslie were inseparable for the next 46 years. He was a wonderful stepfather to Leslie's sons, Travis Petersen (Kristi Schenden), of Wilson, and Monte Petersen, of Cottonwood, Arizona.
Hank was a founding member of both the Jackson Hole Alliance in 1979 and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition in 1986. He served as the coalition's second president after the organization nearly disintegrated after the first executive director was fired.
Hank was a county commissioner from 2007 through 2014 and absolutely loved being so involved in the community. He was a bar commissioner with the Wyoming State Bar. He belonged to Rotary and served as its president in 2017-18. He loved music and particularly the Jackson Hole Hootenanny. He almost never missed a Monday night at the Hoot from its inception in 1993.
Hank loved nature and saw divinity in nature. He liked to pick huckleberries for hours and just be in the woods. He loved people and was kind to everyone. He was a person of integrity, honesty and wisdom. He will be missed.
Hank is survived by his brother, Hugh Phibbs (Joan Warburton Phibbs), of Delaware; sister, Dr. Judith Phibbs, of Maryland; and seven nieces and nephews. A memorial service is planned for the spring.
So sad to report to you that our classmate Hank Phibbs passed away this past Wednesday night following a short battle with a seemingly very aggressive and untreatable stomach cancer.
He was such a passionate and effective champion of many community causes.
— Submitted by Jeff Gilbert