FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 5, 2007

CONTACT:
Jeanne O’Brien 
Office: 307.335.2236     
Mobile: 307.349.0595
Jeanne_obrien@nols.edu

PUBLIC STATEMENT

The National Outdoor Leadership School Mourns the Loss of a Great Statesman

Lander, Wyo.--  All of the staff at the National Outdoor Leadership School are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Wyoming’s  Senator Craig Thomas. An exemplary leader who consistently provided strong leadership for the state, Senator Thomas left a legacy to be proud of. His tireless energy, intimate understanding and appreciation of Wyoming and its people, his vision for our state’s future and his compassion were qualities that made Senator Thomas stand out among elected officials.

“ Our thought’s and prayers are with the Thomas family as they cope with their loss,” said NOLS Public Policy Director, Jen Lamb. “Senator Thomas was a good friend to NOLS. Senator Thomas could always be counted on to be thoughtful and honest. Sometimes he supported NOLS’ position on an issue and  sometimes he didn’t, but you always knew that he would listen, formulate an opinion and honestly communicate it.”

We offer our condolences to his family and friends and our appreciation for the lifetime of service he gave to our state, our country, and the people of Wyoming.

Founded in 1965 by legendary mountaineer Paul Petzoldt, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is the leader in wilderness education and sets the industry standard for responsible, high-quality educational expeditions. NOLS provides an awe-inspiring, transformative experience that develops active, positive leaders with lifelong environmental ethics and outdoor skills to more than 10,000 students each year. A private non-profit school, NOLS runs 10-day to school-year-length courses on four continents. NOLS students, ages 14 to over 70, explore the most remote wilderness in the Rocky Mountains, Idaho, Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Alaska, Western Canada, Mexico, Patagonia (Chile), India, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Baffin Island have to offer. College credit and scholarships are available. For more information, call NOLS at (800) 710-NOLS (6657).