Two to Receive UW Honorary Degrees

The University of Wyoming will confer its highest award, the honorary doctoral degree, upon two individuals who will be recognized during UW commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 16.

They are Bob Beck, a veteran media professional and educator who retired from Wyoming Public Media after serving as news director of Wyoming Public Radio for 34 years; and Jay Kemmerer, a businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist who led the emergence of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and remains on the board of Jackson Hole Ski Corp.

Beck will receive a Doctor of Letters for the advancement of knowledge in the humanities, including history, philosophy, language, literature, religion, and critical and cultural studies. Kemmerer will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters for service to humanity, society or public service.

UW alumni, current or former trustees and faculty members are eligible to nominate individuals for honorary degrees who embody the university’s high ideals; exemplify the values of excellence, service and integrity; and possess distinguished accomplishments in their professions, public service or service to humanity. Submissions are referred to a joint committee of trustees and faculty members, which forwards recommendations to the full Board of Trustees for approval.

“The bestowing of an honorary degree is a cherished tradition at the University of Wyoming,” says Michelle Sullivan, chair of the UW Board of Trustees. “It is the ultimate way we show our thanks to those who have made the university, Wyoming and the world a better place. Jay and Bob are both highly deserving of this recognition.”  

Beck began his broadcast journalism career after earning a Bachelor of Science in radio/TV from Southern Illinois University. He worked as a news and sports broadcaster at stations in Illinois and Wyoming before starting at Wyoming Public Radio in 1988. During his time as news director, Wyoming Public Radio won over 100 national, regional and state news awards.

In addition to his duties as news director, Beck was the co-creator, host and producer of the news magazine “Open Spaces,” which won 11 national Public Media Journalist Association (PMJA) awards. He won four individual PMJA awards for reporting and five regional Edward R. Murrow Awards. He also won numerous Associated Press and Wyoming Association of Broadcasters awards.

As an adjunct faculty member at UW for 20 years, Beck mentored generations of students and twice earned the UW Mortar Board “Top Prof” award. He covered the Wyoming Legislature longer than any other broadcaster and documented pivotal events such as the Matthew Shepard murder, the crash that killed eight UW student-athletes and numerous landmark policy debates. Beyond journalism, Beck contributed significantly to the community, co-chairing the Albany County United Way campaign, serving as president of the United Way board and volunteering with numerous nonprofit organizations.

“Bob’s impact on the state of Wyoming -- and on generations of journalists -- is immeasurable. He is not only one of the finest journalists this state has ever known, but also one of its most devoted citizens,” wrote Jessica Garate, one of Beck’s former students who now is the evening anchor at KRQE News 13 in Albuquerque, N.M. “Through his integrity, curiosity and compassion, he elevated Wyoming Public Radio into one of the most respected (National Public Radio) affiliates in the nation. His trusted voice guided Wyoming residents through legislative debates, major state issues and stories that defined our communities for decades.”

“Over the course of 34 years, Bob Beck’s voice was a daily companion to the thousands of listeners tuning into Wyoming Public Radio. With a confident ease of delivery, Bob brought listeners the news of the day, whether it was the stakes of a statewide election, a critical policy decision by state lawmakers, an approaching blizzard or a Wyoming Cowboys victory,” wrote WyoFile’s Maggie Mullen, who began her career as a reporter under Beck’s mentorship. “In darker times, Bob helped Wyomingites make sense of the world, including the crash that killed eight University of Wyoming athletes and the murder of Matthew Shepard. On both days good and bad, when listeners heard Bob’s voice, they knew it was someone they could trust.”

Kemmerer, who grew up in New Jersey, has deep Wyoming roots: The Kemmerer family expanded its eastern coal operations to southwest Wyoming in the late 1890s, and the Lincoln County seat was named for Mahlon Kemmerer, Jay Kemmerer’s great-grandfather. The Kemmerer mines contributed to the state’s revenues and employment in the Kemmerer/Diamondville area for decades.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in business administration and finance from the University of Denver, Kemmerer began his career in 1974 at Chemical Bank (now JP Morgan Chase) in New York before joining The Kemmerer Corp. in 1977. In 1981, Kemmerer and his father, John L. Kemmerer Jr., sold their mining interests to Gulf Oil. Kemmerer led the Kemmerer Bottling Group Inc. in Joliet, Ill., from 1986-1994. He also served as chairman of Burling Instruments Inc. of Chatham, N.J., as well as Mid-American Waste Systems, located in Winchester, Ohio, from 1990-92.

Deciding it would be important to reinvest in Wyoming, Kemmerer joined the board of First Wyoming Bank, the state’s largest bank holding company. This enabled him to tour First Wyoming’s regional banks while looking for investment opportunities. In 1992, Kemmerer led his family’s reinvestment effort with the purchase of the Jackson Hole Ski Corp., which was facing litigation and bankruptcy. This was the beginning of the Kemmerer family’s major investments in Wyoming’s tourism industry.

Kemmerer’s leadership and strategic vision resulted in the emergence of the world-renowned Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, which helped make the town of Jackson and Wyoming a major tourist destination. In 1997, he also purchased the CM Ranch near Dubois to preserve the legacy of the historic dude ranch that he visited as a child. Since the sale of the Kemmerer mines, Jay and the Kemmerer Family have invested over $350 million in Wyoming tourism businesses.

“Jay’s passion for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, over the past 30 years, has shaped the resort into a haven for mountaineers, extreme sports athletes and skiers of all levels. Under his leadership, (the resort) has become synonymous with excellence in the outdoor recreation and tourism industries, contributing substantially to the reputation and economic vitality of Jackson Hole and Wyoming as a whole,” wrote Eric Macy, one of the local investors who purchased the resort from the Kemmerers in 2024. “His impact on the lives of those who cherish Wyoming’s natural beauty and embrace outdoor adventure is immeasurable … What distinguishes Jay Kemmerer are not only his remarkable achievements but also his unique blend of hard work, humility and ambition. He leads by example, inspiring those around him, whether friends, employees or family, with his quiet expertise and genuine warmth. Jay’s commitment to excellence, coupled with his profound sense of community, has made him an exemplary figure in both the business world and in the hearts of those who know him.”

The Kemmerer family’s first involvement with UW was in 1992 when Kemmerer and his father decided to endow four-year, full-ride scholarships to the top high school graduates of Kemmerer and Cokeville high schools. Today, the John L. Kemmerer Jr. Scholarship is awarded to one graduating student each year from Kemmerer and Dubois high schools. Additionally, the Kemmerer Fellowship at UW’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources is awarded to a graduate student each year.

In 2017, the Haub School had a concept of creating an outdoor recreation and tourism management curriculum, and Kemmerer agreed to fund its development. Since that time, the curriculum and enrollment in the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management Program have grown to 73 current students and 53 graduates working in industry across the region and state. In 2024, Kemmerer, through a $5 million gift, created an endowment to name the Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute to help ensure the continued success of the tourism industry in Wyoming.

Under Jay’s direction, the Kemmerer family’s total philanthropic contributions to the state of Wyoming exceed $30 million.

“His generous backing of student programs and initiatives has changed young people’s lives and helped further the University of Wyoming’s mission to serve the people and the state of Wyoming,” Macy wrote. “Jay’s dedication to education and the betterment of the community is a testament to his belief in fostering the next generation of leaders and innovators.”