Eli Daniel Bebout is an American athlete and politician who served in the Wyoming House of Representatives from a multi-member district in Fremont County and the 55th district from 1987 to 2001, and later served in the Wyoming Senate from the 26th district 2007 to 2021, as a member of the Democratic and Republican parties. He was the first person to serve as both Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives and President of the Wyoming Senate
Bebout was born in Rawlins, Wyoming, and educated at Shoshoni High School, the United States Air Force Academy, and the University of Wyoming. He was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force Academy stating that he believed he had violated the honor code. Bebout became involved in the energy and pharmaceutical industries and gained a net worth of around $6 million.
Bebout entered politics with his successful write-in candidacy to the state house and was a member of the Democratic Party. During his tenure in the state house as a Democrat he was considered a possible candidate in multiple statewide elections, was selected to serve as Minority Whip, unsuccessfully sought the vice-chair position of the Wyoming Democratic Party, and his proposed redistricting plan was adopted. He switched to the Republican Party in 1994, and was given the position of Majority Leader and then Speaker.
Bebout left the state house in the 2000 election and unsuccessfully ran in the 2002 Wyoming gubernatorial election with the Republican nomination against Democratic nominee Dave Freudenthal. He was selected to replace Bob Peck in the state senate following Peck's death. During his tenure in the state senate he served as Vice President, Majority Leader, and President.
Wikipedia
“A tax increase is still a tax increase, no matter what you call it.”
As quoted in Casper Star-Tribune https://archive.ph/7h4Fk (March 27, 1994)
