10 Facts About Dave Freudenthal

Dave Freudenthal previously was the United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming from 1994 to 2001.

Dave Freudenthal was born in Thermopolis, the seat of Hot Springs County in north central Wyoming, the seventh of eight children; he grew up on a farm north of town.

Dave Freudenthal graduated in 1973 from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts, with a bachelor's degree in economics.

Dave Freudenthal received his JD degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1980 and went into private practice.

In 1994, upon the recommendation of Governor Mike Sullivan, Dave Freudenthal was appointed United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming.

Dave Freudenthal left this post in May 2001 and was replaced by future governor Matt Mead.

Dave Freudenthal announced on March 4,2010 that he would not attempt to seek a third term as governor after speculation he would push to repeal state law on term limits; that law limited governors to eight years in office during a 16-year period.

Dave Freudenthal remained consistently popular with his constituents throughout his tenure, even though he was a Democrat in a state that had turned almost solidly Republican.

The majority of his two terms oversaw an enormous energy boom and surpluses in government revenue, although this was later reversed after the Great Recession; Dave Freudenthal then called for cuts to state agencies as growth continued to slow.

In 2008, while serving as Governor, Dave Freudenthal underwent surgery on his shoulder; during this time Secretary of State Max Maxfield served as acting governor for a short time.