Warren Richardson
Appointed to the Board of Trade by Mayor William G. Schnitger to investigate the sluggish Cheyenne economy, Warren Richardson was already a successful businessman, having interests in mining, lumber, and oil production. In 1897, the Board was asked to participate in the first Frontier Day committee to help boost the economy. Richardson, along with the others, eagerly agreed and appointed himself Chairman of the festivities. At thirty-three years old, he bragged later in life that he was the youngest chairman of the celebration. In planning the first event, the committee rented the Territorial Fair Ground, scheduled horse races, set the rules, established fees and prizes and produced a program. Richardson supervised the Stagecoach holdup. Held on September 23rd, the celebration was a raging success. The event lasted for six hours and the crowd loved it. Even before the dust settled, the committee began planning for the second year, with a two-day celebration in the works. In 1903, Richardson became part of an association of businessmen that purchased the ground which Cheyenne Frontier Days™ was held on. For three years, the seven men owned Frontier Days and ran a successful event. Warren Richardson was honored at the 1950 celebration with a day named in his honor. The last surviving member of the original committee, Warren Richardson died on the eve of the 1960 celebration.