ROCK SPRINGS – The Rock Springs City Council continued with business one night before Rock Springs says goodbye to native son and City Councilman Glenn Sugano. During the Tuesday night meeting Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Dave Hanks spoke on the city’s loss.
Hanks passed his prayers and condolences to the Sugano and Rock Springs Council family on the loss. Sugano was working with the chamber on the building committee which is looking to remodel. “We were very fortunate to have Glenn working for us,” Hanks said. “He was a wealth of knowledge. He will be sorely missed.”
The council had a moment of silence at the start of the meeting but went forward as they all prepare to say goodbye at the Broadway Theater on Wednesday at noon.
After the meeting, Mayor Carl Demshar spoke on not only the loss of a councilman but also the loss of a dear friend.
Demshar and Sugano were joined at the hip during the first grade here in Rock Springs. Demshar explained they were friends through grade school, high school and even were roommates at the University of Wyoming, both graduating the same year.
“He was an integral part of our family,” Demshar said. “He was there when I was married, he was there when my children were born and then he was with me on this city council and the family we have here.”
Demshar smiled as he recalled a statement his wife Lynne made the other night. He recalled how Lynne and himself were reminiscing about memories they had of Glenn. Demshar said Lynne turned to him at one point and said to him “When we got married you never told me you and Glenn were a package deal.”
Demshar said the more he thought about that statement, the more it really summed up their friendship.
“It was twice as bad for me,” Demshar said. “It was not only a loss on a personal level but also on a professional level.”
His work on the council, Demshar said was very important and he was a leader. He explained that several times, an idea would be brought up and Glenn would tell them it had been tried and did not work.
Not only was he a councilman but worked as the city’s public work director for 20 years. He then worked as a director at the Solid Waste District No. 1.
Demshar said all the knowledge he had was invaluable to the city and making it what residents enjoy today.
“He was just a great man,” Demshar said. “He will really be sorely, sorely missed.”
