A BIG WYO night

"We go to the Wolf for every year for our anniversary," Rose Vaughn, 30-year Hanna resident and Rawlins National Bank Hanna manager, said. "They are outstanding people because they are such a pillar of their community, not just Saratoga do they help out, but they help the surrounding communities which is amazing."

Vaughn is talking about Doug and Kathleen "Kathy" Campbell who were awarded the Big WYO award by governor Matt Meade Feb 27.

Vaugh said Kathy touched her tremendously when the Hotel Wolf sent her a donation and a dinner for two certificate for Vaughn's fundraiser for her granddaughter's cancer treatment.

"It was very touching she called me and made the effort to ask about McKenzie's (Vaughn's granddaughter) treatment, because not take away from the generous nature of others who donated, but she was the only one to call."

"We are so excited and proud to have Doug and Kathleen Campbell named as the 2018 Big WYO Award Winner. It is such a great honor and so deserving," Leslie Jefferson, Carbon County Visitors Council Executive Director, said. "Doug and Kathleen Campbell have been serving and delighting guests at the historic Hotel Wolf for over 40 years. They are the heart and soul of hospitality in Saratoga, Carbon County and all of Wyoming."

Coming to Big WYO

Doug and Kathy Campbell and their four children came from California in 1977 to try their hand at running the Hotel Wolf with Mike Self.

"Initially, we were trying to buy the Saratoga Inn, but the people who had the option on it decided to purchase it," Doug said.

However the owner of the Hotel Wolf said she was selling. The Campbells went for the hotel. They signed on April Fool's day.

41 years later, after restoring the historic hotel into a leading venue for tourism in Saratoga and Wyoming, the couple were awarded the 2018 Big WYO Award.

About the Award

The Big WYO award is an annual award that the Wyoming Travel Industry Coalition (WTIC) gives to someone who has made a lifetime contribution to furthering tourism in the state," Stacy Crimmins, Saratoga Chamber of Commerce director said. "Doug and Kathy have been involved with Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association (WLRA) for many years-which a lot of the board's focus is on legislation."

Crimmins said the award is a big deal in the tourism industry. It recognizes hard work with tourism boards and associations to further Wyoming's number two industry.

"Locally, they understand good customer service, so they are excellent at training their employees for high expectations and being consistent. And they are listed in practically any guide book written about Saratoga because they put a lot of effort into making the Wolf Hotel a place you have to see."

Crimmins said the Campbells were the first to help bring Pro Start to the Valley. Pro Start is the premier culinary arts program that gives college credit to participating high school students.

She said the Campbells strong involvement with the Cowboy Joe Club has helped bring in alumni to visit. The couple is also involved with the Steer-a-Year program as part of the Cowboy Joe Club.

Crimmins said this award is a state level award in tourism and said she only knows of one other person from Carbon County to receive it.

"The tradition is; the previous winners select the new winner," Crimmins said. "It is kept highly secret and a video is made of close people talking about the selected new winner."

The Big WYO lie

Keeping the award a secret was not an easy task since Doug and Kathy had not attended the award dinner in a few years, rather sending their children to represent the Hotel Wolf.

Jason and Judd Campbell knew they would have to lie.

"So we decided to get someone to call them and say they were going to present an award to someone close, such as Fred Ockers," Judd said. "That is how we got them there, but it was all kept secret."

Children Judd, Jason and Megan, along with Edge Powell, were the only ones to know. Employees were kept in the dark and even when a video crew came to film the hotel, workers were told it was for another project.

The Sun was let in on the secret because a congratulatory ad was put in the paper.

The Campbells were still resistant about going, but because it was close friend Fred Ockers, they said yes.

"We thought it strange there was no itinerary when we got there," Kathy said as she started suspecting something was not really right. "Plus we were not being given any times for when we would present and I kept thinking to myself 'when are we supposed give this award?'"

Then the governor presented the award video.

Doug said he realized it was them being honored when he saw University of Wyoming Athletic Director, Tom Burman, appear on the screen to talk.

"Once we realized what was happening, it was a pretty special moment and we both teared up," Doug said. "It was an emotional moment as we looked back on 41 years and saw all our peers honoring us."

Judd and Powell said they were really happy to pull off the surprise.

Jason Campbell said it was worth all the subterfuge to see his parents reactions as they realized it was his parents being honored.

"What you realize by taking this all in, is how Mom and Dad were helping start all these associations and boards in the beginning to where they are now, with tourism being the number two industry in the state," Jason said. "They have really contributed and that is why they are honored."

Kathy said what has kept them going is all the people's support of their efforts.

"We feel we have a duty to the community," Doug, Kathy and Judd said at the same time.

Judd said when the candidates were being considered for the award, only the Campbells were an unanimous choice.

Running with the Wolf

The Hotel Wolf almost didn't stay in the Campbells hands. Self and the Campbells had been partners for four years, but Self wanted to either own it entirely or have the Campbells own it all. Doug and Kathy put the question to their kids.

"We took a trip to Jackson and while we were traveling we asked them," Kathy said. "All were adamant about staying."

So they did.

There have been ups and downs, but Kathy and Doug say it was all worth it.

"All our kids worked in this business and we could not have done without them," Kathy said.

She said the most trying time was when their daughter Kirsten passed away in September of 2014.

"It was not only terrible to lose our child, but we lost our kitchen manager and partner all at once," Kathy said. "No words can really convey our loss."

"When I think of them winning this award, I always think of service," Powell said. She is related by her brother being married to daughter Megan and has worked for the Campbells for over a decade. "They have always been a service to the community, they deal with customers whether it be on lodging side or restaurant, but the word describing them is service."

"It is the people who have made us, whether it is customers or employees, the longevity is what makes the Hotel Wolf," Kathy said. "I will say it again, our children are essential to this."

Getting their West on

Jimmy Campbell (not related), who has worked for the Campbells for over 20 years said when he first asked to work at the Hotel Wolf in 1994 he told them if they didn't hire him, he wasn't going to live in Saratoga because he wasn't going to work any other place.

"In 1995 the Wolf started employee benefits-which was unheard of that time for a restaurant environment," Campbell said. "I think the key for them was taking care of their employees and treating them fairly. They took care of us and so we took care of them, which is a beautiful thing."

Kim Hytrek, Saratoga representative for the Carbon County Visitors Council, was at Little America in Cheyenne where the event was held, and said it was a wonderful moment for Campbells, Saratoga and Carbon County.

"I could not be prouder to represent the town of Saratoga because of people like the Campbells," Hytrek said. "On a daily basis what they have done for Saratoga and Wyoming is the reason we can tell people who are visiting, 'Get your West on.'"

"To me if we could clone them and put them in every town, I can't imagine how powerful we would be in tourism," Diane Shober, Wyoming Tourism Executive Director, said. "They represent everything that is right with the tourism industry".

Shober said Doug was never afraid to challenge her and that is a characteristic she values.

"I trust them completely," Shober said. "They are so deserving of this award and recognition."

"They have been friends with me and my wife, Debbie, for thirty plus years," Fred Ockers, Albany County Director of Tourism, said. ""We have a lot of common friends and it really is a good friendship,"

He also said, "They own an icon in the state and what they have done in hospitality and tourism over the years serving on boards makes them so deserving of this recognition."

"The greatest asset of Wyoming is it's people. Doug and Kathy define that."

Cassie Orduno, owner of Bellas in Saratoga, echoed Ockers.

"Coming in the Valley and seeing them as a business that has been here for 41 years, as they have always maintained their standards and integrity, they are people to look up too, and they were a huge inspiration to us," Orduno said. "The award is well-deserved because they have done as much for Saratoga tourism and even state, as anyone else I can think of."

Doug said he once was told he knew someone in every town.

"Of course I do. We are one big city connected by long roads," Doug said joking.

The consensus, by all who talked about the Campbells, is this award has been long deserved.