The Casper Daily Tribune

Wednesday, October 22, 1930

Page 1 & 10

Attorney Here Is Found Dead In Automobile

Was Prominent In Republican Activities In Wyoming

Albert E. "Steve" Stirrett, 44, prominent local attorney, civic leader and member of the Republican party, was found dead in his auto this morning on East Eighth street after he had prepared to go to his office. Mr. Stirrett who had been ill for the last three years, apparently died from a heart attack, it was reported.

Death of Mr. Stirrett cast a pall over the entire state where he was known. He was prominent in legal circles and the state Republican organization with which he has been prominently associated for many years.

He was born in Uttoxeter, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 4, 1885, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stirrett. He entered the University of Colorado as a law student and completed the regular course, receiving the Ll. B. degree in 1910.

While attending the law school, he was quarterback and captain of the Colorado football team and was considered one of the outstanding players produced by the institution. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta social fraternity.

After leaving the university he engaged in the practice of law and from 1913 to 1916 he was the state's attorney of Lawrence county at Lead, S. D., making an excellent record during his four years' incumbency in that position.

Mr. Stirrett was well informed on the political and other issues and questions of the day, and ranked high in the discussion of legal matters before the court and his application of legal principles.

He was a member of the law firm of Nichols and Stirrett, local district counsel for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad. He served as deputy county and prosecuting attorney for Natrona county and acting county and prosecuting attorney in 1918. He first was assistant to R. H. Nichols, his firm partner, who was county attorney and then acted in the capacity of county attorney, when Mr. Nichols enlisted in the World war.

He had served four terms as chairman of the Natrona county Republican central committee and was on the executive committee of the local county central committee at the time of his death.

He was serving the third term as state committeeman from Natrona county in the Republican party and also was vice chairman of the state Republican central committee at the time of his death. He was a candidate for the Republican chairmanship of the state at a recent meeting of the state central committee.

As a civic leader, the attorney was one of the most outstanding men of the city. He was serving the second year of his term as a member of the board of directors of the Casper Chamber of Commerce. He was at one time an active member and president of the local Rotary club, from which he resigned because of his growing legal practice.

Mr. Stirrett was the first exalted ruler of the lodge of B. P. O. Elks, and was a prominent member at the time of his death.

He held membership card No. 1 in the Elks' lodge.

Mr. Stirrett was a member of the Episcopalian church.

He had been in ill health for the past three years, and during the past few weeks he had been confined to his home because of illness.

He left the home this morning and apparently died while driving the machine which ran wild after he had an apparent heart attack, it was reported. Indications were that he had died and that the car turned for a tree after he released his hold on the steering wheel.

A small cut on the chin had discharged no blood, indicating that circulation had ceased before the crash, it was stated.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Adele Stirrett; two sons, Donald and Robert, and a daughter, all of the family home, 822 South Beech street, and his mother, Mrs. Olivia Stirrett, and a brother, Earl E. Stirrett, both of 807 East Third street.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later by the Gay Mortuary where the body is being cared for.