Teams looking for US senator’s brother find body
Jul 4, 2013, 1:24 AM
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Teams looking for the brother of Colorado Sen. Mark Udall in western Wyoming’s Wind River Range have found his body, the family said Wednesday night.
James “Randy” Udall, 61, had left June 20 for a weeklong solo backpacking trip, setting off from a trailhead 10 miles northwest of Pinedale. He was due back a week ago.
Sen. Mark Udall’s office released a statement from the family saying Randy Udall’s body was found Wednesday. The family said that while an autopsy is forthcoming, it appears he died of natural causes.
“Randy left this earth doing what he loved most: hiking in his most favorite mountain range in the world,” the family said.
He had told his wife and indicated on a sign-in sheet at the trailhead that he planned to head for the scenic Titcomb Basin.
The family said Wednesday it appeared he was be on the obscure, off-trail route that he had proposed to his family.
“The entire Udall family is touched beyond words by the tremendous outpouring of support from people around the country. Randy’s passing is a reminder to all of us to live every day to its fullest, just as he did,” they said.
Randy Udall was an environmentalist and energy efficiency advocate whose family has been active in politics.
New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall is a cousin. His uncle, Stewart Udall, was Interior secretary in the 1960s. His father was the late U.S. Rep. Morris “Mo” Udall of Arizona.
Randy Udall helped found the nonprofit Community Office for Resource Energy Efficiency, which promotes the use of renewable energy in the Aspen, Colo., area.
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