Raymond Gene “Jake” Jacquot, a distinguished engineer and longtime educator who shaped Wyoming's technical infrastructure for over four decades, passed away on October 26, 2026, in Laramie, Wyoming, at the age of 87. A Professor Emeritus at the University of Wyoming, Jacquot balanced a rigorous academic career in electrical and computer engineering with a lifelong passion for the American wilderness.
The loss of a figure like Jacquot is a tragedy for his family and those whose lives were connected in meaningful ways. For forty-one years, he served as a bridge between theoretical mechanical engineering and practical application, influencing generations of engineers who now maintain the infrastructure of the Mountain West.
A Legacy of Engineering and Academic Rigor
After graduating from Natrona County High School in 1956, he pursued a series of increasingly complex degrees: an Associate of Arts from Casper College, followed by a BSME and MSME from the University of Wyoming, and ultimately a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. He began his teaching tenure at the University of Wyoming in 1960, a role he maintained for over four decades.
His expertise wasn’t confined to a single campus. He taught at Purdue University and the University of California, Davis, and spent time as a visiting scholar in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University in 1976. By the time he retired as a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2001, he had become a cornerstone of the university’s technical faculty.
Recognition Beyond the Classroom
- 2003: Elected as a Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).
- 2007: Received the WES President’s Engineer of the Year Award and was named Casper College’s Distinguished Alumnus.
- 2008: Named Wyoming Eminent Engineer.
He also held memberships in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), as well as honor societies including Sigma Tau, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, and Tau Beta Pi.
The Mountaineer and the Conservationist
While his professional life was defined by the precision of equations and control systems, his personal life was defined by the unpredictability of the outdoors. For over 50 years, Jacquot was an active member of the American Alpine Club, spending his time as a rock climber, mountaineer, and cross-country skier. He was particularly proud of his ascents in the Wind River Range, the Big Horn Mountains, the Tetons, and on Devils Tower.
In his later years, this love for the landscape shifted from the physical challenge of the climb to the artistic challenge of the canvas. He spent his final decade painting landscape scenes inspired by his adventures in the canyons and ruins of the Four Corners region of Utah.
As a life member of the Izaak Walton League, he didn’t just join a club; he led it, serving as the Travelle Chapter President, President of the Wyoming Division, and Regional Governor.
Jacquot Is Survived by Wife and Children
Jacquot was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Mable Jacquot, and his brother, Jon. He is survived by his wife, Janice Davis; his son, Byron, of Westminster, Colorado; and his brothers, Neal of Boise and Fred (and wife Judy) of Casper. He had previously been married to Nancy Cowley, with whom he shared his son, Byron.
Per his request, no formal services will be held, though a Celebration of Life is planned for a later date. For those looking to honor his legacy of conservation and education, memorial contributions are suggested for the Izaak Walton League of America Endowment or a charity of the donor’s choice.
The trajectory of Jake Jacquot’s life—from a Casper high school graduate to a Wyoming Eminent Engineer and a landscape painter—serves as a reminder that a career in the sciences can coexist with a spirit of adventure.
