Wayne Norviel Aspinall was born in Middleburg, Ohio on April 3, 1896. He became a Colorado resident in 1904 when his parents moved the family to Palisade. He resided there until his death in 1983.
One of Colorado's most distinguished citizens; he served in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1931 to 1938 and from 1939 to 1949 in the Colorado Senate. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1949 and served until 1973. As Chairman of the Committee of Interior and Insular Affairs (1959-1973), he became one of the nation's leading authorities on the management, development and conservation of water and other natural resources.
Wayne Aspinall was educated in the public schools of Mesa County, the University of Denver and the University of Denver Law School. He held Honorary Doctorate degrees from the University of Alaska, University of Denver, Western State College, Colorado School of Mines and Mesa State College.
In 1920, Wayne Aspinall married Julia E. Kuns and they had four children. After Julia died, he married Essie Jeffers Best in 1970.
Following his teaching in public schools, fruit farming, and admission to the Colorado Bar, Wayne spent 40 years in the service of Colorado. He had an active post-political career promoting causes in which he believed. He was Visiting Professor of Political Science at the University of Wyoming, 1975-1976.