At the tail-end of March I was poking about the Montana Capitol and stumbled upon the Gallery of Outstanding Montanans. I went back this past Friday and took some photos.
The Gallery of Outstanding Montanans (easier-to-read list below)
The notice is pretty hard to read, and it doesn’t come out too well, what with that lamp reflection (and my crappy camera).
Here’s what that top part says, and then below that is the complete list cut together from a few photos.
Here’s what that top part says, and then below that is the complete list cut together from a few photos.
Gallery of Outstanding Montanans Description
Lots of names on there, 33 to be exact. If you do some math with our current population of 1.024 million this group would come out to the top .003% of the state.
Of course, with the numbers of people we’ve had since statehood in 1889, and the numbers from territorial Montana in 1864, and the numbers since Lewis and Clark came through in 1804, and the numbers since the native people came…oh, I dunno…and I think you get the idea.
Of course, with the numbers of people we’ve had since statehood in 1889, and the numbers from territorial Montana in 1864, and the numbers since Lewis and Clark came through in 1804, and the numbers since the native people came…oh, I dunno…and I think you get the idea.
List of Outstanding Montanans
That’s where you want your name, and the question is, how do you get it there?
Most of the people are involved with the arts, or causes, or passions. You don’t see a lot of politicians on there, though there are some, and there are some businessmen too. Of course, if you are a politician and we think you do a good job, you might get a cool bust.
Most of the people are involved with the arts, or causes, or passions. You don’t see a lot of politicians on there, though there are some, and there are some businessmen too. Of course, if you are a politician and we think you do a good job, you might get a cool bust.
Senator Burton Wheeler (1923-1947)
Senator Thomas Walsh (1912-33)
Joseph Dixon. U.S. Rep (1903-7), U.S. Senator (1907-13), MT Governor (1921-25)
Those are just off the main Capitol rotunda, a few steps away from that plaque on the wall honoring the famous Montanans.
You’ll also find the Spanish-American War memorial to those that died in that conflict, right by the doors that head to the main steps.
You’ll also find the Spanish-American War memorial to those that died in that conflict, right by the doors that head to the main steps.
Montana Spanish-American War Memorial
You’ll find more on the State of Montana’s Gallery of Outstanding Montanans page. They have a complete list of inductees as well as a short PDF file on each, telling of their life and accomplishments. This Montana History Wiki also has great information, all on one page.
That’s how we can learn about people like Sam Gilluly, a Montana journalist that lived from 1908 to 1984.
Well, actually…we can’t. There’s no listing for him, or many of the other names on the site. Why this is, I can’t say, except that the Historical Society is spending more time worrying about new buildings than telling the state’s history. That’s what I’ll go ahead and assume, because honestly, what other state workers are supposed to write historical accounts for state government?
Beats me, but that’s the case. So if you want to learn about some of the people that the State of Montana has honored in the Gallery of Outstanding Montanans, you’ll have to look elsewhere. I’m confident that past inductee, and former director of the Montana Historical Society, K. Ross Toole, would say that’s a shame.
That’s how we can learn about people like Sam Gilluly, a Montana journalist that lived from 1908 to 1984.
Well, actually…we can’t. There’s no listing for him, or many of the other names on the site. Why this is, I can’t say, except that the Historical Society is spending more time worrying about new buildings than telling the state’s history. That’s what I’ll go ahead and assume, because honestly, what other state workers are supposed to write historical accounts for state government?
Beats me, but that’s the case. So if you want to learn about some of the people that the State of Montana has honored in the Gallery of Outstanding Montanans, you’ll have to look elsewhere. I’m confident that past inductee, and former director of the Montana Historical Society, K. Ross Toole, would say that’s a shame.
Sam Gilluly
Sam Gilluly was born in Billings on April 25, 1908. He moved to Lewistown at an early age, perhaps owing to his father, J.A. Gilluly. The older Gilluly was a “pioneer Montana newspaperman” and had papers in Columbus, Billings, Glendive, Lewistown and Great Falls during the early 20th-century.
So newspapers were in Sam Gilluly’s blood, and it’s likely why he enrolled in the University of Montana School of Journalism, graduating in 1930. After that it was to the Great Falls Tribune, until 1932 when he became editor of the Glasgow Courier. Guilluly held that position until 1960 when he moved to Helena to work for the Montana Chamber of Commerce as a publications editor. In 1967 he became director of the Montana Historical Society, retiring in 1974.
He wasn’t done yet. His daughter-in-law, Sue Hart, recounts him serving on a panel “on weekly newspapering with Montana’s two Pulitzer Prize winners, Bud Guthrie and Mel Ruder.” (Fifty Years, p 157)
He also served as the executive secretary of the Montana Press Association for five years.
Gilluly wrote The Press Gang: A Century of Montana Newspaper, which was released in 1985. Montana historian Michael P. Malone said it was “full of anecdotes and historical vignettes.” (A History of Two Centuries, p 442)
Sam Gilluly died on May 20, 1984. He was 76 years old.
The Montana Newspaper Hall of Fame was created in 1958 and each year honors one deceased Montana journalist who “made outstanding contributions to the profession, the arts and their community.” Notable names that you might recognize include:
There are lots more, but I don’t know who they are. I bet you don’t either. Oh well.
Montana newspapers have fallen off a lot recently, and that decline isn’t going to slow.
So newspapers were in Sam Gilluly’s blood, and it’s likely why he enrolled in the University of Montana School of Journalism, graduating in 1930. After that it was to the Great Falls Tribune, until 1932 when he became editor of the Glasgow Courier. Guilluly held that position until 1960 when he moved to Helena to work for the Montana Chamber of Commerce as a publications editor. In 1967 he became director of the Montana Historical Society, retiring in 1974.
He wasn’t done yet. His daughter-in-law, Sue Hart, recounts him serving on a panel “on weekly newspapering with Montana’s two Pulitzer Prize winners, Bud Guthrie and Mel Ruder.” (Fifty Years, p 157)
He also served as the executive secretary of the Montana Press Association for five years.
Gilluly wrote The Press Gang: A Century of Montana Newspaper, which was released in 1985. Montana historian Michael P. Malone said it was “full of anecdotes and historical vignettes.” (A History of Two Centuries, p 442)
Sam Gilluly died on May 20, 1984. He was 76 years old.
The Montana Newspaper Hall of Fame was created in 1958 and each year honors one deceased Montana journalist who “made outstanding contributions to the profession, the arts and their community.” Notable names that you might recognize include:
- Arthur L. Stone, 1958
- Thomas J. Dimsdale, 1962
- Joseph Kinsey Howard, 1967
- Miles Romney, 1969
- Tom Stout, 1973
- Miles Romney, Jr., 1982
- A.B. Guthrie, Jr., 1994
- Harold G. “Hal” Stearns, 2011
There are lots more, but I don’t know who they are. I bet you don’t either. Oh well.
Montana newspapers have fallen off a lot recently, and that decline isn’t going to slow.
Just another cool spot of the Capitol you might want to check out next time you’re in Helena.
Notes
Farr, William E. and Bevis, William W. (eds.). Fifty Years After The Big Sky: New Perspectives on the Fiction and Films of A.B. Guthrie, Jr. Zadig: Helena, 2001. p 157.
Malone, Michael Peter; Roeder, Richard B.; Lang, William L. Montana: A History of Two Centuries. The University of Washington Press: Seattle, 1976. p 442.
The Spokesman Review, 22 May 1984.
FDR in Montana in August 1934
