The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center has announced its 10th class of inductions into the hall of fame. The organization focuses on honoring the cowboy way of life, American Indian cultures and collective Montana Western heritage, according to its mission statement.

Inductees for this year’s class were chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the general public. Each is honored for his or her notable contributions to the history and culture of Montana.

In announcing the new class, Jeff Bolstad, MHCF & WHC president, notes that volunteer trustees around the state vote on nominations that come from the district where they reside. “It gives the local communities a strong voice in who will represent them in the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame.”

The organization’s board has designed 12 trustee districts across the state from which up to 20 trustees may be appointed. Nomination criteria established by the board for 2017 allowed for election of up to one Living Inductee and two Legacy Inductees from each of the 12 districts.

Those inductions, according to the association’s mission, are carefully considered to recognize “the notable contributions of our Montana cowboys, cowgirls, American Indians, communities, settlers, industries, landscape, rodeos, ranches and wildlife.”

Here’s a look at the 2017 Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees:

District 1 (Daniels, Phillips, Roosevelt, Sheridan and Valley counties): Living Award – Mary Louise (Hovendick) Helland, Glasgow. Legacy Award – B. M. Bower, Glasgow, and Eugene Joseph “Gene” Martin, Wolf Point.

District 2 (Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Prairie, Richland and Wibaux counties): Living Award – Jim Baisch, Glendive. Legacy Award – Lorin Abarr Sr., Fallon, and Orlando Shepard “Doc” Drake, Wibaux.

District 3 (Carter, Custer, Fallon, Powder River, Rosebud and Treasure counties): Living Award – John L. “Jack” Bailey, Forsyth. Legacy Award – Jersey Lilly Bar and Cafe, Ingomar, and Bob and Helen (Fulton) Askin, Ismay. 

District 4 (Blaine, Chouteau, Hill and Liberty counties): Living Award – Nicholas Bernard “Nick” Faber, Chinook. Legacy Award – John and Fay (Vercruyssen) Stuker, Chinook, and Ed and Orah (Young) Massie, Great Falls (formerly of Chouteau County).

District 5 (Cascade, Glacier, Pondera, Teton and Toole counties): Living Award – Norma Ashby, Great Falls. Legacy Award – Brian F. Connolly, Browning, and Daniel Charles “Dan” Boggs, Heart Butte.

District 6 (Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Musselshell, Petroleum and Wheatland counties): Living Award – Edgar E. Lewis, Lavina. Legacy Award – Melvin L. Cheney, Stanford, and White Wolf of the Judith Basin, Stanford.

District 7 (Big Horn, Carbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass and Yellowstone counties): Living Award – David Herman Branger, Roscoe. Legacy Award – Saint Paul Case, Hardin, and John Otis “Jack” Hash, Roscoe.

District 8 (Broadwater, Jefferson, and Lewis and Clark counties): Living Award – Gov. Judy (Morstein) Martz, Helena. Legacy Award – Robert F. “Bob” Cooney, Helena, and James J. “Jim” McLucas, Helena.

District 9 (Gallatin, Meagher and Park counties): Living Award – Earnest “Ernie” Briggs, Clyde Park. Legacy Award – John Leonard “Jack” Short, White Sulphur Springs, and Montana FFA Association, Bozeman.

District 10 (Flathead, Lake, Lincoln and Sanders counties): Living Award – Ray and Shirley Jacobs, Eureka. Legacy Award – Roy B. King, Arlee, and Billy Schall, Arlee.

District 11 (Mineral, Missoula and Ravalli counties): Living Award – Jack Keith Ward, Hamilton. Legacy Award – Father Antonio “Anthony” Ravalli, S.J., Stevensville, and Chief Charlo Claw of the Little Grizzly, Stevensville.

District 12 (Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Silver Bow, Granite, Madison and Powell counties): Living Award – Bobbie Jean (Meine) Mussard, Dillon. Legacy Award – Maurice G. “Bud” Weaver, Drummond, and Hitched Horsehair and Braided Horsehair, Deer Lodge.

The organization will honor these inductees during the annual Circle the Wagons gathering held Feb. 2-3 in Great Falls at the Best Western Heritage Inn.

Since the first round of inductions in 2008, and including this year’s inductees, 310 have been honored. Full biographies of past inductees are available on the MCHF & WHC website, montanacowboyfame.org.

Source: Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center