by Anne Hedges
Montanans lost three heroes this last week, and their passing deserves notice. In these turbulent times, we should celebrate people who worked tirelessly to make the world a better place for present and future generations. Two of the three received MEIC’s Conservationist of the Year award for their lifetime achievements to protect and sustain Montana and the people and places that make it a wonderful place to live. The third hero never received the award but did so much to deserve it that we want to honor him now.
Wally McRae, Colstrip
What a character! Wally McRae is known widely for his poetry, but I knew him as a rancher who cared deeply about the people, the land, Tribes, history, and the future. Wally was an entertainer in the best sense of the word. To listen to him read his poetry was a gift. He loved it and his poetry spanned the gamut. He would make you laugh and make you cry, sometimes in the same piece. He fought tirelessly to protect land and water, cultural resources, and the health and wellbeing of the people around him. Despite widespread opposition, Wally led the fight against the construction of the polluting Colstrip plant near his home. Wally and his son, Clint, helped lead the charge against the Tongue River Railroad and the Otter Creek Coal mine. Their tireless efforts were largely responsible for the defeat of that proposal. He worried about the harm the neighboring coal ash ponds and coal mining would have on his ranch, water, and the community.
And he was right. Wally’s concerns about the coal mine’s impacts on water resources were proven out: Rosebud Creek became impaired with pollution as the mine expanded and resulted in waste entering the creek. Throughout his life, Wally never backed down in the face of pro-coal opposition. He persevered in the face of threats and attacks for his views.
I loved being around Wally, listening to his stories, laughing, and better understanding his enduring determination to stop those who wanted to do harm to the land and the people around him. More than anything, Wally was a kind-hearted, funny, grumpy ol’ guy who left an indelible mark on anyone who knew him.
Pat Williams, Missoula
Pat made his mark in the U.S. House of Representatives. Unlike many of our current politicians who move to Montana because it’s a cheap and easy way to climb the political ladder and gain power, Pat was an old school politician who dedicated his life to service and helping to protect Montanans.
Pat fought for clean water throughout his tenure, advocating for more protective limits for water pollutants; he might have been the only Western State member of Congress to actually stop a dam in his district (against great odds). He worked tirelessly for wilderness, and his legislation is responsible for the Rattlesnake Wilderness and Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area. Pat ran for office to make this state a better place, not to serve a giant ego and political ambitions.
We need more people like Pat in office today. I can only imagine how Pat would have reacted to the expectation that he should support efforts to rip healthcare away from Montanans, close rural hospitals, and allow oil, gas and coal to destroy our public lands and waterways.
Pat was a model Congressman who should be an example for our current politicians.
John Vincent, Bozeman
Like Pat, John believed in public service. He was twice the Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives where he served from 1975 – 1990. He was Mayor of Bozeman and a County Commissioner for Gallatin County in the 1990s and early 2000s. As if that wasn’t enough, John went on to serve on the Montana Public Service Commission. John cared deeply and worked tirelessly to improve the daily lives of Montanans. He was full of ideas, energy, and compassion. John had a great heart and a determination to do what he could to protect this place and the people who live here. John was a friend who called me frequently to share stories and strategies. I loved those calls, because he never stopped thinking about energy, especially energy efficiency, as well as politics in Montana and ways it could be used to improve the world.
As politics become increasingly more divided and focused on personal enrichment over public service, it’s more important than ever to remember whose footprints we follow. These three men laid a foundation based on democratic principles, kindness, fairness and hard work. We celebrate their lives and their visions, and Montana is better off because of their compassion and determination. Following their examples is the best way to honor their legacies.
