Emma Lommasson A Smokejumper Reunion MONTANAN FALL 2004 ContentsVOLUME 21 NUMBER 3 i 24jumping Out of Perfectly Good Airplanes PUBLISHER By Vince D evlin Rita Munzenrider ’83 EDITOR A smokejumpers’ reunion is replete Joan Melcher 73 with handshaking, storytelling, CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND EDITORS and Mann Gulch memories. Holly Fox Betsy Holmquist ’67, M.A. ’83 Paddy MacDonald, M.A. ’81 Kathie Nygaard ’68, M.A. ’87 Cary Shimek Patia Stephens ’00 DESIGNER Jennifer Paul PHOTOGRAPHER Todd Goodrich ’88 ADVISORY BOARD Jim Bell Perry Brown Harry Fritz, M.A. ’62 Bill Johnston 79, M.P.A. ’91 Mehrdad Kia Jed Liston ’82, M.Ed. ’00 Dennis Swibold Carol Williams ’65 Kurt Wilson '83 EDITORIAL OFFICES University Relations 315 Brantly Hall The University of Montana Missoula, M T 59812-7642 Voluntary Subscription: S 15 (406) 243-2522 W eb site: www.themontanan.us ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Lowell Hanson (406) 728-3951 The Montanan is published three times a year by The University of Montana for its alumni and friends. Change of address: 1-877-UM ALUMS UMontanaAlumni.org M m FEATURES 12 Greenough by ’P a d d y M acDonald and contributors Readers share their memories o f a park that grew up along with the University. 20 Emma, Bravo! by Betsy Holmquist A profile of a remarkable woman who has been a role m odel for countless students as well as UM faculty and staff members. DEPARTMENTS 04 Letters & Editor's Desk 06 The Oval 10 Student Seen 28 Bookshelf 33 About Alumni 44 Artifacts COV ER P H O T O BY MIKE ANICH m nil arum ■ raCTffa —^K -2 — ■a J 2s “ ^ r r s M m KbAgm* v ~^m—— r '^"W ^I^HRBa P ifim Tirasi»CTiiBWMM>I?iiYCT lU luW !lW KaIE¥*J*Al* 1 iM PJm tim rniM m fnm J OOiLfi -r~sssiJ voxosixy os is so J C*Mi / * <\f SZsiiiTios* Homecoming Weekend Friday October 8, 2004 • 6:00pm Master of Ceremonies- Jam es P. Lucas, pin no. 558 M iles City, Montana Key Note Speaker- R. R eid C ollin s pin no. 677 Internationally known TV news anchor Kensington, Maryland J. Earl "Burly" Miller Award o f Excellence to the Sigma Nu of the 20th Centuiy Cocktail Party, Banquet and Program presentation by Jerem y G. Thane, pin no. 647 Hilton Double Tree Hotel Missoula, Montana 100 Madison Street • Missoula, MT Send registration and banquet fee of $82 for Sigma Nu and spouse or guest to: Sigma Nu 100, P.O. Box 7787, Missoula, MT 59807 2 FALL 2004 MONTANAN The University o f M ontana Alumni Association presents The University of M ontana K i r t P i h y Celebrating 50 Tears o f • C U M ’s Memorial Carillon rn t n e ^ j s*. Mem o n e f H B | q m e c o m i n g 2004 w OCTOBER 8-9 %' j4-*' Friday, O ctober 8 ^ Montana Gubernatorial Debate Class of 1964 40th Reunion Events ~ • v Singing on the Steps .Distinguished Alumni Awards * ^G rizzly Growl Pep Rally Lighting the “M” P all Alumni Gathering and Dance Saturday, O ctober 9 For further information ™ Homecoming Parade call 1-877-UM ALUMS or log on to Ijfoung Alumni Tailgate Party UMontanaAlumni.org ’‘ .Grizzlies vs. Idaho State MONTANAN FALL 2004 3 THE FIRST SATELLITE PARTY est venue to some sixty far-flung lieutenant general, John Hay and J The most recent article about the locations over nearly two decades George Forsyth. I visited the Griz-Cat satellite parties (Spring has been supported by a lengthy Grizzly Battalion in the summer A NEW LANGUAGE 2004) made me wonder how many roster of alumni. They include of 1998 and enjoyed very much ii T f s a few hours before winter readers know the origin o f this Betsy Holmquist, who provided the hospitality o f the PMS. To 1 A solstice, a few days before November ritual. immeasurable help in the early read that the Corps is ranked Christmas. Ellie, our hostess, says, The year was 1986. UM had a years, and John Niemi, who took ninth in the country is really a .1 let's move to the kitchen. The new coach over as ramrod for the Denver source o f pride. Lt.Col. Ierardi is | sound is better there. Musicians and a new party and has managed to make it to be congratulated upon her stadium and even bigger and better. The 2003 selection to attend the Army War 1 have been tuning their strings, try­ while there party drew more than 800 atten­ College. The article places the col- J ing a few chords, finding the right was wary dees despite a nasty game-day lege in Washington, D.C. This is 1 way to sit in their chairs. Already curiosity blizzard. not correct. The Army War in a sort of cosmic sync, they pick about anoth­ Doug Hacker '59 College is at Carlisle Barrack, up their instruments and chairs er football Highlands Ranch, Colorado Pennsylvania, where I graduated and move en masse to the kitchen. season it was in 1961. The National War A small audience follows. interest in College is in Washington, D.C. at Soon music takes the room and seeing Washington-Grizzly stadi­ SOURCE OF PRIDE Fort McNair. pushes its way out cracks of win­ um, successor to a decrepit twen- I read with interest the Spring Keep up the good work. dows and doors into the cold ty-year-old “temporary” 2004 issue of the M ontanan, par­ James W. Love '39 mountain air. There the darkness Dornblaser Field, that actually ticularly the article about ROTC Colonel, USA, retired is deep and long, the snow in prompted the first-ever satellite and Lieutenant Colonel Ierardi. Williamsburg, Virginia party at Denver’s Zang Brewing mounds, the quiet like ice. Bare I graduated in 1939 with twen­ Company. ty-four other second lieutenants, maple branches long for the Sheila Stearns, alumni director two o f whom attained the rank of moon. Inside I ponder how won­ at the time, agreed to send out the derful stringed instruments can be. first Colorado area mailing, which SEND US YOUR MAIL Not only do they travel easily prompted a crowd of roughly 100 from living room to kitchen, but Griz faithful. (Several years would The M ontanan welcomes letters to the editor. W e ask that letters be they can turn exalted warbling pass before an invitation was signed and include the writer's graduating year or years when appropri­ into a soulful mourn. extended to the Gallatin Valley ate, home address, and phone number or e-mail address. Send them to: Sitting within a few feet of the brethren.) musicians, I begin to notice the Outgrowing Zang’s after two Montanan Editor forms of communication they use. years, the party moved to the 315 Brantly Hall Only two of the five have played Ironworks, a scruffy biker bar University of Montana overseen by an affable manager Missoula, MT 59812 together regularly and one is named Junkyard. Two years later entirely new to the group, but they saw another move— to the original Unfortunately, because of space limitations we are not able to include all letters all know the language. Eyes and Brooklyn’s, where the Griz-Cat sent to us. Letters that appear often are edited for length or clarity. feet are clearly key: feet tap out satellite party resided for thirteen While universities are places of discussion where people of good will do not the rhythm; eyes relay what needs years before relocating last always agree, letters deemed potentially libelous or that malign a person or to be told. Ellie's eyes register the November to the newer and larger group will not be published. Opinions expressed in the M ontanan do not neces­ pain of an out-of-tune chord; give Brooklyn’s. sarily reflect those of The University of Montana. the go-ahead to the bass player The growth from a single mod­ for a solo; convey appreciation for a bluesy vocal by the slide string guitar player. I become intrigued with how they move into a song. Someone calls out a song title. Musicians shift in their seats, get that far-off look as they reach back for what they know. Then there's the tap- 4 PALL 2 0 0 4 M O N TA N A N IUUSTRATION BY BOB 3N GM AK GENEALOGY CONNECTION spoon collection, one featuring ping of feet. A chord here, a riff In response to a letter from Buckskin Charlie. Jeannie wrote the there, another chord. Out of a sort Jeannie Green o f Ashland, Oregon, following to Betsy Holmquist. of hesitant, rambling cacophony of I would like to offer the following sound, the music gels and off they about the identity o f Buckskin Valerie and I have exchanged sev­ go, never to look back. How won­ Charlie. The Buckskin Charlie eral e-mails. S h e ’s a very cordial derful to be carried on their backs! who took Teddy Roosevelt up the correspondent. With info she had I All creative endeavors have Gallatin Valley hunting was really hit the Internet to research some that "gelling" moment. It's what Charlie Marble. H e and his wife leads and the fascinating footnote hooks many of us on the creative Lizzie (my great-great aunt) and to this story is that “her” Buckskin two other men lived in the Charlie (the one on the Butte process. I've found nothing else Gallatin Valley and guided hunt­ spoon) apparently was a Native : that merges excitement with satis­ ing trips.