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THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA AUTUMN ’85 8 || Jj J J jj j 1§U^ gj g pTs'tJfi-prwfit Ofg. '? Address CofrecluttVftecfuekteil Office o| News apd Publicalfoxn^J;y V • p)vl&' . University o f Montana' . Kansas jpiiy.. j Missoula. Montana 59812 ,- .. No.^4150 a ‘W / if/,. K f i ' * *■' A Forum King brought out our best Walter King, one of the best teachers to ever We joked that only English majors, who were grace the UM campus, retired in June. Since required to take his classes, and masochists great teachers are almost as rare as the white would endure his classes. But, the truth is, we buffalo, the loss of even one of them should not stayed because he challenged us with new go unnoticed. Walt was the soul of the English insights; he made material we had dismissed as department and perhaps of the University for dull and irrelevant, timely and exciting. His m ore than twenty years. He maneuvered a courses dominated our conversations; his ragged assortment o f students from their natural demands dominated our time. Responding to a lackadaisical, nonchalant approach to life and question from him kindled emotions akin to learning toward his goal of discerning, those experienced during the Inquisition. The analytical, enlightened human beings. I'm sure first “A” I earned from him drew awed crowds he must have succeeded with one or two. But, who handled the paper with a reverence even those of us who fell short o f his standards reserved for papal edicts. We would have died were forever changed by our encounter with to please him. “Dr. King.” Recently while enduring yet another I first met Walt as a sophomore in his registration, I was contemplating the demise of Shakespeare class. I was terrified by the standards, as middle-aged people are apt to do legendary tales of his requirements and my while surrounded by youth, when I overheard worst fears were realized on the first paper I two scruffy-looking students discussing classes. turned in to him. It received a “D” and a full “You’re only taking six credits?” one asked the page of blood-red comments. Happily I was too other incredulously. “Yes, but I ’m taking King stubborn to join the legions lining up to drop this quarter,” the other retorted without a sign out and instead was jolted into a frenzy of o f remorse. “Lucky you!” the first student rereading and rewriting. My efforts were replied with a mixture o f sympathy and rewarded with a curt, “There may be hope for admiration that I understood perfectly. I smiled, you!’’ I still have that first paper on my desk. reassured that som e things never change. It tends to humble me in proud moments and Lucky boy to encounter a teacher like Walt bolster me in times of despair. King. Lucky us to have shared the exciting Walt was unyielding in demanding nothing world of ideas and ideals that Walt King created less than our best. He was relentless in his for us all. insistence that we reconsider, revise, rewrite >. Brenda Joyce Holland '62 until w e had grasped what the author intended. 2612 Cardinal Drive His critiques of our work were scathing and his Missoula, Montana 59803 ability to undermine our gerrymandered reasonings was unerring. No one churned out a paper in an hour or whipped through a reading assignment on the way to class. For “King” we read and wrote slowly, thoughtfully, cautiously. He never missed a class—nor did we. He never missed an appointment. He was always prepared, always passionately interested in our progress or lack of progress. He gave us his time, his knowledge, his attention. He left each o f us on a higher level o f learning than where he had found us. In short, he taught us. Editor's note: Forum exists to express the unsolicited views of Montanan readers. Well-written pieces of less than 500 words on subjects of interest to friends and alumni of UM will be considered. Opinions n eed not coincide with any official University position. All subm issions b eco m e the property of the Montanan and may b e edited. m m THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA Autumn 1985 Montanan Volume 3, Number 1 Montanan—The University of Montana magazine is published Departments quarterly by the University of Montana for its alumni and friends. 2 Letters Publisher 3 Around the Oval University of Montana Director of University 20 Alumni News Information William Scott Brown 22 Classnotes Editor Virginia Vickers Braun Features Photographer Page 3 Howard Skaggs 9 Growing up female in Charlie Russell country Editorial Offices By Mary Clearman Blew Office of News and Publications 303 Main Hall Author Mary Clearman Blew, dean of the College of Arts and Science University of Montana at Northern Montana College and a UM graduate in creative writing, Missoula, MT 59812 discusses why there are so few women writers in the West. (406) 243-2522 Alumni Office 13 H.G. Merriam: His legacy lives on Sheila MacDonald Steams ’68 By Ginny Merriam Director Missoula, MT 59812 Dr. Merriam taught at the University for thirty-five years. His (406) 243-5211 granddaughter, Ginny, a senior in journalism, reflects on his life and UM Alumni Association career. Directors Page 9 Connie Corette Kenney ’61, 16 Homecoming ’85 President Butte By Virginia Vickers Braun “You gotta have art” was the theme of this year’s Homecoming, which Dan Marinkovich ’50, E.Ed. ’57, President-elect featured the opening of the new Performing Arts/Radio-TV Center. For Anaconda a photo feature on the parade, football game and other highlights, turn Jean’ne M. Shreeve ’53, Past to pages 16-17. President Moscow, Idaho 18 Six earn Distinguished Alumni Awards David H. Baker ’62 Each year the Alumni Association honors outstanding graduates who Billings have contributed significantly to the University, the state or the nation. Susie Beaulaurier Clark ’67 For biographical sketches o f this year’s recipients, see pages 18-19. Bigfork Robert L. Crippen ’65 Page 13 Butte Special Section Donna K. Davis ’74, J.D. ’78 Billings 29 Campaign update Carol Dulaney ’75, J.D. ’78 The UM Foundation brings you up to date on its goal of raising $6 Fridley, Minn. million in three years and takes a look at Dennis Washington, who Helena Hales Elliott ’54 donated $1 million toward building the new Washington-Grizzly Conrad Stadium. Sharon Northridge Leonard ’64 Missoula Zane G. Murfitt ’50 Philipsburg John Walker Ross '66, J.D. ’69 Billings Page 17 Ward A. Shanahan ’53, J.D. ’58 Helena John R. Tooke ’72 Miles City Dennis J. U ns worth Helena Advertising Representative The Missoulian Attn. Sharon Schroeder Box 8029 Missoula, MT 59807 (406) 721-5200 Page 29 C o v er photo: What could b e better than a fur coat at Homecoming, especially at a Grizzly gam e? Sporting a raccoon coat was Tim Grattan ’60 of Whitefish, and wearing a nutria fur coat was Marie Thompson of Billings. The Griz beat Idaho State University 35 to 29. Photo by Virginia Vickers Braun. Letters Old-timers still around was with and what they had been Music was her medium In the Summer ’85 issue, Jim Scott, doing. The death of Lorraine Andrie ’73 , asks about the profs who are left My mother, Cora Mae (Cythbert) (7/14/85) saw the passing o f a gracious from his undergraduate days. Since Beck, and her girlfriend, Virginia lady and an unselfish advocate for the over half o f the faculty in the College (Purvess) Hughes, had ridden the train art of music. She was a significant of Arts and Sciences have been around from Drummond to Missoula to date “power behind the podium.” She was for more than fifteen years, that would Chuck Burgess (a Grizzly basketball also a dear friend. Pat and I treasure be a long list, indeed. Mr. Scott and star) and Jack Fisher, who attended the the personal notes we received — other readers might be interested in “U.” frequently with a pressed wild flower which re a l old-timers are still around. My mother was still in high school from the Oregon coast or from My definition of an old-timer is so this would have been around 1940. Georgetown Lake. someone who has been around longer Her brother. Jack Cuthbert, was a Phi One of her most lasting contributions than I. Delt and president of the student body was the establishment o f the W omen’s The oldest-timer in the College is at the “U.” He had lined up these Association of the Missoula Civic Carling Malouf of anthropology, who dates with his buddies. Symphony Association. It was through joined the faculty in the fall o f 1948 My mother’s father worked on the her vision that the W om en’s and is still going strong — on the Northern Pacific railroad so she had a Association began their good works on campus and in the field. pass to ride the train. She later behalf of the scholarship program for Other old-timers are Mike Chessin, attended the “U” for two years and student musicians in the Missoula botany, ’49 ; Richard Hayden, physics was a Delta Gamma. Symphony. She saw the need for and astronomy, ’49 ; William Myers, I thought you might enjoy knowing audience development and began the mathematics, ’52 ; Mark Jakobson, this about your selection. I really enjoy annual “Music for Children and Their physics and astronomy, ’53 ; Robert your work on years gone by.

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