Letters to the Editor
Griz Greats
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The Montanan welcomes letters to the editor. We ask that letters be signed and include the writer's graduating year or years when appropriate, home address, and phone number or e-mail address. Send them to: Montanan Editor Unfortunately, because of space limitations we are not able to include all letters sent to us. Letters that appear often are edited for length or clarity. While universities are places of discussion where people of good will do not always agree, letters deemed potentially libelous or that malign a person or group will not be published. Opinions expressed in the Montanan do not necessarily reflect those of The University of Montana. |
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Dear Editor:
Having just reviewed the Winter 2005 Montanan, I feel compelled to say that in my opinion you have omitted one of the greatest of all Grizzlies: Judge William J. Jameson.
To give you some flavor of who and what he was, in February 1953, Judge Jameson became president of the American Bar Association, the first from the Rocky Mountain West since George Sutherland of Utah in 1916. He was all Montanan. He was born in Butte in 1898, living there and going to school until moving to Roundup in 1909, where he graduated from high school. Then he went to Missoula, attending the University and graduating from the law school. In 1922 he accepted a job as a lawyer with the Johnston, Coleman, and Johnston law firm in Billings and was appointed U.S. District Judge in 1957. He served as an active district judge and then as a senior judge until 1987, when his health prevented him from continuing.
He was extremely active in professional, civic, and judicial affairs. He served in the Montana House of Representatives from 1927 to 1938 and was instrumental in the establishment of Eastern Montana College as well as the foundation of the Billings Clinic. He served as president of the Montana Bar Association of the Yellowstone County Bar. The State Bar of Montana has established the William J. Jameson Award, to be presented annually as its highest award for professionalism and positive influence on the legal profession. He was chairman of the American Judicature Society, and the list goes on and on.
He was one of the very best judges and contributors to our society that Montana has had. He worked long hours day after day as long as he was able, for the betterment of our government and society. He was one of the finest and most constructive persons I have ever known in my seventy-six years of an active life. I feel qualified to make these statements, having been his second law clerk after he became a judge; taken an oral history from him; tried lawsuits in front of him; known his family, and viewed his performance in many aspects of life.
George Dalthorp
Billings
I have been reading your excellent biographies of Grizzly Greats. You are to be commended for the tremendous research and love you have devoted to this endeavor. If I may add, I would include Doug Brown, UM’s own version of Emil Zotopeh, who won NCAA titles in three- and six-mile runs in 1962. Doug was an inspiration for me in my youth, as I ran the 440 and 880 for the Great Falls High School Bison, winning several city titles and the state championship in 1968. …One of these days, it is my goal to come home for Homecoming.
Steve Medvec ’72, M.A. ’77
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Great issue! About the photo on the inside front cover and page 1. It shows Mansfield, Kennedy, and Jackson playing ball. It appears the photo was taken by Arthur E. Scott, U.S. Senate photographer. Depending on the source, it was taken in 1953 or 1958.
Best wishes from the snowy Palouse.
Tim Marsh
Pullman, Washington
I was pleased as always to receive my copy of the Winter 2005 Montanan and astonished to see the photo of Senators Mansfield, Kennedy, and Jackson on the inside cover.
I have this photo framed, hanging on the wall in my office in Billings, with a personal note signed by Mike Mansfield. Your note states, “details on this photo were not available.” My copy has a typewritten note on the back indicating the photo was taken in 1955 at Volta Park in Washington, DC.
Randy Bishop ’74, J.D. ’77
Billings [Editor’s Note: Tim Marsh found two different sources through Internet research for the date this photo was taken and suggested the editor contact the Senate Historical Office for a definitive date. That was done, with no response. The letter from Randy Bishop may be our best source for the year taken, since the note was attached to the back of the photo.]
Students and $$$
Thanks for the news about all the wonderful programs being sponsored through the capital campaign. In particular it’s great to know that UM is drawing top students. I wonder, however, if such news will ever motivate Montana’s Legislature to begin creating economic conditions that retain these intelligent students instead of forcing them to find work opportunities elsewhere? It’s ironic that the same issue of the Montanan featured “50 Griz Greats,” several of whom found their fame and fortune outside of Montana. I would love to return to my home, but until Montana recovers from its Third World economic misfortunes, or until someone invents a way to eat scenery, I will have to find solace on the East Coast!
Sarah Snyder ’88, MA ’94
Herndon, Virginia
Okay, Who Was in Uzbekistan Sept. 22?
Dear Montanan Editor:
On Thursday, September 22nd, we were standing in an airport security line, around midday, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, twelve time zones away, preparing to catch our flight to Urgench, Uzbekistan. Then we saw the gym bag with the logo MONTANA proudly displayed in unmistakable Griz colors.
Security being what it is, it took awhile, but when we cleared we went madly searching for the phantom fellow Montanan somewhere in the airport, hoping to exchange a little information and a few pleasantries with someone from home—to no avail. So, it was off to Urgench and Bokhara, with the unanswered questions: Who was this traveler from afar, our home state. What city? What was he/she doing in Uzbekistan? We are still curious, so perhaps through the widespread net of the Montanan, our questions might be answered.
Thank you.
Margot Aserlind ’50 and Roy Aserlind ’50
Livingston
A Memorable Professor
Dear Montanan:
I recently received my issue of the Montanan, which I read from front to back to try to keep up with what is happening in Missoula, in Montana, and with old classmates and the U of M.
It is with great regret that I saw the memorial listing for Robert Winters of Great Falls. I took every history class I could from him and enjoyed each one. He made the history very interesting and presented it in very effective ways. He incorporated mandated reading of a book that was either about the era of history we were studying or was written at that time. He was passionate about his classes and I learned a great deal from him. I remember how he made my classes something to look forward to. He also maintained a sense of humor and I remember his giving a test one day that was nothing but carefully worded jokes. I am a college professor now and try to bring some of the qualities I observed in Mr. Winters’ classes to my own. Counting all the teachers I have had over many years of schooling, he was one of the best. I have thought of him many times over the years and will hold him in fond memory.
George Gompf ’82
Asst. Prof., Jackson State Community College
Jackson, Tennessee
Sorority Sisters
Dear Montanan Editor:
Sometimes I read the Montanan cover to cover and sometimes just a few of the articles pique my interest. However, the Fall 2005 edition contained this great story entitled “Gone With the Road.” I enjoyed the author’s writing style and appreciated her comments about various characters she had encountered in her travels across Montana. When I turned to the last page and saw the author’s photograph, I was very pleased to recognize her (Caroline Patterson, former editor of the Montanan) as a sorority sister I had not heard about for some time. I was tickled to realize I had met her and enjoyed her sense of humor now—just as I did twenty-five- plus years ago!
In closing, let me say that I think the Montanan is a publication in which all UM graduates can feel a sense of pride!
Natasha Morton ’77, J.D. ’80
Hardin
Coed Dorms: The Early Years
Friends,
In the latest issue of the Montanan you said that Aber Hall first opened as a male/female dorm in 1968. In the fall of 1944, I lived on the third floor of Corbin Hall. There were thirty-five of us. The lower floors were women. We ate our meals together in the basement dining room and did not sit down until Mrs. Riemer—the housemother—was seated. The boys had to wear jackets for the evening meal. A different group sat with Mrs. Riemer each week. It was a wonderful experience that ended when I was drafted into the army.
Dale F. Miller ’50
Billings
Corrections: In our last issue we stated that A.B. Guthrie won an Academy Award for his screenplay, Shane. In fact, he was nominated for the award but didn’t win. A typo resulted in the misspelling of a man listed in the In Memoriam section. The correct spelling is Christopher S. Owen ’69. The Montanan staff regret the errors.
