Gallaghers, Washingtons Latest to Receive Order of the Grizzly

It was a “mutual admiration society” when the Order of the Grizzly was conferred by President George Dennison on the late William J. Gallagher, Rosemary Gallagher, Dennis and Phyllis Washington during Homecoming 2000.

Rosemary said, “I’m so proud of those young people,” and Dennis admitted, “I always get emotional when I talk about Bill Gallagher and what I learned from him.”

Her health kept Rosemary Gallagher from the main ceremony on October 7 but she received the bronze grizzly signifying the award at her home. There, before about twenty friends, President Dennison acknowledged the role she and her husband had played in the construction of the business school building that bears their name. He said, “This award is for philanthropists and civic leaders who have changed the face of The University of Montana. Physically, the Gallagher Building changed the face of the campus and from a programmatic standpoint, Bill and Rosemary have deeply affected the lives of countless students.”

The Washingtons’ recognition came at the President’s Club Dinner later that evening. Milt Datsopoulos and Ron MacDonald, both long time friends of the Washingtons, paid tribute to Dennis and Phyllis’s individual contributions to the University as well as the financial support they have provided through structures — Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Prescott House and the Center at Salmon Lake — and scholarships and academic programs. Additionally, Phyllis headed the University’s last capital campaign, which nearly doubled its $40 million goal, raising $71.3 million for UM.

Dennis, who holds an honorary degree from UM, is a role model and inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. In his tribute to his mentor, Bill Gallagher, Dennis recalled that Gallagher provided him a start-up loan for his business and he told of his gratitude for both the money and the encouragement, confidence and advice given by the Gallaghers.

Art Brown, outgoing chairman of the UM Foundation Board of Trustees, who served as master of ceremonies, assisted President Dennison in the Order of the Grizzly bestowal ceremonies. Other program participants were Dennis Washington’s cousin, Trudy King Evenson, her daughter Tonja King, Gallagher Scholar Larissa Martinez and Gina Lapka. For those who hadn’t attended the event at Rosemary Gallagher’s home, President Dennison reprised the ceremony and made the statue presentation, at Mrs. Gallagher’s request, to her friend, Dee Dee Gianchetta, on her behalf.

The Order of the Grizzly, the University’s most prestigious award, was first awarded in the 1960s and then retired until it was reactivated last spring and redefined to acknowledge philanthropic and civic achievement. There are now twenty-nine recipients of the Order of the Grizzly.

Bio Station Gets $1.5 Million Grant for Professorship

The McKnight Foundation of Minneapolis has committed $1.5 million to endow a professorship in limnology research at the Flathead Lake Biological Station.

The Foundation sent its $1 million check for the station soon after the gift was announced on Aug. 12, but has stipulated the remaining $500,000 be matched by $1 million from other private sources. A fund-raising drive is underway to fulfill the match. President George Dennison said, “This grant puts the University in a wonderful position to complete the effort on behalf of the station and we appreciate it very much.”

With the McKnight grant, the biological station will have the second of the five endowed professorships it seeks to build a collaborative team of scientists and researchers who can investigate environmental issues on a global scale. Station Director Jack Stanford, holder of the first endowed professorship at the station, says the team approach will provide a model, applicable worldwide, for studies of pristine or near-pristine waters. Endowing the positions, he says, facilitates interaction of highly-regarded scientists with decision makers who share goals of stemming environmental degradation.

The drive for the endowed professorships is part of an overall fund-raising effort for securing scientists and research assistants as well as the construction and renovation of the station’s facilities. Plans call for construction of a multimedia center, lecture hall and interpretative center with self-guided trails and tours of the station’s forest and shoreline. Endowing the lake water monitoring program, now in its third decade, is also a fund-raising goal.

Journalism Grad Elected to Foundation’s Top Post

Penny Wagner Peabody ’61, ’67 was elected chairman of the UM Foundation Board of Trustees at the annual meeting during Homecoming.

Peabody, who lives in Mercer Island, Washington, has been a trustee since 1995. She had headed the board’s planning committee, served as treasurer and was elevated to vice chairman after the 1999 death of Bruce Cook. She succeeds Art Brown of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, who continues as a member of the board’s executive committee through Peabody’s term.

New vice chairman is Deborah Doyle McWhinney ’77, Tiburon, California, and treasurer is John Olson ’62, Sidney.

The newly-elected trustees bring the total of the board’s membership to forty. Each new trustee will serve a three-year term and be eligible for reelection to another term in 2003. They are:

David Enger ’67, ’72, Seattle

Priscilla Pickard Gilkey ’62, Spokane

A.J. “Jack” King ’50, Kalispell

Bob Munzenrider ’70, Minneapolis

Charles Oliver, Hamilton

Dorn Parkinson, Prescott, Arizona

Kent Price ’65, ’66, Kentfield, California

Phyllis Peterson Washington ’64, Missoula

New Putting Green Makes Golf a Year-Round Sport

Russ Klingler ’60 predicts that a UM golfer will make it to the PGA (or LPGA) Tour some day.

“It’s a matter of ‘when,’ not ‘if,”’ he says.

Klingler, through his family foundation and DTT, the artificial turf company in which he’s a partner, made a gift to fund a synthetic-turf practice green at the University Golf Course. The advantage of artificial turf, he says, is that maintenance is practically non-existent and it greatly expands the golf practice season.

Kevin Verlanic, general manager of the UM golf course, notes “Even if there’s snow on the ground, if it’s a nice clear day, we’ll just shovel off the snow and it’ll be ready for use.”

The UM course caters to a wide array of people. “Unlike some courses,” Verlanic says, “we welcome beginners and want to develop golfers.” The idea of developing talent at UM is what appealed to Klingler. UM offers golf classes and individual lessons which all have good enrollment in summer school and in the fall. The success of golf phenom Tiger Woods has greatly increased interest in the sport and therefore use of the UM course. Students meeting for a class the day Klingler dropped by to observe were mainly new golfers.

Sophomore Jessica Cameron said practicing on the turf’s consistent surface allows her to concentrate more on her golf swing and putting technique without worrying so much about the vagaries of grass.