PRESS RELEASE & SKYLINE SPORTS
Montana Football Hall of Fame committee chair, Rick Halmes, got a call from retired “Voice of the Grizzlies” Mick Holien about a month ago. According to Halmes, Holien said, “I just saw the Hall of Fame Facebook page. It says that this is the inaugural event in August, is that a misprint?”
That comment, or others like, “why hasn’t someone done this before” or “it’s about time” is the most common reaction to the very first class of Montana athletes who have made it to the elite level of football in the NFL or CFL who will be inducted to the newly created Montana Football Hall of Fame this weekend. There are over 175 student athletes from Montana programs that have contracted to play at the elite NFL/CFL level since 1920, nearly 110 Grizzlies alone.
For those who attend the state’s first induction ceremony Friday night in Billings, it portends to be a night to remember, Halmes said. Thirteen athletes with Treasure State ties will be enshrined for perpetuity. Stories will begin with Harvey Munford, the first black athlete signed by the L.A. Rams in 1965 from the Eastern Montana College. Munford’s story is compelling, as he will talk about being a black man practicing at the Rams facility in Watts during the summer of race riots that rocked L.A.
Jan Stenerud, Milan, Bill and Pete Lazetich will be inducted as a family. Milan and Bill played in the early 40’s for the Cleveland Rams. Pat Donovan, Brian Salonen, Mitch Donahue, Dave Dickenson, Chris Horn, Tuff Harris, Sonny Holland and Tuff Harris will all tell their stories about going from a Montana football program to professional football. Salonen’s story of a plane ride from Philadelphia back to Dallas with Ed “Too Tall” Jones is one of those stories that will never make a news or ESPN show; but, it is one that is entertaining and colorful. What exactly did then sophomore Dave Dickenson say in his huddle that shocked his teammates into believing they could produce one of the biggest comebacks in NCAA history? Find out at the Hall of Fame banquet on Friday, August 12.
“It is amazing to find over 200 Montana athletes that have gone on to an elite level since 1920,” Halmes said. “Generations to come will now see what potential there is in the sport of football in Montana. What a tribute to Montana’s quality of football coaches.”
Donahue Roofing has provided 30 footballs that will be signed by all inductees to be raffled during the Friday evening banquet on August 12. Parents who have children interested in football can have pictures taken with the celebrities from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center on Mullowney Lane in Billings. The Banquet will start at 6 p.m. with Rocky Mountain College athletic director Bruce Parker taking over emcee duties.
Tickets are on sale at all Universal Athletic stores in Montana with the Bozeman location serving as site of the Montana Football Hall of Fame. Ticket order forms are available at Bighuddle.com groups statewide in future years. About 90 of the 240 tickets remain.
Businesses across Montana have made possible a 52 page full color glossy souvenir program with full pictures and bios of this year’s class, including six written by Skyline Sports, and the other 190 who are eligible in future years. All ticket holders will receive a copy. Ticket prices are $65 per person, tables of 8 are $520. All proceeds will go to benefit youth football in Yellowstone County and will be available to youth groups statewide in future years.
