Dressed in historic Western attire that includes a sheriff’s badge, Bigfork attorney Randy Snyder gets noticed in a big way as president of the Montana Bar Association.

His self-described “Western shtick” has been on display throughout his presidency. Snyder’s “Notes from the Trail” newsletters begin with salutations like this: “Good day townfolk! No dilly dally this summer as the team pulls the Bar Coach to new events and happenings.”

Instead of “philosophizing on legal diatribe,” Snyder’s president’s messages to bar members have related issues facing attorneys to challenges Lewis and Clark handled during their legendary expedition as he explains how bar members might better themselves.

Snyder’s theatrical approach to his Bar Association duties have been deliberate, purposeful and effective.

“I didn’t have an issue agenda,” Snyder said. “My personal goal has been to make the association visible to members. I want to be visible and connected to our members.”

Snyder’s done more traveling than many other state Bar Association presidents, and he’s knocked on lawyers’ doors across the state. His colorful presence at national conferences has turned heads, too.

“The two questions other bar officers ask me are ‘are you really a sheriff’ and ‘where can I get one of those badges?’” Snyder said with a laugh.

He recently returned from a national conference in Boston where his Roll Call of the States presentation earned him the “Best Damn Presentation” award.

Snyder’s always had a flair for drama and energy to burn, even as a child growing up in Great Falls.

“I probably made lots of trips to the principal’s office. I was mouthy to teachers. I was a spunky kid,” he recalled. “My mom would say, ‘What did you do this time...’”

By high school Snyder was channeling his theatrics into speech and debate. He and his debate partner “had a good run” that culminated in winning the state debate championship in 1973, the year he graduated from high school.

Those who know Snyder’s father, Dan Snyder of Kalispell, a well-known broadcaster for years in the Great Falls area, know there are many father-son similarities.

“Dad left a really big shadow,” he said. “When I returned to Great Falls (after law school), people would always ask, ‘aren’t you Dan’s son?’”

His father’s work in broadcasting during the younger Snyder’s formative years, and his mother Gerry’s work in radio for years no doubt instilled his love for performing.

“The whole song and dance theatrical thing is in the blood,” he said.

“The staff at the TV station helped raise me,” Snyder continued. “I helped paint sets. It was an exciting place to be ... I still love listening to Dad’s stories.”

Law wasn’t Snyder’s first choice for a career. He dearly wanted to be an Air Force pilot and worked hard to get accepted to both the Air Force and Naval academies.

“All I wanted to do since I was little is fly,” he said. Growing up near the Great Falls airport, he watched Air National Guard planes fly in and out and envisioned himself in the cockpit.

During an open house at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Snyder was in his glory. “I didn’t want to leave,” he said.

But Snyder had hay fever, and it was enough of a medical issue to ban him from entrance to the military academies.

“It took me a couple years of undergraduate school to find myself,” he said.

Snyder started at the University of Montana in the fall of 1973, not knowing what his future might hold. He’d had a passing interest in law, though, while debating in high school. “By my sophomore year I knew I would apply to law school.”

After graduating from UM’s law school in 1980, Snyder returned home to Great Falls and worked in the County Attorney’s Office for three years.

“It was a great first job,” he said. “I had 33 jury trials in three years. You learn how to try a case very quickly.”

Snyder knew he wanted to get to the Flathead Valley where he’d spent time with his grandfather near Big Arm on Flathead Lake.

“I had an affinity for water and the Flathead Valley,” he said. “Even as a kid I got the bug for sailing.”

He remembered borrowing small sailboats from his grandfather’s neighbors along Flathead Lake and spending summer days on the lake.

“I drank a lot of water,” Snyder recalled with a laugh. “I had no idea what I was doing, but I had a smile on my face.”

After a short stint with a law partner in Bigfork, Snyder opened his own practice and “took whatever came in the door.”

Through the years he’s narrowed his focus to real estate, estate planning, probate and elder law.

Snyder has long been a community leader in Bigfork. He’s a past president of the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce and Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork. He was the organizational force behind the first bike path built along the Swan River and served a term on the Bigfork School Board.

Snyder also has been active with CASA — court appointed special advocates.

He and his wife Linda will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary this year. They have twin daughters and a son.

Snyder’s one-year term as Montana Bar Association president is drawing to a close, and he’s proud of what’s been accomplished on his watch.

“We worked really hard on getting online legal research at no cost for our members,” he noted. “It was prohibitively costly for most small law offices. More than 60 percent of our members are solo practitioners and two-thirds are in small firms.”

Doing legal business online — and within the constraints of confidentiality requirements — is another challenge the association has been working on, he added.

Snyder has helped start or re-invigorate several local bar associations through the state.

“Those are my favorite meetings,” he said. “Those are the rank and file people.”

Snyder makes a point to “deputize” local bar association presidents.

“It’s part of the shtick,” he added.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.