Flathead Beacon, April 23, 1960

MSU sports writer spins yarn on man-horse race

By Bob Gilluly, MSU Sports News Editor

Who’s the better runner over a 72-mile distance – a man or a horse?

That’s the question that will be answered June 16 when a Montana University track star, Bill Anderson of Polson, engages in a man-versus beast-race from Missoula to Polson.

The feature race, scheduled as an event in the Flathead reservation’s Golden Jubilee observance, will pit Anderson against a prime equine in the fertile Flathead Valley.

Bill, who holds the MSU track record for the 880-yard run, figures he has a fighting chance of beating the steeds.

“Seventy-two miles is a long distance, but I think I’ve got more endurance than a horse,” Anderson comments. “After all, it was mighty unusual 50 years ago to hear of a horse that could cover more than 40 miles in a day. I figure I can make the distance in 10 to 12 hours.”

Starting point for the four contestants will be at Missoula’s  city limits. Anderson and the horse will trek to the U.S. 10-93 intersection west of Missoula, then head north on U.S. 93 through Arlee, St. Ignatius, Ronan and to Polson on Flathead Lake. The distance is slightly uphill, for half the distance to Polson, then goes downhill toward Flathead Lake.

Running against Anderson will be the horse jockeyed by N.B. (Slim) Coppedge of Polson, Donald E. Olsson of Ronan with Dan Seery of St. Ignatius as alternate. All of the jockeys weigh in the neighborhood of 200 pounds. Anderson stands 5-9 and weighs 148 pounds.

Anderson, already in training for a tough schedule of Skyline and non-conference  track meets through the end of May, did some preliminary running last week. He jogged from Missoula to Bonner and back in an hour and thirty minutes. That’s an average of slightly better than nine miles per hour. 

“I figure it this way,” comments Andy. “I’ll probably be far behind the pack for the first 30 miles, but will gradually catch up and probably catch up and probably pass the horses between St. Ignatius and Ronan. Then I’ll have to open up a lead of about four miles to offset the finishing kick – if there is one.”

Anderson said another point lies in his favor. Running on a highway is tougher on a horse  than a man. “And what’s going to happen if one of them loses a shoe?”

Anderson recalls a race in Utah in 1958 when a former BYU star – Al Ray – raced neck-and-neck with a horse for 140 miles before his feet gave out.

“I talked with Al after that race, and he was under the opinion that a man can beat a horse in a race from 40 to 100 miles.”

The race is being sponsored by the Flathead Reservation Pioneers, under the direction of President J. F. McAlear of Polson. Bill Anderson Sr., the track star’s father, will manage his son.   

The Flathead Courier, April 4, 1974

Flathead Tribes protest personal property taxes

Officials of Federal District Court in Butte, acting on behalf of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Indian Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation, served summons Monday on Lake County Commissioners and treasurer in an action to determine whether tribal members are liable for personal property taxes.

Similar summons were also served at the same time on the commissioners and treasurers of both Missoula and Sanders counties. The suit requests refunds to tribal members on all taxes of this nature , especially  automobiles, contending that the state collection violates the 1855 Treaty of Hell Gate in which all Indians are supposed to remain free of state regulation. The action also asks that the case be heard before a three-judge panel. 

Lake County is given a 20-day period to answer the complaint.