Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame announces 2027 inductees
Whitefish Pilot | UPDATED 4 days, 4 hours AGO
Bill Haynes on a Brahma bull while stationed in Japan. (Photo provided)
The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center inducted their 19th class into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. The inductees were chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the public. Inductees are honored for their notable contributions to the history and culture of Montana.
“The Hall of Fame exists to honor those who have made an impact in their part of the state and represent Montana’s authentic Western heritage for future generations,” said DuWayne Wilson, hall of fame and heritage center president. “Our volunteer trustees across Montana vote on nominations that come from the district in which they reside. This process gives the local communities a strong voice in who will represent them in the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame.”
The board of directors designated 12 trustee districts across the state from which up to 20 trustees may be appointed. Nomination criteria established by the board for the Class of 2027 inductions allowed for the election of one Living Inductee and one Legacy Inductee from each of the 12 districts.
District 1 (Daniels, Phillips, Roosevelt, Sheridan, & Valley Counties): Living: Donna Christensen of Hinsdale; Legacy: Jess Harlin Robinson of Zortman.
District 2 (Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Prairie, Richland, & Wibaux Counties): Living: Pamela Harr of Glendive; Legacy: Bobby Brooks Kramer of Cohagen.
District 3 (Carter, Custer, Fallon, Powder River, Rosebud, & Treasure Counties): Living: Edwin Royce “Sonny” Lockwood of Volborg; Legacy: Flying X Rodeo of Miles City.
District 4 (Blaine, Chouteau, Hill, & Liberty Counties): Living: Stan & Nancy Weaver of Big Sandy; Legacy: Russell Lowell Benson of Chinook.
District 5 (Cascade, Glacier, Pondera, Teton, & Toole Counties): Living: Steven George “Steve” Gruel of Cascade; Legacy: Hilary Fulton Gollehon of Choteau.
District 6 (Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Musselshell, Petroleum, & Wheatland Counties): Living: William L. “Bill” Allison of Roundup; Legacy: Jane (Law) Glennie of Two Dot.
District 7 (Big Horn, Carbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, & Yellowstone Counties): Living: Jim & Anne Aller Overstreet of Big Timber; Legacy: Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail of Wyola.
District 8 (Broadwater, Jefferson, & Lewis and Clark Counties): Living: Ralph Beer of Montana City; Legacy: Jay Overman of Wolf Creek.
District 9 (Gallatin, Meagher, & Park Counties): Living: Howard Zehntner of White Sulphur Springs; Legacy: The Ringling 5 of Wilsall.
District 10 (Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, & Sanders Counties): Living: Bruce Knight of Plains; Legacy: Willard Vernon “Bill” Haynes of Ronan.
District 11: (Mineral, Missoula, & Ravalli Counties): Living: Daniel Boone “Boone” Jones of Stevensville; Legacy: Marcus Daly of Hamilton.
District 12: (Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Silver Bow, Granite, Madison, & Powell Counties): Living: John Helle of Dillon; Legacy: Alexander “Alex” Wight of Stone.
The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame plans to honor these inductees during the MCHF Annual Induction Ceremony & Western Heritage Gathering Feb. 13, 2027, in Great Falls at the Heritage Inn.
Full biographies for past inductees are available at montanacowboyfame.org.