List of people from Montana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following are people notable outside Montana who were either born/raised or have lived for a significant period of time in Montana
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[edit] Political, Military or Native American Leaders
- Plenty Coups (1848–1932) chief (from the Crow Nation)
- Ella Haskell (1860–1911) First Woman to Be Nominated for Attorney General in the United States, First Female Lawyer in Montana
- Jeannette Rankin (June 11, 1880–May 18, 1973) first female elected to U.S. Congress (from Missoula)
- Burton K. Wheeler (February 27, 1882–January 6, 1975) U.S. Attorney and politician (lived in Butte)
- Robert "Robbie" Yellowtail (c.1889–June 20, 1988) Indian leader (from Lodge Grass)
- Mike Mansfield (March 16, 1903–October 5, 2001) politician and statesman (from Great Falls)
- James R. Browning (born October 1, 1918) judge on United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (from Belt)
- William V. Roth, Jr. (July 22, 1921–December 13, 2003) attorney and U.S. Senator, namesake of Roth IRA (born in Great Falls, raised in Helena)
- David Thatcher (born July 31, 1921) highly decorated Air Force sergeant in WWII (from Bridger)
- Loren Acton (born March 7, 1936) astronaut (from Lewistown)
- Marc Racicot (born July 24, 1948) former governor (1993-2001) and chairman of the Republican National Committee (2002-2003) (born in Thompson Falls, grew up in Miles City and Libby)
- Sidney Runyan Thomas (born August 14, 1953) judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (from Bozeman)
[edit] Business Figures
- William A. Clark (January 8, 1839–1925) entrepreneur and "Copper King" (lived in Butte)
- Marcus Daly (December 5, 1841–November 12, 1900) entrepreneur and "Copper King" (lived in Butte)
- F. Augustus Heinze (1869–1914) entrepreneur and "Copper King" (lived in Butte)
- Dennis Washington (born 1934) entrepreneur (from Missoula)
- John G. Connors (born February 1959) former CFO & CIO of Microsoft, currently a partner at venture capital firm Ignition Partners (from Miles City)
[edit] Athletics
[edit] Baseball
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- John Daniel "Johnny" Couch (March 31, 1891–December 8, 1975) MLB pitcher (1917-1925) (from Vaughn)
- Rees Gephardt "Steamboat" Williams (January 31, 1892–June 29, 1979) St. Louis Cardinals pitcher (1914-1916) (from Cascade)
- Cecil Elba "Larry" Duff (November 20, 1896–November 10, 1969) Chicago White Sox pitcher (1922) (from Radersburg)
- Jim Tyack (January 9, 1911–January 3, 1995) Philadelphia Athletics outfielder (1943) (from Florence)
- Avitus Bernard "Vedie" Himsl (April 2, 1917–March 15, 2004) Chicago Cubs manager (1961) (from Plevna)
- Herb Plews (born June 14, 1928) MLB infielder (1956-1959), primarily with the Washington Senators (from Helena)
- Ed Bouchee (born March 7, 1933) MLB first baseman (1956-1962) (from Livingston)
- Dave McNally (October 31, 1942–December 1, 2002) MLB starting pitcher (1962-1975) (from Billings)
- Gary Neibauer (born October 29, 1944) MLB pitcher (1969-1973), primarily with the Atlanta Braves (from Billings)
- Les Rohr (born March 5, 1946) New York Mets pitcher (1967-1969) (grew up in Billings)
- John Lowenstein (born January 27, 1947) MLB outfielder, DH and utilityman (1970-1985) (from Wolf Point)
- James Edward "Jim" Otten (born July 1, 1951) MLB pitcher (1974-1981) (from Lewistown)
- Joe McIntosh (born August 4, 1951) MLB starting pitcher (1974-1975) (from Billings)
- Jeff Doyle (born October 2, 1956) St. Louis Cardinals second baseman (1983) (from Havre)
- Dave Meier (born August 8, 1959) MLB outfielder (1984-1988) (from Helena)
- John Leister (born January 3, 1961) Michigan State University and Boston Red Sox (1987-1990) pitcher, also briefly played quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the USFL's Michigan Panthers (from Great Falls)
- John Gibbons (born June 8, 1962) New York Mets catcher (1982-1984), Toronto Blue Jays manager (since 2004) (from Great Falls)
- Jeff Ballard (born August 13, 1963) MLB pitcher (1987-1994) (from Billings)
- William Carl "Bill" Wilkinson (born August 10, 1964) Seattle Mariners pitcher (1985-1988) (lived in Great Falls during his mid-teenage years)
- Scott Brow (born March 17, 1969) MLB relief pitcher (1993-1998) (from Butte)
- Curt Schmidt (born March 16, 1970) Montreal Expos relief pitcher (1995) (from Miles City)
- Rob Ryan (born June 24, 1973) MLB outfielder (1999-2001), primarily with the Arizona Diamondbacks (from Havre)
- Taylor Tankersley (born March 7, 1983) MLB pitcher (2006-present), Florida Marlins (from Missoula)
[edit] Basketball
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- Ray Kuka (February 17, 1922–March 27, 1990) University of Notre Dame and New York Knicks (1948-1949) forward (from Havre)
- Ed Kalafat (born October 13, 1932) University of Minnesota and Minnesota Lakers center (1955-1957) (from Anaconda)
- Phil Jackson (born September 17, 1945) former NBA forward (1968-1980) and current NBA coach (since 1990) (from Deer Lodge)
- Mike Lewis (born March 18, 1946) Duke University and ABA center (1969-1974) (from Missoula)
- Jim Creighton (born April 18, 1950) Atlanta Hawks forward (1976) (from Billings)
- Robin Selvig (born July 1953) coach of University of Montana women's team (since 1978) (from Outlook)
- Brad Holland (born December 6, 1956) UCLA and NBA guard (1980-1982) (from Billings)
- Denise Curry (born August 22, 1959) former player, college and professional coach (from Fort Benton)
- Larry Krystkowiak (born September 23, 1964) former NBA forward and coach of University of Montana men's team (since 2004) (born in Missoula, raised in Shelby)
- Keith Tower (born May 15, 1970) Notre Dame and NBA center (1994-1997) (from Libby)
- Shannon Cate-Shweyen (born August 1970) All-American forward at U of M (1989-1992) (from Billings, currently living in Missoula)
- Cass Bauer-Bilodeau (born June 27, 1972) WNBA forward (1999-2002) (from Hysham)
- Adam Morrison (born July 19, 1984) forward for Gonzaga University and third overall pick by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2006 NBA draft (born in Glendive)
[edit] Football
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- Steve Sullivan (July 1, 1898–???) U of M and NFL RB/QB/E (1922-1924) (from Butte)
- Ted Illman (November 27, 1900–???) AFLG and NFL quarterback/running back (1926 & 1928) (from Glasgow)
- Jack McAuliffe (May 21, 1901–???) Green Bay Packers running back (1926) (from Butte)
- Forrest Peters (born April 22, 1904) NFL quarterback/running back (1930-1932) (raised in Billings)
- Russ Peterson (born August 25, 1905) Boston Braves offensive tackle (1932) (raised in Miles City)
- "Wild" Bill Kelly (1905–1931) U of M and NFL running back, member of College Football Hall of Fame (from Missoula)
- Len Noyes (born July 12, 1914) Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) offensive guard (1938) (from Butte)
- Milt "Butte Bullet" Popovich (December 25, 1915–June 23, 2005) Chicago Cardinals fullback (1938-1942) (from Butte)
- Bill Lazetich (born October 16, 1916) NFL running back (1939, 1942 & 1947) (from Anaconda)
- Don Cosner (born February 16, 1917) Chicago Cardinals halfback (1939) (raised in Malta)
- Mike Lazetich (born August 27, 1921) NFL offensive guard, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams (1945-1950) (from Anaconda)
- Ron Warzeka (born December 24, 1935) Oakland Raiders defensive tackle (1960) (from Great Falls)
- Jerry Kramer (born January 23, 1936) Green Bay Packers offensive guard (1958-1968) and 3-time Pro Bowler (from Jordan)
- Bob O'Billovich (born June 30, 1940) former U of M standout basketball and football player, former St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) player, CFL head coach and front-office official (from Butte)
- Mike Tilleman (born March 30, 1944) former NFL defensive lineman (1966-1976) (from Chinook)
- Don Heater (born June 22, 1950) St. Louis Cardinals running back (1972) (born in Helena, Montana, raised in Thompson Falls)
- Barry Darrow (born June 27, 1950) Cleveland Browns offensive tackle (1974-1978) (raised in Great Falls)
- Ty Paine quarterback at Washington State University (1969-1971) and NFL draftee (from Billings)
- Sam McCullum (born November 30, 1952) NFL wide receiver (1974-1983) (raised in Kalispell)
- Pat Donovan (born 1953) 4-time Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl offensive lineman (1975-1983) (from Helena)
- Terry Falcon (born August 30, 1955) New England Patriots offensive lineman (1978-1980) (from Culbertson)
- Mike McLeod (born May 4, 1958) Green Bay Packers safety (1984-1985) (from Bozeman)
- Bobby Petrino (born March 10, 1961) head coach at University of Louisville (born in Lewistown, raised in Helena)
- Brian Salonen (born July 29, 1961) Dallas Cowboys tight end / linebacker (1984-1985) (born in Glasgow, raised in Great Falls)
- Mark Fellows (born February 22, 1963) San Diego Chargers linebacker (1985-1986) (born in Billings, raised in Choteau)
- Tim Hauck (born December 20, 1966) NFL defensive back (1990-2002) (born in Butte, raised in Big Timber, resides in Missoula)
- Kirk Scrafford (born March 15, 1967) NFL offensive tackle (1990-1998) (from Billings)
- John Friesz (born May 19, 1967) NFL quarterback (1990-2000), member of College Football Hall of Fame (from Missoula)
- Mitch Donahue (born February 4, 1968) NFL defensive end/linebacker (1991-1994), (raised in Billings, Montana and graduated from Billings West High School)
- Corey Widmer (born December 25, 1968) New York Giants linebacker / defensive lineman (1992-1999) (raised in Bozeman)
- Shane Collins (born April 11, 1969) Arizona State University and Washington Redskins (1992-1994) defensive end and 1990 NCAA shot put champion (born in Roundup, attended high school in Bozeman)
- Dave Dickenson (born January 11, 1973) CFL quarterback (since 1997) (from Great Falls)
- Blaine McElmurry (born October 23, 1973) NFL defensive back (1997-1999) (born in Helena, raised in Troy)
- Scott Curry (born December 25, 1975) U of M and Green Bay Packers offensive tackle (1999) (from Valier)
- Ryan Leaf (born May 15, 1976) NFL quarterback (1998-2001) (from Great Falls)
- Dallas Neil (born September 30, 1976) U of M tight end and Atlanta Falcons punter (2000) (from Great Falls)
- Kris Heppner (born January 18, 1977) NFL placekicker (2000) (from Great Falls)
- Travis Dorsch (born September 4, 1979) NFL punter (since 2002) (from Bozeman)
- Dylan McFarland (born July 11, 1980) Buffalo Bills offensive tackle (since 2004) (from Kalispell)
- Casey FitzSimmons (born October 10, 1980) Detroit Lions tight end (since 2003) (born in Wolf Point, raised in Chester)
- Dwan Edwards (born May 16, 1981) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle (since 2004) (born in Billings, attended high school in Columbus)
- Tyler Emmert (born September 1, 1982) 2-time NAIA National Player-of-the-Year winner as quarterback at Carroll College (2002-2005) (from Helena)
[edit] Rodeo
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- Alice Greenough (1902–1955) member of Cowgirl Hall of Fame and National Cowboy Hall of Fame (from Red Lodge)
- Bill Linderman (c.1920–1965) 1950 & 1953 PRCA World champion All-Around Cowboy (from Red Lodge)
- Benny Reynolds (born 1936) 1961 PRCA World champion All-Around Cowboy (from Twin Bridges and Melrose)
- Deb Greenough (born 1963) 1993 PRCA World champion bareback bronc rider (from Red Lodge, nephew of Alice Greenough)
- Dan Mortensen (born December 16, 1968) 1997 PRCA World champion All-Around Cowboy (born in Billings, lives in Manhattan)
[edit] Boxing
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- Marvin Camel (born December 24, 1951) former WBC and IBF cruiserweight champion (from Missoula)
- Joe "The Boss" Hipp (born December 7, 1962) boxer (from Browning)
- Todd "Kid" Foster (born August 27, 1967) Olympic (1988) and professional boxer (from Great Falls)
[edit] Other
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- Lones Wigger (born August 25, 1935) 3-time Olympic medalist shooter (1964, 1972) (from Great Falls)
- Bill Jones (born c.1942) professional poker player, took 17th place in the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event (from Billings)
- John "Misha" Petkevich (born c.1950) Olympic figure skater (1968, 1972) (from Great Falls)
- Alice Ritzman (born March 1, 1952) LPGA golfer (1978-1998) (from Kalispell)
- Doug Swingley (born May 14, 1953) dog sled racer (from Lincoln)
- Alex Lowe, (1958–October 5, 1999) Mountain climber (lived in Bozeman)
- Scot Schmidt (born July 21, 1961) extreme skiier (from Helena)
- Mike Ramos (born c.1962) decathlete, 1986 NCAA decathlon champion (from Missoula)
- Dave Johnson (born April 7, 1963) 1998 and 1992 Olympic decathlete (from Missoula)
- Conrad Anker (born 1963) Mountain climber (lives in Bozeman)
- Bob Woolf (born c.1964) Phoenix Suns mascot (since 1988) (from Great Falls)
- Leslie Spalding (born February 22, 1969) LPGA golfer (since 1996) (from Billings)
- Eric Bergoust (born August 27, 1969) Olympic freestyle skiier (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006), 1998 gold medalist (from Missoula)
- Nikki Kimball (born 1971) elite ultra-distance runner (lives in Bozeman)
- Scott Davis (born January 29, 1972) 2-time U.S. Champion figure skater (from Great Falls)
- Levi Leipheimer (born October 24, 1973) cyclist (from Butte)
- Ben Selzinck (born April 29, 1977) professional kayaker (lives in Bozeman)
- Tanner Hall (born October 26, 1983) freestyle skiier (from Kalispell)
- Sierra Fellers (born December 30, 1986) skateboarder (born in Whitefish, lives in Kalispell, Montana)
[edit] Entertainment / Performing Arts
[edit] Film / TV
[edit] Actors
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- Kathlyn Williams (May 31, 1888–September 23, 1960) silent film actress (from Butte)
- Gary Cooper (May 7, 1901–May 13, 1961) actor (from Helena)
- Myrna Loy (August 2, 1905–December 14, 1993) actor (from Radersburg)
- Pert Kelton (c.1907–October 30, 1968) vaudeville, television and film actress (born near Great Falls)
- Andrea Leeds (August 14, 1914–May 21, 1984) actor (from Butte)
- Jean Parker (August 11, 1915–November 30, 2005) actor (from Deer Lodge)
- Martha Raye (August 27, 1916–October 19, 1994) actor (from Butte)
- George Montgomery (August 29, 1916–December 12, 2000) actor (from Brady)
- Robert Bray (October 23, 1917–March 7, 1983) actor (born in Kalispell)
- Carroll O'Connor (August 2, 1924 – June 21, 2001) actor (attended the University of Montana, and later taught there)
- Peter Fonda (born February 23, 1939) actor (has had a primary home in the Paradise Valley since the early 1970's)
- Dirk Benedict (born March 1, 1945) actor (from White Sulphur Springs)
- Patrick Duffy (born March 17, 1949) actor (from Townsend)
- Dana Carvey (born June 2, 1955) actor and comedian (born in Missoula)
- Wally Kurth (born July 31, 1958) actor (born in Billings)
- Michelle Williams (born September 9, 1980) actor (from Kalispell)
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[edit] Directors
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- Sam Peckinpah (February 21, 1925–December 28, 1984) film director (lived in Livingston from 1979 until his death)
- David Lynch (born January 20, 1946) film and television director (from Missoula)
- John Dahl (born 1956) film director (from Billings)
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[edit] Other
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- Irene Lentz (December 8, 1900–November 15, 1962) costume designer (from Baker)
- Chet Huntley (December 10, 1911–March 20, 1974) radio and television anchorman (from Billings and/or Cardwell)
- William "Bud" Luckey (born 1934) animator (from Billings)
- Gerald R. Molen (born January 6, 1935) film producer (from Great Falls)
- Brent Musburger (born May 26, 1939) sportscaster (raised in Billings)
- Brad Bird (born September 11, 1957) animator (from Kalispell)
- Jim Starr (born February 21, 1962) {né Jim Kalafat} starred as Laser on American Gladiators (from Great Falls)
- Brannon Braga (born April 14, 1965) screenwriter and television producer (born in Bozeman)
- Ted Geoghegan (born August 10, 1979) screenwriter, film producer and film director (raised in Great Falls)
- Traver Rains (born March 5, 1977 fashion designer, Heatherette,
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[edit] Music
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- Taylor Gordon (1893–1971) singer and vaudeville performer (raised in White Sulphur Springs)
- Ted Nichols (born October 2, 1928) composer and music producer (from Missoula)
- Charley Pride (born March 18, 1938) country singer (lived in Helena and Great Falls in his early adulthood)
- Judith Blegen (born April 27, 1940) opera soprano (from Missoula)
- George Winston (born 1949) new age pianist (grew up in Miles City)
- Nicolette Larson (July 17, 1952–December 16, 1997) singer (from Helena)
- Philip Aaberg (born 1953) pianist (from Chester)
- Steve Albini (born July 22, 1962) music producer (raised in Missoula)
- Jeff Ament (born March 10, 1963) bassist of Pearl Jam (from Big Sandy, resides in Missoula)
- Eden Atwood (born January 1969) jazz singer (from Missoula, granddaugther of A. B. Guthrie, Jr.)
- Colin Meloy (born October 1974) singer of The Decemberists, brother of Maile Meloy (from Helena)
[edit] Adult Entertainment
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- Reagan Wilson (born March 6, 1947) b-movie actress and Playboy Playmate (raised in Missoula)
- Rebecca Ferratti (born November 27, 1964) b-movie actress and Playboy Playmate (from Helena)
- Victoria Paris (born November 25, 1965) adult film entertainer (from Great Falls)
- Tera Patrick (born July 25, 1976) adult film entertainer (from Great Falls)
[edit] Other
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- Michael Smuin (born October 13, 1938) dancer / choreographer (from Missoula)
- Evel Knievel (born October 17, 1938) motorcycle daredevil (from Butte)
- John Nord (born October 18, 1959) professional wrestler (from Bozeman)
- Robbie Knievel (born May 7, 1962) motorcycle daredevil (born in Butte)
[edit] Visual Arts
- Edgar S. Paxson (1852–1919) 19th century realist painter (lived in Butte and Missoula)
- Charles Marion "C.M." Russell (1864–1926) western painter (from Great Falls)
- Frank Bird Linderman (September 25, 1869–1968) western sculptor and writer (lived in Demersville and Helena before settling on Flathead Lake)
- Will James (June 6, 1892–1942) artist / author (lived in Pryor Creek and Billings)
- Peter Voulkos (1924–2002) ceramicist (from Bozeman)
- Rudy Autio (born 1926) sculptor and ceramicist (born in Butte, lives in Missoula)
- Stan Lynde (born 1931) cartoonist (from Billings)
- Malcolm "Mal" Hancock (May 20, 1936–February 16, 1993) cartoonist (from Great Falls)
- Russell Chatham (born October 27, 1939) painter, writer and restauranteur (lives in Livingston)
- Kevin Red Star (born 1943) Native American artist (from Lodge Grass)
- Monte Dolack (born 1950) artist (raised in Great Falls, lives in Missoula)
- Parks Reece (born January 1954) artist (lives in Livingston)
- Jason Beam (born March 18, 1973) dark art/fantasy art illustrator (from Great Falls)
- Brad Adkins (born 1973) artist (born in Kalispell)
- Anne Appleby (born 1954), abstract landscape painter (works in Jefferson City)
[edit] Literature
- Grace Stone Coates (1881–1976) author and poet (lived in Butte and Martinsdale)
- Andrew Nelson (December 23, 1893–May 17, 1975) linguist and lexicographer (born in Great Falls)
- A. B. Guthrie, Jr. (January 13, 1901–1991) author (from Choteau)
- Margaret Craven (March 13, 1901–July 19, 1980) writer (born in Helena)
- William D'Arcy McNickle (January 18, 1904–October 1977) novelist and activist (from St. Ignatius)
- Dorothy M. Johnson (December 19, 1905–November 11, 1984) author (raised in Whitefish, lived in Missoula)
- Joseph Kinsey Howard (February 28, 1906–August 25, 1951) newspaperman and author (lived in Great Falls)
- Dorothy Baker (April 21, 1907–June 17, 1968) writer (born in Missoula)
- K. Ross Toole (August 8, 1920–August 13, 1981) historian and writer (from Missoula and Red Lodge)
- William Kittredge (born August 14, 1932) author and professor (has lived in Missoula since 1969)
- Richard Brautigan (January 30, 1935–1984) writer (lived in Paradise Valley during the 1970s)
- Cyra McFadden (born c.1939) writer (born in Great Falls)
- Ivan Doig (born 1939) author (born White Sulphur Springs, lives near Choteau)
- Mary Clearman Blew (born December 10, 1939) author (from Lewistown)
- Thomas McGuane (born December 11, 1939) author (lives in McLeod)
- James Welch (1940–August 4, 2003) author (from Browning)
- Tim Cahill (born 1943) travel writer (lives in Livingston)
- Gary Svee (born 1943) author (from Billings)
- Daniel Kemmis (born c.1946) (former?) politician and author (from Missoula)
- Earl Murray (August 25, 1950–May 10, 2003) writer (born in Great Falls)
- Dierdre McNamer (born 1951) mystery / detective writer and professor (lives in Missoula)
- Judy Blunt (born 1955) memoirist (raised near Malta, currently lives in Missoula)
- Rick Bass (born March 17, 1958) writer (has lived in the Yaak Valley, near Troy since 1987)
- Maile Meloy (born 1972) writer (from Helena, sister of Colin Meloy)
- Sean Muir (born April 22, 1983) playwright (grew up in Missoula)
- Christopher Paolini (born November 17, 1983) fantasy writer (raised and lives in Paradise Valley)
[edit] Science
- Howard Taylor Ricketts (1871–1910) disease researcher (performed research in Bitterroot Valley)
- Harold C. Urey (April 29, 1893–January 5, 1981) Nobel Prize-winning chemist (studied zoology in Missoula)
- Norman "Jeff" Holter (February 1, 1914–1983) biophysicist (from Helena)
- Maurice Hilleman (August 30, 1919–April 11, 2005) microbiologist (from Miles City)
- Lester Hogan microwave and semiconductor pioneer (from Great Falls)
- Lester Thurow (born May 7, 1938) economist (from Livingston)
- Leroy Hood (born October 10, 1938) biologist (born in Missoula)
- Jack Horner (born June 15, 1946) paleontologist (from Shelby, living in Bozeman)
- Torey Hayden (born May 21, 1951) child psychologist and author (from Livingston)
[edit] Other
- Greg Mortenson (born December 1957) mountain climber and philanthropist (lives in Bozeman)
[edit] Infamous Montanans
- Henry Plummer (1832–1864) sheriff/outlaw (from Bannack)
- W.A. "Tony" Boyle (1904–1985) disgraced labor leader (from Butte)
- Theodore "Ted" Kaczynski (born May 22, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois) domestic American terrorist known as the Unabomber (lived near Lincoln at the time of his capture)
- Russell Eugene Weston Jr. (born December 28, 1956) resided near Helena, Montana at the time of his involvement in the U.S. Capitol shooting incident of 1998 that killed two Capitol police officers
- Kyle Aaron Huff (September 22, 1977–March 25, 2006) mass murderer (from Whitefish)
[edit] See also
- List of people by U.S. state
- Famous Montanans listed on Montana page
[edit] External Links and References
- The Missoulian's list of the 100 most influential Montanans of the century
- The 50 Greatest Montana Sports Figures of the 20th Century as named by Sports Illustrated in 1999
- 50 Griz Greats - list of the greatest faculty and alumni of the University of Montana
- Some Famous Montanans Montana Historical Society list of famous Montanans
- e-Referencedesk list of famous Montanans
- ThingsToDo list of famous Montanans
