The Western Montana Legend is an individual who embodies outstanding leadership and community service to the citizens of Missoula County and Western Montana. This individual’s contributions also align with the Missoula County Fairgrounds’ mission: to promote agriculture, education, culture, recreation, community connection, and to reflect the beauty and history of Western Montana.

Do you know a Western Montana Legend? Nominate them here. Nominations close May 31 of the current Fair year.

The final legend will be chosen by the Missoula Fair Committee, and will be recognized in a public ceremony Saturday night of the Missoula Stampede Rodeo during the annual Western Montana Fair.

2024 Western Montana Legend

William J. Nooney

William J. Nooney, known to many as Bill, is a celebrated icon of Western Montana, renowned for his unwavering dedication to community service and leadership. His impact on Missoula County and the Western Montana Fairgrounds is profound and enduring.

Since 1956, Bill has been a pillar of support for the Western Montana Fair and the 4-H livestock sale, often purchasing over 30 livestock animals each year and representing absent businesses to ensure robust participation in the auctions. His commitment to the fair was instrumental in maintaining its presence in midtown Missoula and preserving the historic structures and buildings on the fairgrounds. Supposedly, when doing renovation and upkeep of the campus, Bill used leftover Sinclair paint to give the structures their iconic green and white finish.

Bill’s exceptional contributions were recognized with numerous accolades. In 1971, he received the "Citizen of the Year" award from the Western Montana Fair, 4-H/FFA, and Western Broadcasting Company. His leadership was further acknowledged when in 1974 the Western Montana Fair Board presented him with a commemorative plaque for his outstanding contributions to the success of the Fair. He also served as President of the Rocky Mountain Association of Fairs in 1977 and 1978, and directed horse racing at the Western Montana Fair for over two decades. As testament to his love of horses and the sport of horse-racing, in 1997 he was named "Outstanding Owner-Breeder" by the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association.

In 2000, after serving for 38 years, Bill retired from the Western Montana Fair Board and was honored with a lifetime emeritus status by the Missoula County Commissioner’s Office, becoming the first person to receive such an accolade on any board in Missoula. Even after stepping down his service extended beyond the fairgrounds; Bill was involved in numerous boards and advisory councils, continually advocating for the value of community and fair participation.

Bill founded and ran the famous Hi-Noon/Noon’s Sinclair, a successful business that has been a staple in Missoula and across Montana. Together with his wife Wanda and their family, Bill remains a devoted supporter of the fair.

William J. Nooney’s legacy is a testament to his exceptional leadership and deep-rooted commitment to enhancing the cultural and agricultural fabric of Western Montana. His contributions have left an indelible mark on the community, embodying the spirit of service and dedication that defines a true Western Montana Legend.

Anna Marie Linehan Clouse - 2023

Anna Marie Linehan Clouse, 93, died June 11, 2022, at St. Patrick’s Hospital. She was born in Fairmount, ND. She graduated from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and took classes at the University of Montana. She was a teacher in Holdingford, MN, North St. Paul, MN, St. Clair Shores, MI, and Missoula School District 1. Anna Marie and Ferris moved to Missoula in 1955. They found a little farm on the dirt road called Russell Street and purchased it with money they didn’t have, for the land they dearly loved and resided there for the rest of their lives. They built their own home and raised eight children on that property. She kept all those children busy with many farm chores. Anna Marie and Ferris started the Pink Grizzly business by building a pink building in the summer of 1970. The Pink Grizzly building launched businesses selling fireworks, fruit & vegetables, greenhouse plants, and Christmas trees & wreaths. Her children still operate the business today.

Anna Marie was not afraid of hard work and was constantly baking bread & caramel rolls, working in the garden, canning food, and making her special jams that she sold during the Christmas season under the label of “Annie Ree’s.” Anna Marie and Ferris encouraged their children to be involved in 4-H, FFA, and participate in the Western Montana Fair. They were a fixture at the fair supporting their children, serving as 4-H leaders, and serving as judges. The Clouse Family was the Western Montana “Fair Family” in 1981 to her joy. Anna Marie truly loved the Western Montana Fair and religiously attend the amazing community event every year from 1955 until her death. She always had a colorful hat on and usually wore purple and her favorite cowboy boots. Anna Marie was a longtime exhibitor and won many awards for garden vegetables, jams and latch hook rugs and called her exhibitor prizes her “fair money.” She loved watching the animal judging, livestock sale, walking through the exhibits, and attending the rodeo. She had to have a Tater Pig, Viking, and fennel cake or the fair wasn’t complete. Anna Marie won’t attend the Fair in person anymore, but will always be there in spirit. You can enjoy a seat on one of the Rocky Mountain Garden’s benches that have been named in honor of Anna Marie & Ferris Clouse family.

Ramona Holt - 2022

Ramona Holt’s ancestry includes a host of western characters including none other than Gene Autry, her great uncle who produced rodeos in Montana before launching his entertainment career. Hunting, riding horses to school, rodeo, horse shows and raising cattle were her pastimes and her family’s livelihood.

In the wake of her doctorate degree in Ichthyology from Montana State University, Ramona along with her husband Bill opened the first commercial fish hatchery in Lolo where their famous Lolo Trout Ranch raised and shipped fry statewide. The first of many endeavors they took on along with raising 4 rambunctious boys, cattle, bison, horses, goats, mules, rabbits, peacocks, chickens, and pigs. They settled into their Lolo Home that has been their base of operations to this day.

Rodeo was the center of their life for the next 40 years. Bill would announce and Ramona was timer/secretary. Their travels took them throughout Montana, the northwest, Canada, and even to command a performance especially for the Queen of England. They produced the Oral Zumwalt Memorial Rodeo for nearly 30 years before retiring 1990s. In 2018, the PRCA named Ramona a Notable Lady of the West at the World of Rodeo Reunion.

The definitive Power Couple, Ramona & Bill Holt’s 67-year odyssey included Longhorn breeding, exporting the first animals to Canada and Australia in 1985 to kickstart the breeding programs in those countries. They also saw the opportunity to provide medical services to cowboys at rodeos just as it was provided to other professional athletes. In 1985 they partnered with Dr. Keith Peterson, a pioneer in sports medicine and founder of Montana Rodeo Sports Medicine to improve medical services at rodeos eventually inspiring the Justin Sports Medicine Teams we see at every rodeo.

True keepers of the west, Bill & Ramona converted their old barn in Lolo to a museum then expanded the collections to the Holt Heritage Center filled with wagons, artifacts, art and western memorabilia. This must-see attraction sits at the gateway of Traveler’s Rest State Park which Bill & Ramona contributed the land and building to preserve the only archaeologically verified campsite of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the nation. With Bill’s passing earlier this year a new annual roundup celebrating his life will be held each May. Plans for the Holt Heritage Center include doubling the facilities to allow for meetings, retreats and further curation of art, artifacts, as well as introducing audio and video collections.

Ramona and her family’s involvement with the Western Montana Fair goes back nearly 75 years when her mother and sisters entered their produce, showed horses, cattle, then assisted with organizing and judging events. In later years Ramona and Bill were involved with the rodeo and horse racing while their children participated with their own produce, horses and cattle. Ramona organized the first fair parade in 1989 commemorating Montana’s Centennial.