John A. Gilluly
1859-1936

Inducted October 30, 1965

John A. Gilluly was a Michigan farm boy who developed a talent for transforming run-down Montana weeklies into profitable, forceful publications.

Schooled in the vitriolic personal journalism of the late 1800s, he is remembered for his critical attitude toward self-aggrandizement, his energetic involvement in state and local politics and his staunch conviction that a publisher’s first obligation is to develop his community.

Gilluly was born near Clinton, Mich., Aug. 21, 1859. At age seven, he moved to Kansas, where he later began his newspaper career as a printer’s devil on the weekly Oskaloosa Independent. He subsequently served as editor of the Trenton (Mo.) Republican for more than 15 years before joining the staff of a weekly in Billings in 1901.

In 1904 Gilluly operated a commercial printing firm in Seattle, then accepted a job with the Tacoma, Wash., Ledger. He returned to Montana to become telegraph editor of the Missoula Sentinel and eventually city editor of the Missoulian.

 From 1910 to 1923, he owned and edited, in turn, the Columbus News, Dawson County Review at Glendive, Forsyth Times-Journal and the Fergus County Argus at Lewistown – all described as languishing weeklies which he built up.

He campaigned through editorials and public speeches for the establishment of Stillwater County. At one time he exposed a railroad builder whose projects, it was said, were motivated by greed and personal gain. He promoted singing performances and light operas and participated in community theatrical productions.

In 1916 he served as president of the Montana State Press Association.

Following the sale of the Argus in 1923, he became receiver for the U.S. Land Office in Lewistown. Two years later he purchased a monthly magazine, the Montana Banker, which he published in Great Falls until his death at the age of 76 on April 3, 1936.

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