May 2004

Honorary doctorate bestowed
A prolific writer and photographer whose favorite subject is Montana received one of UM’s highest honors during Commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 15, on the Missoula campus.

President George Dennison conferred an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree in geography on Helena’s Rick Graetz, a well-known Montana citizen and promoter. Graetz was hooded during the College of Arts and Sciences ceremony in the Adams Center’s Dahlberg Arena.

Graetz is best known for founding Montana Magazine in 1970 and publishing it for 27 years before selling the publication to Lee Enterprises. But it has been the books he’s written about Montana and frequent lectures throughout the state that have kept him in the public eye. More recently he founded the Helena-based Northern Rockies Publishing.

Geography chair Jeffrey Gritzner nominated Graetz for the honorary degree, which had to pass muster with UM’s CAS dean, provost, president, Faculty Senate and, ultimately, the state Board of Regents.

CAS Dean Gerald Fetz said the information and books submitted with Graetz’s nomination “spell out a long and illustrious, multifaceted career that is characterized by high professional standards, a commitment to education in the public realm and service to this, his home state, as well as to our University (his alma mater).”

Listing all of Graetz’s accomplishments could be a book all its own, but Ian Davidson, Great Falls resident and chair of D.A. Davidson & Co., labels Graetz with a concise description — “Mr. Montana.” In a letter supporting the nomination, Davidson wrote: “Rick’s enthusiasm, unbelievable energy and personal friendship with thousands of Montanans have helped us all increase our love and appreciation for this state.”
Jim Scott, vice chair of First Interstate BancSystem in Billings, echoed that sentiment. “I have met no one who more energetically and passionately embraces and describes Montana,” Scott said. “He has devoted his life to the study and the teaching of Montana’s compelling stories.”

And teach he does, every chance he gets, whether it’s as guest speaker at civic club luncheons and high schools or as a visiting instructor in UM’s geography department. There, he taught a course titled “Montana,” which focused on the physical, historical, cultural and economic geography of the state. His lecture notes and readings from the course were transformed into a textbook, “This Is Montana,” which combines geography and history for use in college and high-school level courses.

Graetz created a 20-volume Montana Geographic Series, a collection of books about all aspects of life in Montana with titles including “Western Montana,” “Montana East of the Mountains” and “Montana Mountain Ranges.” He also started the Montana Geographic Journal, publishing three volumes to date with each issue addressing topics such as the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge and Montana’s Crow tribe. Besides Montana, Graetz has written books on other states, including the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Texas, as well as other countries, including Cuba and Vietnam.

Graetz attended UM in the late 1960s and earned his bachelor’s degree in geography in 2002. In fall 2001, while driving from Helena to Missoula to photograph UM’s Homecoming activities as he had done for years, Graetz was seriously injured in an auto accident that kept him hospitalized for more than two months. An avid mountain climber, he spent more than a year in rehabilitation.

Longtime friend Nikki Sliter of Kalispell said this was when Graetz showed his “true grit... as he has fought to overcome the near-fatal injuries he suffered. His injuries may prevent him from climbing Mount Everest but he certainly has conquered his own mountains.”
Graetz always credits Susie, his wife of 16 years, with being his partner in all his professional pursuits. “To see Rick is to see Susie,” said UM Alumni Director Bill Johnston.

For information, contact:
Rita.Munzenrider@mso.umt.edu
University Relations
(406) 243-2522

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