Present at the Creation: Montana Higher Education Reforms from 1972 Constitution -- Dr. Lawrence K. Pettit “In the Crucible of Change”

Prior to the passage of the 1972 Constitution, Montana’s higher education system was both controlled and victimized by Montana’s politics. Alternatingly, Governors or the Legislature tried to control and/or impose political ideology upon the management and teaching/content within the University System. Political favoritism and power-broking were the hallmark of the legislative appropriation process. Under the new Constitution, a newly empowered Board of Regents, and a new Commissioner of Higher Education managed the system and controlled the allocation of the legislative appropriations, but not without a major battle before the Montana Supreme Court. Dr. Lawrence K. Pettit (Larry Pettit) (b. 5/2/1937) was present at the creation of this newly structured higher education system as the first Commissioner of Higher Education in Montana after his appointment by the Board of Regents of the University System in 1973. Larry Pettit has had a dual career in politics and higher education. Pettit, of Lewistown, served as legislative assistant to U.S. Senators James E. Murray and Lee Metcalf, campaign manager, head of transition team and assistant to Montana Governor Thomas L. Judge, taught political science at The Pennsylvania State University (main campus), was chair of political science at Montana State University, Deputy Commissioner for Academic Programs at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Chancellor of the University System of South Texas (since merged with Texas A&M University), President of Southern Illinois University, and President of Indiana University of Pennsylvania from where he retired in 2003. He has served as chair of the Commission on Leadership for the American Council on Education, president of the National Association of (University) System Heads, and on many national and state boards and commissions in higher education. Pettit is author of “If You Live by the Sword: Politics in the Making and Unmaking of a University President.” More about Pettit is found at http://www.lawrencekpettit.com

Water Quality Issues in the Williston Basin, Montana and North Dakota

The Williston basin has been producing oil and gas since the 1950s, but production has increased recently due to use of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling technologies to extract oil and gas from the Bakken and Three Forks Formations. As concern about effects of energy production on surface-water and groundwater quality increases, the characterization of current water-quality conditions is highly important to the scientific community, resource managers, industry, and general public.

Remembering Lee Metcalf - Natural Resources, Environmental and Conservation Excerpts (done for 75th Anniversary of Montana State Parks System - 2014)

Montana's Lee Metcalf was an extraordinary Montana leader with an unbelievable record of accomplishment fighting for the little people against the forces of economic and political power. The public memory is so short that this film will serve to help reacquaint Lee & Donna Metcalf to most of those who were around during their time. But it will also provide an opportunity for new generations to receive a perspective of an important leader from an important time. (Language from YouTube version of the film, written and provided by Executive Producer Evan Barrett) Lee Warren Metcalf (January 28, 1911 – January 12, 1978) was an American lawyer, judge, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Representative (1953–1961) and a U.S. Senator (1961–1978) from Montana. He was permanent acting President pro tempore of the Senate, the only person to hold that position, from 1963 until his death in 1978. Excerpts from main film for 75th Anniversary of Montana State Parks System

Montana In the 1970’s: Seen Through a Reporter’s Eyes -- Chuck Johnson “In the Crucible of Change”

It has been said that “journalism is the first rough draft of history.” If that be the case, much of Montana’s history since 1970 was first written by Chuck Johnson. He has covered the activities of 20 regular sessions of the Legislature plus an untold number of Special Sessions, the Constitutional Convention, nine Governors, eight US Senators and seven US Congressmen. Primary elections, general elections, state and national Party Conventions have been seen by Montanans through Johnson’s prism. Big and little news about policy, insights about politics, and a sense of the people behind the news (and history) has flowed from Chuck Johnson’s pen. Johnson’s first decade as a journalist coincides substantially with the period of “In the Crucible of Change.” Having been one of those who wrote the first draft of much of the history in the series “In the Crucible of Change,” and as “Dean of Montana’s Capitol Reporters,” Chuck’s reflections and insights about the period are conveyed in this film with a maturity and understanding that can only come from one who has spent decades honing is craft to perfection. Chuck Johnson is a journalist who has covered Montana state government and politics since 1970. Since 1992, he has been bureau chief of the Lee Newspapers State Bureau in Helena, writing for the Lee daily newspapers: the Billings Gazette, The Montana Standard (Butte), Helena Independent Record, The Missoulian, and the Ravalli Republic (Hamilton). Johnson, a Great Falls native raised in Helena, was exposed to politics early on when he was taken up to the Legislature one night to watch the debate on the raging issue of the day--whether stores should be allowed to give trading stamps to customers. He received a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. history from the University of Montana. Johnson spent a year studying politics and economics at Oxford University in England on a Rotary Foundation scholarship. He previously was chief of the Great Falls Tribune Capitol Bureau and worked for the Associated Press, Missoulian and Helena Independent Record. Chuck and his wife Pat reside in Helena.

Karst Kamp Asbestos Deposits Gallatin County, Montana

Karst Kamp, a southwestern Montana recreation re­sort, is 32 road miles south of Bozeman on the east bank of the Gallatin River in a narrow V-shaped valley flanked on the west by the rugged Madison mountain range and on the east by the equally rough Gallatin range. The asbestos deposit itself lies approximate­ly one-half mile northwest of the ranch on a heavily timbered "Al­pine-like" slope nearly 1200 feet above the floor of the valley.

Geology of the Lost Creek-Modesty Creek Area Deerlodge County, Montana

In 1915 the United States Geological Survey published a folio by Calkins and Emmons on the geology of the Philipsburg Quadrangle, which ad­joins the area now under study to the west. Geology of this portion of Montana had not been mapped previously; consequently the purpose of this thesis is to make a geological reconnais­sance of the stratigraphy and structure of the area.

Geology of Montana

A vast amount of information has been published by many workers on particular features of the geology of the state of Montana, as well as on local geology of many smaller divi­sions. However, a satisfactory summary of the geology in general, which would include all phases of geology as they apply to the greater area of the entire state, has not been published.

Concentration of Manganese Dioxide from Philipsburg, Montana

Imports of manganese ore probably supply a major proportion of the needs of the United States. Domestic production is reported to be higher than pre-war levels, but does not equal that of the peak production year of 1943. In 1946, the Anaconda Copper Mining Company ac­counted for 90 percent of the total shipments of mangan­ese nodules, and this company is the largest producer of domestic metallurgical ore in the United States.

The Fort Union Formation of Montana and Adjacent Areas

The Fort Union formation is one of the most import­ant and best known geologic formations of the northern Great Plains, and is found lying almost horizontal at the surface over large areas in this region.

The Christensen Sillimanite Deposit Southeast of Dillon, Montana

The minerals sillimanite, kyanite, andalusite, dumortierite, and topaz comprise a group of minerals whose high alumina content and physical properties are particularly desirable in the manufacture of refractory products. Sillimanite is the least plentiful of the minerals of this group, and for this reason it is not used extensively at the present time. However, it would be very desirable to the refractory industry if a suitable domestic source of supply could be established.

The Psilomelane Mineral of the Butte District, Montana

During the last few years a great deal of research has been done in connection with the black manganese oxide minerals. This is especially true of the so called mineral psilomelane. It has been proven without a doubt that the name psilomelane has been used in the past to include a great variety of similar black manganese oxide minerals. By the use of X-ray equipment these minerals have been definitely identified.

Carbon Sequestration in the Kevin Dome, Nothern Montana

The Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership examines the ability of geologic systems to safely trap anthropogenic carbon dioxide to mitigate its impact on climate. One such system is the Duperow Formation within Kevin Dome, a large sedimentary trap and cap structure that has a long history of oil and gas production. To test storage potential of the dome, naturally trapped carbon dioxide is extracted, compressed, and reinjected. Geophysical methods and monitoring wells provide evidence of the fate and transport of the re-injected carbon dioxide. This study and others like it demonstrate the efficacy carbon sequestration at an industrial scale.

Caustic Leaching of Montana Chromite

Chromite is the most important ore used for the production of chromium and chromium alloys. At present, the domestic production is insignificant as compared with the amount of chromite consumed in the United States.

Geological Report of Conrow Wood Creek Area 8 Miles N.E. of Whitehall, Montana

Plane table and pacing methods were used in the mapping of the individual areas, but an automobile traverse was used to tie the independent areas into a composite group that would be useful for the entire zone. All land marks, section corners, roads, fence lines, drainage, and geologic features were plotted in the field and later transferred to a master map.

Big Change Coming: Gov. Forrest Anderson’s Unprecedented Preparation for Bringing Change to Montana – Newell Anderson & Brian Shovers “In the Crucible of Change”

Abstract to be posted.