Awards set at Northern to honor Callahan, Thomas

Staff and wire report

MSU-Northern Foundation has an event scheduled for Friday to honor two long-time supporters of Montana State University-Northern, former Northern Interim Chancellor Joseph Callahan, Ph.D., of Dickinson, North Dakota, and Havre businessman Clyde Thomas Jr., who resides in Havre.

The Foundation is hosting a Founders' Excellence Party April 29 at Northern's Student Union Building Ballroom, where Callahan and Thomas will be the guests of honor. People can contact the Foundation for information on attending the event, which includes dinner and live music.

To celebrate their achievement, donations also can be made to the MSU-Northern Foundation in honor of the award recipients. People can contact the foundation for more information by calling 406-265-3711 or donating online at http://www.msunfoundation.org .

"Both recipients were nominated then unanimously voted in by committee for their tireless dedication to Northern," a release from the foundation said. The Founders' Excellence Award is given to individuals who show loyalty and service to Montana State University-Northern and has been awarded by the foundation for more than 40 years.

Callahan was nominated by Roger Barber, Ph.D, a former professor and provost at Northern.

Callahan had devoted decades to Montana State University-Northern and continues to support students through his philanthropy.

Callahan served in a variety of administrative appointments starting in 1973 and culminating with his retirement as interim chancellor in January 2012.

Callahan said he was honored to start and end his higher education administrative career at Northern, adding that he loves the university and members of the great teams he worked with there who remain his dearest friends.

While Callahan was serving as dean of continuing education/summer session, Northern saw the largest summer enrollment, over 1,850 students, providing classes and workshops for area educators along the Hi-Line.

"Unquestionably, his most important service to MSU-Northern occurred not once, but twice, when he returned to Havre to help the institution in a period of emergency and transition," Barber said.

Callahan not only served in the provost role from 2007-2010 until the position was filled, he also came out of retirement to step in as the interim chancellor after the then-chancellor's contract was not renewed in 2011.

"I think such devotion should be rewarded, particularly when the caretaker role is never easy or celebrated," Barber said.

While in Havre, Callahan was active in the community with Kiwanis, PDK and Crimestoppers.

Callahan earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania and his doctorate from the University of Montana, where he served two years as a research assistant.

In another Northern connection, Callahan met his wife, Kim, at Donaldson Hall and they married in 1978. Their sons, Joseph, Michael and Ryan were born at Northern Montana Hospital.

The Callahan's now reside in Dickinson, North Dakota, and said they enjoy their grandsons, fishing, hunting and ham radio.

Thomas was nominated by Northern Skylight head basketball coach and assistant athletic director Chris Mouat.

Thomas, who owns Western Trailer and Marine has been involved with activities on campus for years and has always been a strong supporter of Northern Montana College and Montana State University-Northern.

"Over the years, his acts of generosity have helped Northern have things we never would without his help," Mouat said. "He supports everything we do as a program and we wouldn't be the same without him."

Thomas is an alumnus -  1982 - of what was then Northern Montana College and left Northern just a few credits shy of graduating due to the birth of his first child. However, that never ended his passion for the college and his faithful support.

That same year, Thomas became a full time employee for Western Trailer and Marine, which is a family owned and operated RV and marine dealership also located in Havre. His father, Clyde R. Thomas Sr., started the business back in 1961.

In 1989, Thomas Sr., passed away leaving Clyde to assume the boss role. That same year, Thomas welcomed the third-generation to the business with Clyde R. "Duke" Thomas III. For 36 years, they truly had a family business which also included Thomas's wife and business partner, Vicky Thomas, who died in March of 2016.

In 2021, Thomas invited his daughter, Brandy Kurtz, to be part owner along with Duke Thomas allowing him time to semi-retire and enjoy life with his girlfriend, Maxine Monson. He is still partakes in every aspect of the business but is able to take more time off.

Thomas is heavily involved in the Northern Rodeo Booster Club, the equestrian center board, and the Bearpaw Bowmen Archery Club. In his spare time, he said, he loves to camp, shoot archery, trap shoot, golf, kayak and just be outside enjoying life. He also loves to tailgate at the Northern football games and enjoys watching the Skylights and Lights in all their events.

Nominations are being taken for the Founders' Excellence Award recipients for 2023. People can contact the MSU-Northern Foundation office for more details on how to make a nomination.