Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Announces 2023 Inductees: Billingsley and Etchart Inducted

The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center (MCHF & WHC) announces their 15th class of inductions into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. The inductees were chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the general public. Inductees are honored for their notable contributions to the history and culture of Montana.

"The Hall of Fame exists to honor those who have made an impact in their part of the state and represent Montana's authentic heritage for future generations," said DuWayne Wilson, MCHF & WHC president. "Our volunteer trustees around Montana vote on nominations that come from the district in which they reside. This process gives the local communities a strong voice in who will represent them in the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame."

The MCHF & WHC board of directors has designated 12 trustee districts across the state from which up to 20 trustees may be appointed. Nomination criteria established by the board for the Class of 2023 inductions allowed the election of one Living Inductee and one Legacy Inductee from each of the 12 districts.

District 1 District 1 (Daniels, Phillips, Roosevelt, Sheridan, & Valley Counties): Living: Jack & Andrea Billingsley of Glasgow; Legacy: John & Catherine Etchart of Tampico.

The MCHF & WHC plans to honor these inductees during the MCHF Annual Induction Ceremony & Western Heritage Gathering February 11, 2023, in Great Falls at the Heritage Inn. Look for more information as it becomes available on our Facebook page and on our website.

Full biographies for past inductees are available on the MCHF & WHC's website, http://www.montanacowboyfame.org. This year's inductees will be added to the website in the near future.

Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Legacy Induction

John (1882-1943) and Catherine (Urquilux) Etchart (1888-1978)

District 1 - 2023

John Etchart was born in 1882 in the village of Aldudes, in the Basque country, located on the border of France and Spain. At age 18 he immigrated to the United States. He worked as a sheepherder in the foothills of Santa Monica, Calif., for a year to reimburse his employer for the cost of his voyage to America.

John became a U.S. citizen and with his brother Michel, moved to Nevada for nine years where they operated a sheep ranch in partnership with a banker based out of the town of Elko. They managed the business during the open range days. This allowed their sheep to graze while trailing them in the summer from the Bruneau Mountains of Idaho to Arizona, where they grazed in the winter, and back to Idaho. In 1910 while John was breaking a horse, his leg was severely fractured causing considerable medical costs that the banker refused to share with the brothers. They soon cashed out and dissolved the partnership, changing the course of John's life.

John traveled by train and ocean vessel back to Aldudes that same year, and while contemplating his ranching future, he met Catherine Urquilux. They began a two-year courtship in 1911, during which time John returned to the U.S. to consider the purchase of open grazing land in northeast Montana, recommended by a local Basque. John arrived in Saco by train, rented a horse for a two-day ride 50 miles to the south country in Valley County. John bought the ranch on the spot and later purchased two bands of sheep from Deer Lodge, Mont. Later in life he told his sons that these were the best grasslands he had ever seen.

In 1912 John revisited Aldudes where he and Catherine were married. They sailed to America as newlyweds, arriving in Valley County where they would build their ranch together. They ran Rambouillet sheep branded with their Circle Cross brand. Ewes were paired with purebred rams, having clean open faces not prone to becoming wool blind. John and Catherine increased their herds requiring additional sheepherders, camp tenders, horses, and cooks. The Etcharts employed various local residents and newly immigrated Basques.

John, along with two German stonemasons, built their house and barn in 1914. The Stone House became a local landmark. Around this time the Etcharts entered into the cattle business buying Hereford range cattle; branding them with the Lazy Y Hanging Reverse S. John and Catherine dealt with constant challenges: winters of deep snow, summers of drought, finding sustainable grass, and the constant toll of predators. Some winters they lost half of their entire sheep herd.

In the early 1920s, John and Catherine expanded their holdings into north Valley County along the Porcupine Creek, adding more grazing lands for both sheep and cattle. Sheep were wintered south then trailed 70 miles to the North Ranch for lambing, shearing, and summering. Cow calving and branding occurred both on the North and the South ranches. The couple increased their holdings with the purchase of the Tom Dignan irrigated farm near Tampico, 12 miles northwest of Glasgow. Around 1922 the Etcharts and their children, Ferne, Gene and Mitch, moved to the newly acquired property. A few years later two more sons, Mark and Leonard, were born to land capable of producing large amounts of winter feed: mainly hay and sugar beets. Corn for silage replaced the beets in the 1940s. As the ranch grew, the public domain lands were a free-for-all fight for grazing rights. The Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 divided public domain grasslands into districts, which had to be held under permit by qualified ranchers. John was the chairman of the Montana State Grass Conservation, which helped implement the act.

Catherine, an early riser, worked alongside John on the day-to-day operations, keeping financial records and making payroll. With her assistant cook, she prepared breakfast for the ranch hands by 6:30 a.m. each day. Cleaning chores and food preparation for the noon and evening meals began shortly thereafter. Catherine, who was enterprising, raised hogs, Holstein dairy cows, chickens, turkeys and an abundant vegetable garden. She canned delicious meat and fruits and to everyone's delight made French custard and chokecherry wine. Catherine was frugal and ingenious at financial savings but also generous donating time and money to St. Raphael's Catholic Church and other charities. John and Catherine together instilled Christian values along with a disciplined work ethic in their children.

In the late 1920s and 1930s improvements and mechanization emerged on the ranch. The Etcharts improved the land by creating reservoirs, benefiting both domestic animals and wildlife. Percheron horses pulled the hay machines, mowers, rakes, and stackers until the early 1930s. John implemented the beaver slide hay stacker design he had seen in Deer Lodge. Horsepower was replaced with gasoline engines in the 30s and 40s. By this time, John, who was transitioning from sheep to strictly cattle, purchased purebred Herefords he branded with an H Diamond L.

John was the director of the Montana Production Credit Association, Montana director of the National Wool Marketing Corporation, director and Vice President of the Montana Wool Growers Association, and a member in good standing with the Montana Stock Growers.

John passed away unexpectedly in 1943. Gene, Mitch, Mark, and Leonard took over the day-to-day operations with Catherine's guidance. She continued the record keeping and chores for the Tampico ranch until her death in 1978. John and Catherine's legacy that began in a small village in the Basque country of Europe continues to live on through their grandchildren.

Montana Cowboy Hall Of Fame Living Induction

Jack and Andrea Billingsley

District 1 – 2023

Jack Billingsley was born Nov. 25, 1943, in Glasgow, to parents Jim and Dorothy (Carlson) Billingsley. He became the third generation to live in the little white house on Antelope Creek. He attended Tampico Grade School, where he was taught by his mother, and graduated from Glasgow High School in 1961. Billingsley was an active participant in the Tampico 4-H Club, FFA, and the Montana High School Rodeo Association. He attended Northern Montana College in Havre, where he received an AG Business Degree and was also a member of their college rodeo team. After college, he worked as a brand inspector for the state of Montana, while ranching alongside his father, Jim.

Andrea "Andie" Burger was born June 24, 1949. At an early age she lived in Two Dot, Mont., and later moved with her family to Nashua, Mont. Her father, Fred, and mother, Leona Burger, raised Andie and her sisters Freda, and Jebbie, on a ranch just outside of Nashua. Andie has been involved in agriculture her entire life and enjoys living the western way of life.

On Oct. 3, 1969, Jack married the love of his life, Andie. They had two children; Scott, who later married Suzanne Schumacher and J., who married LeeAnne Labatte. Along with raising a family, the Billingsleys have had a busy life promoting the livestock industry. Both have been involved with the Valley County Stockgrowers and the Montana Stockgrowers Association. Jack served on the MSGA Brand and Theft committee for many years, and Andie served as the President of the Montana Cattlewomen's Association in 1984 to 1985. She was also the first Montana Cattlewomen's President invited to sit on the MSGA board of directors.

After Jim passed away in 1976, Jack and Andie, along with their boys, began operating the ranch as a cow/calf and yearling operation. Jack was one of the first in this area to breed Black Angus cows to Charolais bulls. The Billingsley family is proud of their Charolais cross calves produced each year.

In 1980, Jack and Andie started Billingsley Ranch Outfitters. The business started by guiding a handful of mule deer hunters each fall and evolved into offering a variety of different hunts throughout the years. Business boomed when clients learned of the Milk River and the Missouri River Breaks and all they had to offer. They have booked hunters from all over the world. In sharing their love of the outdoors, they have gathered in some great friends along the way. Their sons, Scott and J, are both actively involved in Billingsley Ranch Outfitters and spend some of each fall guiding hunters. Scott also helps to keep the ranch going as he is an outstanding mechanic.

As well as working day in and day out on the ranch with Jack, Andie established a small sheep herd in the early 1980s. Over the years she has expanded her herd and cherished her closed herd for over 40 years. Andie has always had a few milk cows on hand. During calving season, any twin calf would quickly be graphed on to one of her milk cows. Three of Andie's granddaughters are now continuing the milk cow tradition at the ranch. You can find them all in the calving barn together early in the morning or evening during calving season.

Jack competed in the sport of calf roping and was a member of the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA), which later became the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). While taking care of the ranch, he managed to compete at many of the biggest and best rodeos across the United States and into Canada. Andie was always supporting him and willing to help drive those endless miles to the next rodeo. Jack is a current gold card member of the PRCA and continues to support rodeo while cheering on his son J, and J's three girls, Brooke, Bailey, and Blaire, on their rodeo trail as well.

Jack has always had an incredible eye for good horses. He has trained, bought and sold some great ones over the years. Baldy, Little Buck, and Whisper were three of Jack's well known calf horses in which he mounted many cowboys over the years. Jack was also lucky enough to have great friends who would mount him when he needed a competitive calf horse.

Over the years, the arena and corrals at the Billingsley Ranch have always been open to rodeo friends near and far. It doesn't matter if they need to rest, practice, tune horses, wait for the Canadian border to open, or just visit, they are always welcome. Jack has willingly helped numerous kids excel in the rodeo arena and always has a bit of advice for anyone there.

Western heritage runs deep in the Billingsley family. Beginning with running livestock on the open range in 1907, watching homesteaders come and go, experiencing the Taylor Grazing Act, and witnessing the gathering of wild horses. With fencing of allotments, livestock water development, rest-rotational grazing practices, and monitoring of riparian areas, their rangelands have not only nourished their livestock, but also enhanced the wildlife population.

Jack and Andie have shared their love of the ranch and the western way of life along with the sport of rodeo with many. They feel very blessed to have lived in Eastern Montana where their family roots run deep and will continue to expand with the next generation on the ranch.