Cardwell's Walter Shaw Inducted Into Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame

Twenty-four cowboys were inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall Of Fame (MCHF) on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls.

"The Hall Of Fame was an idea that came out of a small group that started out just to honor a local rodeo," said DuWayne Wilson, board chair for the MCHF. Walter Shaw was inducted as a living inductee for District Twelve.

Walter Elroy "Walt" Shaw was born January 31, 1936, on the Shaw Ranch, homesteaded by Walter's grandparents, in South Boulder Valley near Cardwell, Montana. Walt and three sisters were raised by their parents, Elroy and Ada Shaw. At a very young age, Walt was involved in all the ranch chores and activities. When Walt was 12 years old, his mother passed away unexpectedly.

Walt was in high school when his father allowed him to help his cousins at the Candle Stick Ranch move a 1500-head herd of cattle ninety miles south to the summer range at the West Fork of the Madison River. The drive began after a three-day gathering and included a cavy of 30 saddle horses. Driving the cows with calves at their sides took five days of trailing. The return drive in November was a day shorter as the calves were able to travel more quickly.

By July 1953, the Korean War had ended, but Walt traveled to Butte upon receiving notice for registration from the US Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station. He was interviewed, received a physical, and completed endurance testing. When questioned, Walt informed the officer in charge that he was the only man left with the responsibility of managing his grandmother's ranch. At day's end, Walt was instructed to join other young men being transported to California to await their orders. The next day, Walt's grandmother arrived in Butte with a letter in hand. Released from military duty, Walt later expressed regret to his family that he was unable to serve in the armed forces.

In 1956, at the age of 20, Walt lost his father to a sudden aneurysm. He worked the family ranch with his grandmother, the principal owner, and eventually took over the operation. In 1961, he married Aileen Owsley. They raised four boys, cattle, and horses. Walt managed the flood irrigation, haying, and general farm work, but he most enjoyed riding horseback and working cattle.

Walt grew up in a time when agriculture was rapidly changing from horsepower to mechanized equipment. World War II had ended, and tractors were phasing out the horse. One day at the rail yard in Butte, Walt noticed several stock cars loaded with horses. He learned that the surplus of cavalry horses was headed to the cannery, and his feeling was that he had absolutely no control over the changing of times ahead.

Walt feels he faced a greater challenge of controlling noxious weeds invading Montana grazing land than earlier generations. His work on eradication was extremely time-consuming, but it was worth every effort for responsible land stewardship and conservation.

If Walt had a hobby, it was using his draft horses to skid logs. He milled the logs on the family's 120-year-old sawmill, using the finished product to build bridges and barns and repair corrals.

After 60 years of marriage, Aileen passed away in late July 2021. Walt resides in the homeplace where he is retired and enjoys the few cows he looks after.

2024 inductees included:

• District 1: Henry "Gary" Danelson of Scobey (Living) and David C. Funk of Frazer (Legacy).

• District 2: Harold Lee Isaacs of Jordan (Living) and Don Goodman Holt of Sidney (Legacy).

• District 3: Wayne W. Morford of Miles City (Living) and Miles City Bucking Horse Sale (Legacy).

• District 4: Leon LaSalle of Laredo (Living) and Clarence Basil Cuts The Rope of Hays (Legacy).

• District 5: Alvin "Dutch" Lunak & Stuntmen of Blackfeet Country of Valier (Living) and Joe Franklin De Yong of Great Falls (Legacy).

• District 6: Durl J. Gibbs of Buffalo (Living) and Don Elton Abarr of Grass Range (Legacy).

• District 7: Lynn "Jonnie" Jonckowski of Billings (Living) and Elmer E. "Slim" Kobold of Kirby (Legacy).

• District 8: Lenore McKelvey Puhek of Helena (Living) and Paul B. Hart of Helena (Legacy).

• District 9: Delbert & Janice (Gee) High of Bozeman (Living) and Ray P. Ansotegui of Livingston (Legacy).

• District 10: Betty Mae Wemple Schall of Arlee (Living) and Al Garth Merritt of Pablo (Legacy).

• District 11: Paul Zarzyski of Missoula (Living) and Bill E. Mytty of Lolo (Legacy).

• District 12: Walt Elroy Shaw of Cardwell (Living) and John Wiliam "Pat" McDonald of Philipsburg (Legacy).