The MontanaCowboy Hall of Fame is a 501 hall of fame organization. Its stated goal is to ""To honor our cowboy way of life, American Indian cultures, and our collective Montana western heritage. It confers the honour of induction on an annual list of distinguished individuals. At present, the organization lacks a permanent physical museum, but was granted statutory recognition by the Montana State Legislature in 2003 and 2011. Fundraising efforts include a specialty car license plate, The hall of fame was granted US$0.5 million in state funds for site development and project planning during a 2007 special session of the legislature. A previous proposal was to be located in Wolf Point, Montana, as designated by the State of Montana in 2003. But the Big Timber location was selected in part due to its proximity to Interstate 90, proximity to other tourist destinations such as Yellowstone National Park and lower construction costs.
Inductees
The first round of legacy award inductees was announced on April 8, 2008. Trustees from the twelve districts voted on the nominees to arrive at 51 foundational members of the hall of fame. This initial round includes nominees who made their impact on Montana's western heritage between 1860 and 1920. Subsequent inductees were announced annually thereafter.
District 1 (Daniels, Phillips, Roosevelt, Sheridan, and Valley counties)
Assiniboine people
Sherman T. Cogswell
"Dutch Henry" Ieuch
William H. Moecker
Sitting Bull
District 2 (Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Prairie, Richland, and Wibaux counties)
Evelyn Cameron
Bob Fudge
N Bar N Ranch
Undem Ranch
Ralph Whitlock
XIT Ranch
District 3 (Carter, Custer, Fallon, Powder River, Rosebud, and Treasure counties)
Ord Ames
Casey Barthelmess
T.W. "Wiley" King
Lisle D. Powell
David and Ijkalaka Russell
W.W. Terrett
District 4 (Blaine, Chouteau, Hill, and Liberty counties)
"Long George" Francis
Marie Gibson
Jim McCoy
Honora Matilda Redwing
Winfield Scott Young
District 5 (Cascade, Glacier, Pondera, Teton and Toole counties)
Peggy Bell
Edwin R Freiboth
Charles M. Russell
District 6 (Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Musselshell, Petroleum, and Wheatland counties)
E.C. "Teddy Blue" Abbott
James Fergus
DHS Ranch
Granville Stuart
George R. "Two Dot" Wilson
District 7 (Big Horn, Carbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass and Yellowstone counties)
Plenty Coups
Dilworth Cattle Company
Charles C. Huyck
Charles McDonnell
William Franklin McLeod
District 8 (Broadwater, Jefferson, and Lewis and Clark counties)