August 28, 2024
The University of Montana Western Athletics Department and the UMW Foundation & Alumni Office will host the 2024 Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, September 14, at 5:30 p.m. in the Lewis and Clark Room of Mathews Hall.
The evening will begin with a no-host social at 5:30 p.m., followed by an Italian buffet dinner. Tickets for the Hall of Fame dinner can be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/UMWHOF24 or by calling 406-683-7306.
The University of Montana Western is honored to celebrate the induction of the following athletes into the Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame:
Jim Bob Humphrey
Jim Bob Humphrey played football for Coach Bob Beers and the Bulldog Football team from 1993 to 1998, during which they won several Frontier Conference titles and reached the National semi-finals in 1995. Throughout his football career, Jim Bob was named All-Conference linebacker twice and earned All-American honors. He also wrestled under Coach TJ Nelson during his time at Western.
In 2000, Jim Bob earned a degree in Secondary Education with a focus on history and English. He went on to teach and coach for 15 years, working in Texas, Idaho, and Washington. During this time, he had the honor of coaching his three sons—Jake, Drew, and Lane—in both football and wrestling. Alongside his teaching career, Jim Bob spent 20 years in the sheep breeding business, specializing in genetics and club lambs.
Jim Bob and his wife, Jami, eventually settled in Billings, where he works with his brother Brant at WIN Home Inspection. Their sons, Jake and Drew, currently play football for the Bulldogs. Jim Bob’s fondest memories at Western include beating Montana Tech 40-0 in a night game and defeating Glenville State in the 1994 playoffs.
Taylor Nahrgang
Taylor Nahrgang graduated in 2010 with a BS in Business Administration from the University of Montana Western. During his time at Montana Western, Taylor held several leadership positions, including Rodeo Club President, ASUMW President, Montana Associate Students (MSA) Vice President, Big Sky Region Student Director, and NIRA Student President. He was also a member of the rodeo team coached by Olie Else. Taylor achieved significant success in steer wrestling, qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo four times, becoming the Big Sky Region Steer Wrestling Champion in 2007, and the NIRA Steer Wrestling World Champion in 2010.
Currently, Taylor serves as the Director of Partnership and Event Marketing at Ariat International, where he is a valuable member of the Marketing Leadership Team. Taylor and his wife, Bailey, reside in Fort Worth, TX, and are proud parents of Bolt and Blake. He enjoys roping and watching his children excel in school and sports.
Taylor has many fond memories of his time at Montana Western, including setting the arena record at the CNFR with a time of 3.4 seconds—a moment he holds with great pride. He also cherishes the experience of dominating the Big Sky Region alongside teammate Wyatt Smith and hazing for Wyatt when he won a College World Title in steer wrestling in 2009.
Chuck Molenda
Chuck Molenda was born in Hamilton, Montana, and spent his early childhood in the Bitterroot Valley before moving to Dillon in 1967. At the age of 18, Chuck enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served with distinction from December 1970 through November 1973. After completing his service, Chuck returned to Dillon, where he worked for various businesses before settling at Beaverhead Home Center, where he retired in 2013.
Chuck dedicated 29 years of service to Montana Western Athletics. His journey began in 1992, working the shot clock at basketball games. In 1995, he started managing the scorebook for men’s and women’s basketball games, and in 2012, he took on the role of operating the play clock at football games until 2017.
The highlight of Chuck’s time with Montana Western was working the shot clock under Coach Casey Keltz and watching the women’s basketball team win the 2019 National Championship. In 2021, Chuck had to step away, having missed only five games in his entire 29 years of service.
Chuck’s dedication and contributions to Montana Western Athletics have left a lasting impact. He and his wife, Susie, currently live in Dillon and have two grown children, Andy and Kathi, as well as several grandchildren.
Iola “Olie” Else
A native of Idaho, Olie Else graduated from Western Montana College in 1973 with a BS in English and Physical Education. She furthered her education by earning a master’s degree in Education in 1995. During her time at WMC, Olie was an active member of the rodeo team, competing in barrel racing, breakaway roping, team roping, and goat tying.
Olie’s campus involvement extended beyond athletics. She was the homecoming queen and runner-up for Miss Western in 1971. In 1973, she earned the title of Miss Rodeo Idaho and went on to compete in Miss Rodeo America. Additionally, Olie served on the Central Board and student government, was a member of Spurs (a service organization), worked as a resident assistant, and even manned the college switchboard.
In 1994, Olie became the head coach of the Montana Western Rodeo Team. During her tenure, she cultivated top-notch rodeo competitors, including seven College National Finals World Champions. Many of her student rodeo athletes have held positions in national rodeo organizations and earned numerous awards. The Montana Western women’s team won the Big Sky Region five consecutive years from 1998 to 2002. Olie is the only woman and the only person to win the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Coach of the Year twice, in 2004 and 2018.
Olie played a pivotal role in establishing the Equine and Natural Horsemanship Programs at UMW and served as the Department Chair of Equine Studies. She continues to teach in the Equine Program and acts as the faculty advisor for the Young Farmers and Ranchers Club. Olie is a proud mother of three children—Kayla, Tad, and Tate—all of whom graduated from UMW. Her dedication to her children and students has been her life’s work, leaving a lasting legacy by imparting the Western way of life to hundreds of young people.
To stay connected with Montana Western Alumni & Friends, call Jolene Robbins at 406-683-7303 or visit our website at https://umwfoundation.org/alumni-friends/, where you can join our mailing list, connect on social media, and view upcoming events and announcements.
