Tom Tucker, a 1975 graduate of Western Montana College (WMC) and a 1971 graduate of Stevensville High School, was an accomplished athlete during his high school years. He excelled in football, basketball, and golf, earning All-Conference honors in football and both All-Conference and All-State recognition in basketball during his senior year. His football team narrowly lost to the conference champions by just two points, while his basketball team achieved a 19-0 start and advanced to the state tournament.
Tom had the option to play either football or basketball at WMC and chose to pursue basketball. He played for the Bulldogs for three years and also golfed for four years. During his sophomore year, Tom was elected Student Body President and received the Phi-Delta-Kappa 'Man of the Year' award. He later made the selfless decision to give up his basketball scholarship to student teach at Hamilton High School during the winter. This decision led to a seven-year tenure as a teacher and coach at Hamilton.
Tom’s career continued with a four-year teaching position at the University of Arizona before returning to Billings, Montana, where he started his own software company. After successfully selling his major software products in 2012, Tom returned to the Bitterroot Valley, where he played a pivotal role in guiding the Montana Board of Horse Racing out of debt, ensuring the stability of the horse racing industry in the state. For his efforts, he was honored with the Heritage Award from the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame for his work in "Preserving Western Heritage" in Montana.
Currently, Tom serves as the Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee for the University of Montana Western Foundation. His leadership was instrumental in the completion of a new football stadium on the WMC campus.
Kim Anderson a 1975 graduate of Western Montana College (WMC) and a 1971 graduate of Stevensville High School, was a standout multi-sport athlete. A four-year letterman in basketball, he earned All-Conference and All-State honors in both his junior and senior years, helping lead the Yellowjackets to back-to-back state tournament appearances. In track, he won the state championship in the triple jump, setting a new Class B state record.
Kim began his college career at WMC, competing in both basketball and track, but transferred to Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, during his freshman year. He later returned to WMC for his junior and senior years, once again competing in both sports. As a junior, he won the long jump and triple jump at the conference track meet. As a senior, he was honored with the Maier Miller Scholarship.
After graduating, Kim and his family moved back to the Bitterroot Valley, where he began his teaching and coaching career. He started at Lone Rock Elementary teaching eighth grade before moving to Victor Schools, where he taught sixth grade, served as the school guidance counselor, coached both girls’ and boys’ basketball, and worked as the Athletic Director. During this time, he pursued further education, taking night and summer classes to earn his counseling endorsement and later a master’s degree in Education Administration from Montana State University.
Kim went on to serve as a high school assistant principal and athletic director at Hardin High School, an assistant principal at Whitefish Middle School, principal at Whitefish Middle School, and later as an assistant principal and athletic director at Sheridan Junior High School in Sheridan, Wyoming. Over his 41-year career in education, he earned numerous accolades, including the National Distinguished Principal Award for the state of Montana.
Following the loss of his beloved wife, Kim returned to Stevensville, where he now lives on the small farm where they began their family.
