Looking Back: Wayne Newton to be grand marshal; SNOW Bus rides again
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler
50 Years Ago
January 17, 1974
A Prime Minister's red coat fell on the shoulders of Jim Trout, 30, Whitefish banker and former Winter Carnival President, at the climax of a program staged by former Prime Ministers. Trout received his uniform and badges of office from outgoing Prime Minister Ben Tempel. Trout’s duties included acting as Master of Ceremonies for the royal party at public appearances and handling the logistics of the group’s moves from one point to another. Trout was born in American Falls, Idaho. He attended Syracuse University and spent four years with the U.S.A.F. as a Russian interpreter.
40 Years Ago
January 19, 1984
Gary Elliott came out from under a disguise and, to the applause of the crowd, accepted his trappings of office as Prime Minister to the yet unnamed king of the 25th Whitefish Winter Carnival. Elliott will preside over and run many of the events of the 1984 version of the winter celebration in Whitefish. Elliott, 43, was joined on the podium by his wife, Bev. The Whitefish businessman owns and operates the Bierstube on Big Mountain, co-owns the Palace Bar in Downtown Whitefish and co-owns the Pioneer pies Restaurant and Bakery in Missoula. He is also the broker-owner of Pioneer Realty in Whitefish.
30 Years Ago
January 20, 1994
The second Whitefish resident in five days was struck and killed on U.S. 93 south of Whitefish. A 49-year-old woman was killed in front of her home as she crossed U.S. 93 near Hodgson Road after she was dropped off by a friend, according to Flathead County Sheriff Jim Dupont. She was crossing the street from east to west when she was struck in the southbound lane by a 1986 Dodge minivan, according to a spokesman from the Montana Highway Patrol. Days earlier, a 4-year -old boy was accidentally hit and killed by a southbound motorist on U.S. 93.
20 Years Ago
January 15, 2004
Free lunches may be figments of the imagination, but thanks to significant sponsorship by the Big Mountain Commercial Association, along with support from several Whitefish businesses and the city of Whitefish, there is such a thing as a free ride. As far back as 1954, there has been a bus driving to Big Mountain. Prior incarnations have been the Ski Bus, the Shuttlebus, and the Whitefish Area Rapid Transport, or WART, but none have been as successful or as supported as the Snow Bus.
10 Years Ago
January 15, 2014
Organizers of the Whitefish Winter Carnival hit the jackpot with this year’s theme, “Viva Las Vegas.” The one and only Wayne Newton agreed to be the grand marshal of the Grand Parade. That’s right – Mr. Las Vegas himself joined King Ullr and the royal court on the carnival float for a ride down Central Avenue. Newton, who has ties to the Flathead Valley, told carnival organizer Paul Johannsen he’d be honored to participate. “He said he’d be thrilled to do it,” Johannsen said.