State of Montana Newsroom
Whitefish and Dillon Historians win Montana Historical Society Heritage Keeper Awards
Helena, MT — Paul Snyder of Whitefish and Dr. O. Alan Weltzien of Dillon have been selected to receive Heritage Keeper Awards by the Montana Historical Society's Board of Trustees. The awards are conferred on people or organizations that demonstrate an exemplary commitment to a significant Montana history project or have identified and preserved objects or property of significance to Montana's history and culture.
Paul Snyder has spent more than 30 years as a dedicated steward of Montana's history, contributing his time, personal funds, and craftsmanship to preserve the state's past. Born in Malta and raised on the Hi-Line, his deep roots fueled a lifelong mission to ensure Montana's stories were not lost to time.
His most visible legacy is the restoration of the state's only remaining Great Northern "Bruck"—a rare half-bus, half-truck vehicle now on display at the Stumptown Historical Museum in Whitefish. His volunteerism spans the state, from the Phillips County Museum in his hometown to the Montana Heritage Commission in Virginia City. At The History Museum in Great Falls, he guided the 2007 archives move, oversaw facility repairs, and hand-crafted the woodwork for the Ozark Club room.
A veteran and retired commercial pilot, Snyder also traveled the state to photograph and research historic backbars, culminating in the book Make Mine a Ditch—a one-of-a-kind collection preserving Montana's social history through the antique backbars found in its barrooms.
Dr. O. Alan Weltzien is recognized at a particularly timely moment—the 50th anniversary of Norman Maclean's A River Runs Through It. Since 1990, Dr. Weltzien has dedicated his career at the University of Montana Western to "practical humanities," bridging academic rigor and public engagement as a leading authority on Maclean and the primary force behind the rediscovery of novelist Thomas Savage. His edited volume The Norman Maclean Reader is widely regarded as the definitive commentary on Maclean's work, and his biography Savage West rescued a vital voice of southwestern Montana from obscurity.
Dr. Weltzien's influence extends through service on the board of Humanities Montana, two Fulbright lectureships, contributions to Montana: The Magazine of Western History, and his celebrated "Savage Tours," guiding students and Oscar-winning director Jane Campion through the landscapes of Savage's novels.
"Paul and Alan represent the heart of heritage keeping," said Molly Kruckenberg, director of the Montana Historical Society. "While their approaches may be different, they both share the same devotion to preserving Montana’s history. We are proud to honor them and their extraordinary efforts."
Up to two people or organizations are honored with Heritage Awards each year by the MTHS Board of Trustees. The recipients will be celebrated in their local communities at ceremonies sponsored by the Montana Historical Society.
For more information on the Montana Historical Society and Heritage Awards, visit https://mths.mt.gov or contact mths@mt.gov.