[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S8806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             GEORGE OSTROM

 Mr. BAUCUS. Mr President, I rise today to celebrate a true 
Montanan and a great friend on his 70th birthday.
  Anyone who has come to know George Ostrom through his radio 
broadcasts, his photographs, his writing, or who has been fortunate 
enough as I have to spend time personally with him has come away with a 
better understanding of the American West and Montana in particular.
  I've known George for too many years to count. Among other things, he 
and I share a passion for hiking in general and for hiking in Glacier 
National Park in particular. You see George has spent most of his 70 
years in and around the Park. To this day, he hikes with a group that 
he affectionately calls the ``Over the Hill Gang.'' They hike once a 
week when the weather permits, usually between 30 and 40 times a year.
  For years, George has invited me to join his friends for a hike. But 
you know how it is. Our schedules are busy and somehow I just never got 
around to it. Until last August. During our summer recess last year I 
joined up with George and his Over the Hill Gang. And what a day we 
had. We told stories (all of them were true, of course), shared water 
bottles and talked about our families, our hopes and our dreams. Mr. 
President, it was a day I will not soon forget.
  Over the years, I had heard all about George's many awards including 
the honor bestowed on his weekly column ``The Trailwatcher'', which in 
1996 was selected as the best weekly humor column in the United States 
by the National Newspaper Association. And I had seen many of his 
photographs of the Park in local and national magazines including 
Sports Afield, Field and Stream and Sports Illustrated.
  But on that hike I came to know George Ostrom the man. A funny and 
engaging gentleman who will not quit until he gets where he is going. 
That spirit is Montana's spirit. An ideal that defines all of us. A 
common bond that all Montanans share.
  Sadly, just a few days later, one of our group, Roger Dokken, fell to 
his death while hiking a different trail. Because of our time together, 
he was my friend--automatically. No politics, no agenda. Just two 
people doing together what they enjoy.
  Through the triumphs and tragedies of life, George and his Over the 
Hill gang continue to hike on. They continue to embody what is good, 
what is right about Montana.
  So Mr. President, as George and his family celebrate his 70th 
birthday, I send my congratulations confident that George Ostrum is 
still well shy of being over the hill.

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