Nine to be inducted into new Stevensville Hall of Fame

Steve Lewis, a 5th grade teacher at Stevensville Schools, has been working on the Stevensville Hall of Fame project for the past year, and the first nine people chosen for the honor will be inducted at a holiday gala on December 3rd (see accompanying story).

Lewis came up with the idea after attending a coaches clinic in Great Falls about 10 years ago, where he heard about this type of program. He talked to a couple of Stevensville’s previous superintendents about the idea, but said they “couldn’t come up with a good space to highlight these people. With the new building, there is now a place to do this.”

Lewis and his committee started working on the project, and the public was asked to submit nominees. Committee members are Debbie Severson, Vickie Vernon, George Wasser, Terry Rosen, Mike Mickelson, Eric Larson, Principal, and Brian Gum, Athletic Director.

He said nominees have to be connected to the school in some way, either through mentoring, coaching, volunteering, or as a graduate of the school who went on to do remarkable things. 

“We’ve tried to stick with the graduates but also those who have contributed to the school over the years through extracurricular activities,” said Lewis. “We also look at people who have had extraordinary careers afterward.”

Lewis said some of the inductees were nominated by several people. “It’s not just athletics,” said Lewis, “it’s other things people have given back. Also academics, and what they’ve done after high school.” 

He said that, interestingly, all the athletic nominees turned out to be academic achievers, too, “well rounded people.” 

“It’s been a lot of work during the past year,” said Lewis, “but I think it’s going to be a great way to infuse some pride in the school and community.” 

Lewis has a personal interest in seeing these people get the recognition they deserve. He was raised in Stevensville and is a graduate of Stevensville High School. He has been teaching at Stevensville Elementary for 22 years. Both his grandmothers, as well as his parents, Linda and Frank Lewis, all attended Stevensville Schools. 

In fact, Steve’s mom had the yearbook from the year that Lee Metcalf was a senior at SHS. Lewis is hoping to have the yearbook as well as some other memorabilia on display at the gala.

Once the first group has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, Lewis said they are hoping to have the inductees’ photos displayed in the entrance to the high school.

“We’re hoping to get excitement and pride back in the school,” he said.

Following are the 2022 Inductees.

Lee Metcalf (posthumous)

The late Lee Metcalf graduated from Stevensville High School in 1928. He served as Class President for 3 years, “S” club annual staff 4 years, Debate 2 years, St. Mary’s staff 4 years, Honor Society Representative 3 years, Football and Basketball player, Captain of Football team senior year (undefeated team winning the county championship.) Valedictorian 1928.

Metcalf practiced law in Stevensville and was elected as a Democrat to the Montana House of Representatives for Ravalli County. He served as Attorney General of Montana 1937-1941. He served as an associate justice on the Montana Supreme Court. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served 1952-1960. He introduced health care to elderly 10 years prior to Medicare. He was nicknamed “Mr. Education” for sponsoring a comprehensive bill for federal aid to education. Metcalf was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1960 and served until his death in 1978. He is regarded as “a pioneer in the conservation movement” and helped pass the 1964 Wilderness Act. Metcalf died in 1978. In 1983, by act of Congress, the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge near Stevensville was created in his honor.

John Munk  

John (Mr. Munk), is a lifelong supporter of Stevensville Schools in many different roles. John worked at Stevensville Schools from 1964-1998. While at Stevensville, John taught American and World History, Health and P.E. He was also an Assistant Principal and Athletic Director for many years. He also coached wrestling (started the program), track, and football. He is one of the founders of the Stevensville Booster Club and was instrumental in the purchase of land for the football and track complex. He helped in raising funds for building a high school weight room that is named in his honor, “Munk’s Cave.” He was a Driver’s Ed Instructor for 50 years at Stevensville Schools, and an Adult Education Instructor for 15 years. He has been honored as “Citizen of the Year” by the Stevensville Civic Club. John and his wife Molly raised their family in Stevensville and currently call Stevensville their home.  

Kristy (Langton) Schlimgen

Kristy Langton Schlimgen is a 1990 Stevensville graduate. She earned All State honors in golf, volleyball, and basketball.  The volleyball and basketball teams that she was a part of advanced to state tournaments numerous times. She placed 2nd at state in golf. She continued to play basketball and golf at the University of Montana. At the U of M, she earned All Big Sky in the 93-95 seasons, Team MVP in 1995, and was nominated Most Inspirational. Teams won Big Sky Championships in 1991,1993,1994. She coached and taught at Stevensville and other schools in the valley. She has officiated MOA and college level while working many higher level tournaments at both levels. Kristy currently lives in the valley with her husband and has two sons.

Joe Cummings

Joe Cummings is a 1992 Stevensville graduate. He was an All State selection in basketball and football and helped lead his teams to the State Championship games in football and basketball his senior year. He was Academic All State in three sports for each season. He attended the University of Wyoming on athletic and academic scholarships where he started on the football team for four years. Played in the NFL, NFL Europe, and XFL. His longest stint was with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL.   he founded and operates a successful fly-fishing business with his wife and four children near Missoula.

Sean Goicoechea  

Sean Goicoechea is a 1992 Stevensville graduate. This student athlete helped lead both football and basketball teams to State Championship games his senior year and was All State in football as well as Academic All State three years in football and basketball. After high school, he accepted a scholarship to play football at the University of Montana. He was a full-time starter for two years and helped lead the Grizzlies to a National Championship in 1995 and back to the title game in 1996. After graduation, he attended Law School at U of M and practices law in Kalispell, where he lives with his wife Amy and their three children.

Nathan Paul

Nathan Paul is a 1994 Stevensville graduate. His accomplishments include four years All State Choir, four years All State Tennis, two years All State Basketball and one year All State Football. He was the 1994 State Tennis Singles Champion, 1993 3rd place finisher in State Tennis Doubles, 1992 2nd place finisher in State Tennis Doubles, 1991 2nd place finisher in State Tennis Doubles, and a member of the 1992 Divisional and State Tennis Championship team. He works and lives in Missoula with a wife, child, and grandchild.

Mark Gallik 

Mark Gallik is a 2000 Stevensville graduate. He was a multiple-sport athlete while at Stevensville High School and helped lead his teams to playoff games in football and two State Championship games in basketball. After high school, he accepted a scholarship to play football at Carroll College. While at Carroll, he helped lead them to two NAIA National Championships and one more title as an assistant coach. Mark holds numerous receiving records at Carroll and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2013. Mark, his wife Lacy and their family now reside in Bismarck, North Dakota.  

Coralynn (Jones) Revis

Coralynn Jones Revis is a 2002 Stevensville graduate. She earned many achievements at Stevensville High School, especially in the science field. Her Team Project with Nora Hanson received 2nd place at the Montana State Science Fair, earning her the right to attend Intel’s ISEF in Detroit, MI. She presented at Intermountain Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Salt Lake City and also in Orlando. She had a 1st place finish at the Montana State Science Fair-Team Project and earned the right to attend Intel’s ISEF in San Jose, CA.  She took 2nd place in the Montana Jr. Academy of Science competition. After high school, Coralynn graduated with high honors in engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. She also played soccer for four years at the NCAA Division III level and was elected team captain. Coralynn now lives in Missoula where she continues her work on water quality and raising a family.

Nora Hanson

Nora Hanson is a 2002 graduate. She had many achievements at SHS, especially in the science field. Her Team Project with Coralynn Jones received 2nd place at the Montana State Science Fair, earning her the right to attend Intel’s ISEF in Detroit, MI.Presented at Intermountain Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Salt Lake City and also in Orlando. She had a 1st place finish at the Montana State Science Fair-Team Project, earning the right to attend Intel’s ISEF in San Jose, CA. She took 2nd place in the Montana Jr. Academy of Science competition. After her junior year of high school at Stevensville, Nora was accepted to the prestigious United World College of the Far West where she earned her International Baccalaureate degree. She then enrolled in Saint Andrews University of Scotland where she earned her bachelor’s and Doctorate degrees in Environmental Biology. Nora lives and works in Scotland where she continues her work on water quality and raising her family.