Joey Malsam Will Be Inducted into Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame
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The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame (MCHF) and Western Heritage Center (WHC) recently announced the eleventh class of inductions into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame, and Chinook resident Joseph Louis "Joey" Malsam is among the class members. Malsam will be honored in an induction ceremony in Great Falls on Saturday, February 9.
The inductees, who were chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the general public, will be honored for their notable contributions to the history and culture of Montana during the Western Heritage Gathering held at the Best Western Heritage Inn. The honoring will take place from 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. during an
Inductee Recognition Ceremony Brunch that will celebrate the lasting legacies of the inductees to the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Class of 2018.
About the award, Malsam was humble and not willing to get too excited, but his wife Darlene said, "I remember when we lived on the Brinkman place and we'd drive by the Flynn Ranch. I would say to Joey, 'My lottery would be to own the Flynn Ranch.' Who knew that that dream would come to pass for us? But here we are. In building the ranch, we put in many long, hard hours so that we could live the life we wanted and so that our children could develop a work ethic. It has been a good life mostly."
Joey, who will celebrate his 81st birthday in February, was nominated for the award by fellow rancher and Chinook resident, Doug Mitchell. According to MCHF and WHC president, Bill Galt from White Sulphur Springs, "Volunteer trustees around Montana vote on nominations that come from the district in which they reside. This process gives the local communities a strong voice in who will represent them in the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame."
An unlimited number of nominations may be submitted from each of the twelve MCHF districts. Blaine, Choteau, Hill and Liberty counties comprise District 4. Nomination criteria established by the board for the Class of 2018 inductions allowed the election of one Living Inductee and one Legacy Inductee from each of the twelve districts. In District 4, Malsam will receive the Living Award, and the Legacy Award winner is Marion Laureen (Kearful) Vercruyssen, formerly of Chinook.
Each nomination is required to include a biography, which is reviewed by the nominee. Malsam's biography was submitted with Mitchell's nomination:
Joseph Louis "Joey" Malsam was born February 25, 1938 to Joe and Mary (Marsden) Malsam in Havre, Montana. He spent his childhood living on the family ranch north of Havre near the Air Force Station and Canadian border. From first through third grade, he attended St. Jude's Catholic School in Havre. His fourth through eighth grade years were spent at the Miller and Cottonwood Schools near his home. He completed high school at Havre Central High School, where he also played basketball.
From the time Joey could walk, he was out helping his dad with chores. Being the oldest of five boys, he had the responsibilities of showing his little brothers how things were to be done around the place. Joey helped feed approximately 100 head of cattle with a team of horses. For entertainment, his brothers, friends, and he would pull each other around on skis by horseback or go riding, and when his father wasn't looking, they would jump on the back of an unsuspecting cow to see who could ride the longest. These wild rides and dare-devil stunts helped to groom Joey for a rodeo career.
Joey entered his first rodeo at Chuckwagon Days in Harlem when he was in eighth or ninth grade and was soon hooked. In 1962, he became a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and developed his rodeo career by excelling in bareback and saddle bronc. His first prize money came at a rodeo in Elkwater, Canada, where he won $72. That was the start of his savings to later put towards a ranch of his own. Some weekends he'd win up to or more than $500, all adding to his ranch funds. When he wasn't on the road competing, he was working at the local grain elevator in Havre to also accumulate funds for his dream of someday owning his own ranch.
On June 22, 1963, Joey married Darlene Jenkins. After travelling the rodeo circuit for a few years, in 1966 they bought the Del Brinkman ranch approximately seven miles east of Chinook in the Milk River Valley. By that time, Joey had saved about $20,000 from his winnings and paychecks for that long awaited down payment.
The first ranch came with about 200 head of cattle and the machinery needed for haying and farming. Joey's parents gave the young couple twelve head of Black Angus cattle as a start-up gift.
As time went on and with expansion in mind, Darlene and Joey bought Helen Brown's ranch and feedlot in 1976 up the Bagen Road northeast of Chinook. In 1978, they sold the ranch in the Milk River Valley to buy Chauncy Flynn's half of the Flynn Ranch. That same year, the couple leased Chauncy's brother Floyd's half. In 1982, Joey bought Floyd out and has ranched and farmed there ever since.
Although Joey has handed the reins for the ranch operation over to his sons, Todd and Tim, so that he can enjoy some long awaited and well-deserved vacation time, he and Darlene still help when needed.
When asked why Joey gave up the rodeo life in his prime, he replied: "You can only do one thing at a time and do it well." So, Joey Malsam chose ranching, as that was his true passion in life and the best way he knew to take care of his family. Joey is a caring man and has always lent a helping hand to anyone in need. Time spent in the rodeo arena and living the ranching lifestyle has slowed him down over the years, but he is still one of the last remaining genuine cowboys of his time.
The Hall of Fame exists to honor people like Malsam who have made an impact in their part of the state and who represent the spirit of Montana's grassroots cultural heritage.
According to MCHF & WHC Executive Director, Christy Stensland, the Hall of Fame Inductee Recognition Ceremony is the WCH's hallmark event of the year. "This special occasion allows us to gather to express our gratitude for the notable and honorable contributions made by our 2018 Class of Inductees. This ceremony is held as a special brunch event that sells-out well in advance, so register early to reserve your seat at this celebration," she said.
Following the Inductee Recognition Ceremony, the MCHF & WHC will hold its Annual Meeting and Trustees' Gathering.
An event registration form can be found online and downloaded from http://montanacowboyfame.org/index.html. Interested individuals can also register by calling (406) 650-7460 or by emailing Christy@montanacowboyfame.org. Cost for the event is $30.00 per adult, while children twelve and under can attend for $10.
Festivities will continue into the evening with the Cowboy Ball and Benefit Auction, which will take place Saturday evening, kicking off at 7:00 p.m. This event will feature a Chuckwagon Buffet dinner and live Western music by Big Sky Country. A silent and live auction will feature unique Western items. Tickets to the Cowboy Ball are $75 per person or $570 for an eight-person table.
Hotel rooms for the Gathering can be reserved at the Best Western Heritage Inn by calling (406) 761-1900. The room block expires January 23, 2019.
Anyone wishing to submit a nomination for the 2019 Class of Inductees to the MCHF is encouraged to contact the MCHF & WHC by emailing Stensland (christy@montanacowboyfame.org) or by calling the Field Office at (406) 653-3800 well in advance of the submission deadline, May 31, 2019, to express an intent to nominate.
Founded in 2003 and designated by Montana State Legislature, the MCHF & WHC is a nonprofit organization that works to fulfill its mission: "To cherish and pass forward the cowboy way of life, American Indian cultures, and our collective Montana heritage for generations to come." The MCHF & WHC organization exists to serve as a resource to all who wish to see this way of life passed forward to the next generation.
