Mike Tilleman's Legacy will Live on
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The legendary Mike Tilleman passed away on Friday, September 18, 2020. Known to many near and far as a tremendous athlete and a huge supporter of the communities he's been a part of, his legacy will live on. Tilleman has left his mark especially on the campuses of Montana State University Northern and the University of Montana Grizzlies.
Tilleman was born in Chinook on March 30, 1944 and raised on the family farm in Zurich. He starred for the Sugarbeeters in high school, played three seasons for the Grizzlies and enjoyed an 11-year career in the National Football League (NFL) where he played for the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Oilers, Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints.
Tilleman has been highly recognized for his accomplishments on the football field and has been enshrined in the Grizzly Hall of Fame. In 1967 Mike became an original member of the New Orleans Saints and was later inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame. He, along with a few of his teammates from the '67 team were honored during a home game in the Saints 50th season.
After his professional playing days ended, Mike and his wife Gloria returned to the Hi-line and opened up Tilleman Motors in Havre. Mike and Gloria raised three children, Suzanne, Christopher and Craig and quickly became involved in the community.
Tilleman was a fixture in Missoula as well and was a huge supporter of the Grizzly Athletic Department and was a huge contributor to the Champions Center at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Mike and Gloria are recognized with a meeting room named in their honor at the Center. Tilleman Motors was often the site Grizzly Scholarship Association Tour when they visited the area each spring.
Tilleman, along with the help of his family along the way, helped bring back football to the campus of Montana State University Northern in 1999. His relentless dedication and efforts to raise money and increase awareness and support for the team were matched by no one. He formed the Northern Lights Athletic Scholarship Foundation in the late 90's which has raised millions of dollars for the athletic department
Tilleman created the Legends for Lights Annual Pheasant Hunt where former NFL players came to town to join local hunters and landowners on a pheasant hunt bringing even more awareness and money in. Tillemans commitment to the Hi-line in general has greatly and positively affected the entire region.
Mike and his family were primary factors in getting the new stadium built for the MSU-N Lights football program and was on hand when the school honored the family by naming the new facility 'Tilleman Family Field' in August.
Young athletes for years have looked up to Mike and all he achieved on the field. I myself remember coming across a playing card of his as a member of the Minnesota Vikings back in junior high. The cool thing about that was that he was helping out with junior high football team at the time so I could put a face to the card. His jersey was on display as you entered the gym to watch a basketball of volleyball game in Chinook and all who saw it new that he played in the NFL.
Being a professional athlete from the Hi-line will make you a star to young athletes growing up in any year. There haven't been many to play professionally to call the Hi-line home. Casey Fitzsimmons from Chester, Havre's Marc Mariani have also played in the NFL. Tilleman affected so many by his actions on the field and even more by his contributions off the field. Mike was a strong community minded individual that folks will be speaking of him for generations to come.
