The fifth class to be inducted into the Montana Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019 was officially announced on September 1, 2018.
The illustrious nine-person group, who were vetted as part of the unveiling of the organization’s permanent display at Universal Athletic in Bozeman, will receive official recognition at the banquet March 24, 2019 in Billings.
Honored for a lifetime of contributions will be Sam Jankovich of Butte, who won a pair of state football championships with the Bulldogs before moving into college administration which began in 1972 as an assistant athletic director at Washington State.
He was named the Cougar’s Athletic Director four years later, moving to the same position at the University of Miami in 1983, a job he held until 1990 when he was named the CEO of the New England Patriots.
His career concluded as president and General Manager as the Las Vegas entry in the Arena Football League.
Deceased players recognized are University of Montana running back Terry Dillon, killed in a construction accident after being drafted by Minnesota, and Bill Glennon, a defensive tackle at Washington who was drafted in the 7th round of the 1968 draft by Pittsburg.
Also recognized was Whitefish resident Doug Betters, a member of the Dolphin’s “Killer Bees” and the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Pro in 1983.
He was drafted in the sixth round by Miami in 1978 after playing collegiately at the University of Montana and Nevada.
Betters played in 146 games, was named to the Silver Anniversary team by Dolphin fans and in 2008 was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor.
Also vetted was former Montana State University wide receiver Sam McCullum of Kalispell, a ninth round choice of Minnesota in 1974. He was traded to the Seahawks and played 10 seasons in the NFL.
Also recognized were former Grizzlies Rocky Klever and Guy Bingham, MSU linebacker Corey Widmer and Carroll College tight end Casey Fitzsimmons.
Described in the pros as a four-tool player, Klever also played multiple positions at UM before being drafted the by the Jets in 1982 . He played his entire five year career (65 games) with New York.
Linebacker Widmer played his entire eight-year pro career with the Giants after being drafted in the seventh round of the 1972 draft after his career at his hometown school Montana State University.
Bingham, an offensive center from UM, played 13 professional seasons, after being drafted by the Jets in the 10th round in 1980. He played eight seasons in New York, three in Atlanta and finished his career with the Redskins.
Fitzsimmons rose from an eight-man team in Chester, MT, to an outstanding career for Carroll College where he was a four-year All-Conference performer and All American in 2000 and 2001.
Un-drafted, Fitz signed with Detroit as a free agent in 2003 and played six seasons catching 88 passes.
By Mick Holien