Rugg first Mineral County resident inducted into Cowboy Hall of Fame

By MONTE TURNER

Mineral Independent

His grandfather was a world-champion bucking bronc rodeo rider that competed at Madison Square Garden in New York City and a cowboy performer in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

His father was in partnership with the Robert Sehall Rodeo Stock Company, and his mother grew up on the Hoppel family ranch near Filer, Idaho, with one of her most treasured memories of sitting on Buffalo Bill's horse when she was a little girl.

He comes from strong genes and his destiny was to be involved with livestock even if he hadn’t wanted it to be.

Raymond Paul “Ray” Rugg, Jr. was born July 21, 1944 in Missoula, Montana and not all that long from being out of the crib, he would assist his father training horses.

In 1956, at the age of 12, Ray single-handedly packed his first hunting party into the mountains. From age 10 to 14, Ray was a volunteer for the U.S. Forest Service along the Idaho-Montana border in the Great Burn and once a week, he’d ride the 30-mile loop checking on horses owned and managed by the Forest Service.

At age 16, he packed for the USFS Nine Mile Ranger District and was involved in their mule breeding unit where they had over 1,500 head along with 35 packers at the peak of the operation.

Ray attended Arlee High School and continued to guide throughout those years and kept this up while attending the University of Montana in Missoula.

In 1966, Ray married Barbara Susan Townsley. Their first son, Keith, was born in 1968 and Ray was deployed to Vietnam immediately thereafter where he served as captain and a pilot, flying Huey helicopters with the 191st Assault Division.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Bronze Star for gallantry and was honorably discharged in 1970 where he returned to the Big Sky Country and purchased land at the foot of the Mission Mountains on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

From 1970 to 1995, Ray and Barbara raised three additional sons: Kevin, Kory and Kipley - all born in St. Ignatius.

Ray took his outfitter's exam in the spring of 1975 and established his own professional outfitting and guiding business while he continued to breed, raise and train his own horses and run a cow-calf operation.

It was in 1994 that he sold the ranch and moved to Superior, where he kept his outfitting license and maintained a working herd of 70-80 head of horses. He has increased his participation in organizations which encourage responsible management of wilderness and wildlife and he started a local chapter for the Mule Deer Foundation.

Ray, who is now 75, is not showing any sign of slowing down as he actively serves on the Mineral County Search & Rescue Board and puts in a long day training and caring for his horses. He puts up his own hay and provides boarding services for horses while he rents cabins along the Clark Fork River and offers day and weekend horseback rides into the mountains.

Sure sounds like the definition of a cowboy, doesn’t’ it?

Many have felt that about Ray but it was John Hopkins, who until recently lived up Deep Creek and was a neighbor to the Rugg family, that went a step further and entered Ray Rugg’s name into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage to be considered as an inductee.

Hopkins did this on the sly by getting information from the boys and other friends of Rugg’s but a couple questions could only be answered by Ray so the surprise was busted.

If you’re unfamiliar with the organization their mission is “To honor our cowboy way of life, American Indian cultures and collective Montana Western heritage."

Founded in 2003 and designated by Montana State Legislature as a nonprofit organization, they preserve and pass forward the cowboy way of life and to be the state’s premier destination attraction that celebrates and passes forward Montana’s unique western culture and heritage.

Ray didn’t want all of the fuss over him but did take a look at the qualifications and requirements and said, “Holy cow! They’d never accept me. These guys are big time rodeo stars or have huge cattle operations. There’s no way in hell I’m of that caliber!” but was he ever wrong.

Ray is the first resident of Mineral County to be inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame and if the stars align just right, his boys and their families will be with him in Great Falls Feb. 12-13 for the formal induction.

That is, of course, provided COVID-19 will allow it. But nonetheless, Ray Rugg is in!

His life principles in which he led by example have instilled the “Cowboy Code of Conduct” in all of his sons.

He has lived his life following two very basic principles: find something to do that you love and do it, and if there is a job to be done, get it done. Raymond Paul Rugg has found his greatest pleasure in life; watching his sons and grandchildren honor the western way of life.