Old Missoula

Instant recall by John T. Campbell – French Connection

The past weekend was a little extraordinary in that it produced the usual volley of flying footballs but did find a bizarre and unprecedented episode to muddle the huddle.

This writer unceremoniously and unofficially joined the Missoulian sports staff for this particular column because, as told to Daryl Gadbow, “I’ve got a French connection.”

From the tumultuous proceedings in Great Falls there emerged a name in the drama that brought on a strange twist of irony and evoked memories of another incident that took place here in Missoula some 55 years ago. When the Great Falls school board summoned Cascade county attorney Fred Bourdeau, it rang bells of yesteryear.

Fred Bourdeau is a member of a pioneer and prominent Missoula family, one of five children reared by the Lee Bourdeaus. An uncle, Dr. C. L. Bourdeau, was a well-known physician. But the real link with the past is forged by Fred’s brother, Emory.

Emory Bourdeau was a member of the Missoula County High School squad under Coach Guy Stegner, back in 1926. The club had qualified for a berth in the state title contest, but just prior to the Turkey Day tussle Bourdeau and two teammates, Frog Lemmieux and Tony Dolum, were ruled ineligible. It was said they were too old for scholastic play. And so, with three starters missing, Missoula lost the title fray 39 – 19 to Havre’s Blue Ponies and a certain Crawford who ran wild in Butte’s Clark Park.

There was no bug (sic) fuss over the disqualification, the school took it calmly and bravely, the parents didn’t take the verdict to court in protest.

The pill was bitter to swallow, though, because it was just a few years before that Missoula basked in the state limelight through the skill of Bill Kelly, Chief Illman and Co.

But back to the Bourdeaus and another interesting part of the past. In that Missoula family were two sisters, and one of them, Lucille, became the mother of the late Lou Rochleleau, that flamboyant French warrior who wrote indelible history as a basketball and track coach for 16 years at Missoula High. The second and younger sister, Dee Dee, later married Joe Mudd of Missoula, now an attorney in Great Falls. A son, Jack, heads the University of Montana Law School.

Missoula had known a myriad of French families in history relating to both Hellgate and Grass Valley. Gene Cote, from another well-known local family, supplied some of the above details. He added that an uncle to the Bourdeau kids was Dr. C. H. LaPorte. He was a sparrowlike little man, a dentist who loved football games and his friends, French or otherwise.

And while on the topic of family ties today, you must know about Cecil Musburger of Big Timber, and Leo Musburger of Missoula. They are brothers, and Leo is a retired school teacher who served the Bonner grade school for 22 years. “Best community and finest people in the world,” he has said.

Cecil Musburger, who attended the University here and worked at the Mercantile in the early 30s, is the father of Brent Musburger, the handsome, articulate sports reporter for CBS television. When Brent mentions Montana or Big Timber, which is often, he breaks into a wide grin. An older brother, Todd, was instrumental in the fabulous contract involving Magic Johnson.

We have mentioned to both Papa Cecil and to Uncle Leo that it would be splendid if Brent could find his way back to his home state next spring – and stop in Missoula to be a speaker for the annual Ray Rocene sports banquet. And to interview Naseby Rhinehart, who retires officially in May. What a story, what a saga.

The above article appeared in The Missoulian on November 10, 1981.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/350192857/

Notice of this column came by way of a Missoulian clipping – see LaPort clippings – thanks.