The McManus legend lives on

He was at least among the top two “outdoor humor writers” I have ever read. Patrick F. McManus died this month in his native state of Idaho. He grew up in the boondocks, there with his sister, “The Troll.” He taught in a state college, but he became known around the world for his columns in Outdoor Life, other national magazines and the many books that grew from those columns.

I cannot recall details of our becoming friends, but I believe it happened when he came to a large book signing in Kalispell in the late 1960s. Somehow, he knew about the Hungry Horse News and, luckily, my column. He and his wife invited Iris and I out for a fine steak dinner at the Outlaw Inn and that became a regular thing over the years.

Come one of the days when it was our turn to buy and we agreed to meet at 5 p.m. where they were staying at the Outlaw. Oh! Oh! Problems arose when work came out I was scheduled to appear on the evening news with Dan Rather and Connie Chung. I’d been interviewed earlier at the local cemetery by a CBS correspondent on the subject of mounting U.S. war casualties. I called Patrick and suggested he and his wife come up to our house for a cocktail and we’d go eat after the news.

During the news, right after my appearance, there was an advertising break. That’s when the McManus humor came out. He took a sip of his scotch, paused, then said with great feeling, “This is truly a memorable night for Americans everywhere. George Ostrom and Preparation-H together on the CBS Evening News.”

The world will never forget Pat McManus. It has his books.

Thankfully, I have that little extra.

G. George Ostrom is an award winning columnist from Kalispell.