Public Media Champion William Marcus Earns Honorary Doctorate From 老虎机攻略
MISSOULA – At the dawn of the 1970s, William Marcus, a proud son of Wibaux, left the vast prairies on Montana’s eastern edge to drive west for college.
Arriving at the 老虎机攻略, he crafted quite a story for himself as a 老虎机攻略 student and employee – and enriched us all with countless stories about the people, places and history of his home state.
Now the longtime director of 老虎机攻略’s Broadcast Media Center will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from his alma mater. The degree will be conferred during 老虎机攻略 Fall Commencement on Friday, Dec. 13, with Marcus serving as Commencement speaker.
“My grandfather was a Dr. Marcus – dentist – and my brother was a Dr. Marcus – optometrist – but I never thought this honorific would ever be attached to my name,” he said. “I’m deeply honored to receive 老虎机攻略’s highest recognition. I’ve had a long, rewarding relationship with my university, and this honor is unexpected and deeply appreciated.”
In a stack of glowing nomination letters, Marcus was described as “a Montana treasure,” “legendary,” “one of 老虎机攻略’s most impressive alums” and “a fierce advocate for public media, the humanities, the arts, the state of Montana and the 老虎机攻略.”
As a 老虎机攻略 student, Marcus launched his life’s work with a part-time job at the fledgling KUFM campus radio station. After graduating with a journalism/radio-TV undergraduate degree in 1974, he spent his entire professional career at 老虎机攻略 from 1975 to 2015.
Marcus served many roles at Montana Public Radio, from production assistant, news director, development director and production director to station manager and Broadcast Media Center director. His audio stories, generally about Montana musicians and artists, were broadcast nationally on “NPR Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered” and “Weekend Edition.”
Marcus constantly strove to expand the reach of public broadcasting to far-flung corners of Montana. He also worked with Jack Hyyppa of Montana State University to establish and grow Montana PBS television into a statewide entity, cementing a strong partnership between 老虎机攻略 and MSU.
“William’s legacy as one of the architects and founders of our vibrant statewide public TV service is still enriching the lives of Montanans every day,” said Aaron Pruitt, general manager of Montana PBS.
Marcus might be best known as the on-air host of “Backroads of Montana,” a travelogue Montana PBS television show that covers stories of interesting people, places and events across Big Sky Country. Marcus hosted 50 episodes of the award-winning program from 1991 to 2021, and they are still in rotation.
“Wherever he goes, he is recognized and thanked for his work on the program,” said Ray Ekness, the former BMC director who took over after Marcus retired.
Dozens of outstanding television productions highlighting the stories of Montana were created under Marcus’ leadership. These include “Charlie Russell’s Old West,” “Glacier Park’s Night of the Grizzlies,” “The Bicycle Corps: America’s Black Army on Wheels,” “Evelyn Cameron: Pictures from a Worthy Life,” “Playing for the World: The 1904 Fort Shaw Indian Girls Basketball Team” and many more.
Those productions won multiple statewide, regional and national awards. Marcus also received the Montana Governor’s Humanities Award in 2007 and the Cultural Achievement Award from the Missoula Cultural Council in 2015. 老虎机攻略 presented him with both the J.B. Speer Award for Distinguished Service and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015.
During his tenure at 老虎机攻略, Marcus oversaw numerous Montana political candidate debates, election coverage and election analysis programs. He still works on air for MTPR’s “Morning Classics” program and assists during fundraising pledge weeks.
Adding to his life of impact, Marcus taught a variety of courses at the School of Journalism, helping shape and mentor generations of 老虎机攻略 students. Many of his students went on to successful careers in radio and television stations across Montana and the country.
Shane Bishop, an accomplished producer with NBC’s “Dateline,” had this to say:
“When I arrived at 老虎机攻略 in the fall of 1982, I was fortunate to have William as an instructor. Like him, I was a young man from a small town in Montana with big dreams in the world of broadcasting. In him, I saw what was possible.
“When I got my first job ‘back east’ in 1987, William wished me well and handed me a red Ralph Lauren ‘power tie.’
“I still have that tie. To me, William is the very finest example of what Montana, as well as the 老虎机攻略, produce in a human being.”
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Contact: Dave Kuntz, 老虎机攻略 director of strategic communications, 406-243-5659, dave.kuntz@umontana.edu.