Staples gets UM's community service award
Pub Date: 10/1/2008
At the University of Montana Homecoming in Missoula September 20, Mark Staples, known to Montana Tavern Times readers as the Montana Tavern Association's government affairs counsel, was given by U of M President George Dennison the UM s 2008 Community Service Award, on the field at Washington Grizzly Stadium in front of the largest crowd (nearly 26,000) in Montana history.
Staples was selected for the honor by the President s office, the Alumni Association and the Grizzly Athletic Foundation. He was cited in a UM press release as follows:
Mark Staples, an attorney from Helena and 1971 UM grad, has used his talents in music, writing, comedy and emceeing state-wide for over three decades to raise funds for civic and charitable causes. In Butte, he wrote the "Our Lady of the Rockies Hymn" and the "Mining City Christmas" theme, and donated both pieces to the community for its continued use.
He's also raised over $125,000 for Butte causes with his sold out "Mining City Christmas" shows over the last 25 years.
In Conrad, while he was the Deputy County Attorney there, with his benefit shows he helped successful efforts to remodel the Pondera County Courthouse, build the city pool, and add a new wing to the library.
He also took a trio he formed, "The Conrad Corral," to headline at the State Fair, and as a soloist he won the state and regional finals of the "Wrangler Country Talent Search" for local radio station KSEN, then finished third in the national finals on the stage of the Grand Ol' Opry.
In Missoula and for U of M, he conceived and wrote lyrics and music for the full length musical "Harvest" for the Montana Repertory Professional Theatre Company, to which he donated it. He has emceed and entertained for countless UM and Missoula civic events and fundraisers, served on both the School of Fine Arts Advisory Board and the President's Advisory Council, and has been nominated to serve in the House of Delegates of the Alumni Association.
His song, "When Montana Sings," written for the UM musical "Harvest," served as Montana's tourism campaign theme for seven years and is the most awarded tourism campaign in the state's history.
He has emceed and entertained for civic causes in nearly every city in Montana for over a quarter century and he's been a goodwill ambassador for Montana out of the state as well, performing his music and comedy shows nationwide.
When contacted by the Tavern Times about the award, Staples said, I was very touched by the award because Montana means so much to me, but even more surprised that my alma mater had been paying so much attention to what I ve been up to. If I d known they were watching I d have behaved much better.
"My family and I rode in a convertible in the Homecoming Parade, which in Missoula is huge. We were right behind the (UM) President and Mrs. Dennison, then the Mayor, then us...
"I was feeling sort of proud and I said to my 10-year-old daughter, What do you think of all these people clapping for us as we go by?
"She said, 'Dad, they couldn t care less about us'; it s the Mustang convertible!'
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, October, 2008, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.