Dixon's Hamel, Polson museum headed to Cowboy Hall of Fame

Dixon cowboy Gerald Lee “Jerry” Hamel and the Miracle of America Museum in Polson are among the 14th class of inductees into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame.

The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center announced the newest class in January. Inductees were chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the general public and are honored for their notable contributions to the history and culture of Montana.

The MCHF & WHC board of directors has designated 12 trustee districts across the state from which up to 20 trustees may be appointed. Nomination criteria established by the board for the class of 2022 inductions allowed the election of one Living Inductee and one Legacy Inductee from each of the 12 districts.

Hamel was selected as the Living Inductee for the district that covers Flathead, Lake, Lincoln and Sanders counties. He was born in St. Ignatius in 1935.

At age 13, Hamel joined the Dixon Indian Stockmen’s Association and turned out seven calves that first year on his grazing allotment, according to his Hall of Fame bio. Since that time, he has served as an officer in some capacity and is currently the secretary/treasurer.

In 1972 Jerry felt the need to produce a sanctioned IRCA rodeo in conjunction with the Arlee Pow Wow and Fourth of July Celebration. It was the first all-Indian rodeo held there and was deemed a momentous success. Traffic was backed up on Highway 93 all the way to “Dirty Corner.” When not on the rodeo trail he also hosted team roping events at the family ranch.

From his first calf roping championship in St. Ignatius hosted by the FFA, to the broken arm earned while bareback riding at the state high school rodeo in Deer Lodge, traveling to the Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association (IRCA) rodeos in the western United States and Canada, to the steer wrestling championship at the Canadian Old Timers Rodeo Association in 1990 and the National Old Timers Rodeo Association qualifications in ‘90 and 1991, Jerry has been involved in rodeo.

The Miracle of America Museum was selected as the local district’s Legacy Inductee. The 5-acre museum is loaded with building after building of American machinery and memorabilia, including items significant to Montana’s rodeo history.

Gil Mangels founded the museum in 1985, and he still manages the site with his wife, Helen.

The museum hosted more than 17,300 people in 2021 by early October, including visitors from 35 other countries.

“The Hall of Fame exists to honor those who have made an impact in their part of the state and represent Montana’s authentic heritage for future generations,” said Bill Galt, MCHF & WHC president. “Our volunteer trustees around Montana vote on nominations that come from the district in which they reside. This process gives the local communities a strong voice in who will represent them in the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame.”

Inductees will be honored at the MCHF Annual Induction Ceremony & Western Heritage Gathering on April 9 in Great Falls. For more information on the ceremony and past and present inductees, visit www.MontanaCowboyFame.org.