Camel, Kipp among the 'magnificent seven' inducted into the first Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame

By Kim Swaney

Malia Kipp being a true champion was modest of being the first Native female and one of the first seven to be inducted into the first Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame. (Kim Swaney photo)

BILLINGS - When Don Wetzel, Sr. graduated from the University of Montana in 1971 he researched the number of Indians playing ball in colleges across Montana. What Wetzel found surprised him. While a number of Indian high schools and high schools with Indian athletes were taking state basketball championships, only a very small number Indian athletes went on to play collegiate basketball. He knew he had to do something to recognize these fine athletes.

Last Friday, December 7, Wetzel's fruition of having a Montana Indian Hall of Fame came to light.

"The state of Montana needs to recognize the rich history of athletics in Montana Indian Country," Wetzel said. "The Hall of Fame will give us an accurate accounting of feats performed by American Indian athletes; not just in basketball, rodeo, track and field, and football - all sports."

Wetzel, who grew up on the Blackfeet Reservation and on a ranch near Cutbank, made makeshift baskets and shot baskets with the family car's headlights on. He by all rights should have been one of the magnificent seven first inductees inducted into the first Montana Indian Hall of Fame. After Wetzel graduated from Cut Bank High School in 1967, he hitchhiked to Missoula with a garbage sack of clothes to attend the University of Montana.

He was the first Native male player to play Division I basketball from Montana. The all-star was chosen Most Valuable Player for the Grizzlies his senior year and was known for his half-hook shooting style. After playing for the UM four years and graduating from there, he spent one year as UM men's assistant basketball coach.

The Montana High School Association's Hall of Fame has honored only three Indians, which include Wetzel, Larry Pretty Weasel and Willie Weeks.

Wetzel began the induction by honoring its two elder - and living - athletes from the Fort Peck Reservation, Phillip Red Eagle, and Louie Longee, both of whose tribal affiliation is Assiniboine-Sioux.

Native athletes in all sport venues, which include rodeo, football, boxing, track and field, were inductees from the Flathead, Blackfeet, and Crow Reservations.

The first Native female to play Division I basketball from Montana and also the first female to be inducted into the Montana Indian HOF, was Blackfeet Native Malia Kipp.

Kipp graduated from Browning in 1992 and went on to play for Robin Selvig's UM Lady Griz. Kipp has four Big Sky Championship rings. She also spent one year as an assistant basketball coach for the Lady Griz and is now an assistant coach for the Lady Bison at Salish Kootenai College.

Kipp and her family were surprised to learn of her nomination and had made plans to attend last Friday's ceremony, but had to unexpectedly cancel plans the day before.

"I think it is such a great honor - I can't believe I was picked first. There are so many others that are great you know, and hopefully they'll all be there some day," said Kipp last Friday.

She lives in Ronan with her partner and also another high school and Griz standout, J.R. Camel. They have two daughters. Kipp has been teaching medical assisting for certified nursing assistants and medical assistants for the last three years at Kicking Horse Job Corps Center.

Charles Camel, KHJCC Center Director, was equally thrilled for Kipp and also for his brother, Marvin.

Marvin Camel, who is a Pend d'Oreille Native from the Flathead Reservation and who now lives in Florida, was the very first champion for the World Boxing Council and the International Boxing Federation's Cruiserweight division in 1980 and 1983.

It was 28 years ago on December 8, in the city of Split, Croatia (former Yugoslavia) that the Pend d'Oreille Indian from the Flathead Reservation made boxing history. It was the World Boxing Council's inaugural Cruiserweight division title fight between Mate Parlov and Camel. The 15-round bout ended in a draw. Camel subsequently claimed the inaugural title in a rematch three months later in Las Vegas.

The other inductees, Phillip Red Eagle, 91, played basketball for three years with Brockton High School from 1933 to 1936, and lost only three games during that time.

Louie Longee, 91, won back-to-back state titles in 1933 and 1934. Longee was unable to attend Friday's event. Longee's granddaughter reportedly attended in his honor.

Sam Horn, a Crow Native, was an all-around athlete during the 1970s for St. Labre in Ashland, playing football, basketball and track. He was an All-American basketball player and went to Montana State University-Eastern.

Larry Pretty Weasel, also a Crow Native, attended Hardin High School in the early 1960s and held the record for points scored in play-off series for years, attributed Wetzel. Pretty Weasel is a MHSA Hall of Famer.

Pete Conway, a Blackfeet Native and an outstanding Browning High School and Eastern Montana College basketball player, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from EMC and a Master's degree in education administration from the University of South Dakota. Conway currently resides in Billings and is the Billings Area Indian Health Service Director.

Tribal communities interested in finding out more about future Montana Indian Hall of Fame nominations may call Wetzel at (406) 534-1223 or if interested in Montana High School Association's Hall of Fame nominations, visit their web site at: www.mhsa.org