Bill and Ramona Holt Bill and Ramona Holt love Longhorns and the Old West by Carol Flaherty When you sit down to talk with Bill, EX '54, and Ramona (Denton) Holt, '54 F&WL, '55 M, you don't have difficulty finding a topic of mutual interest. To cover their primary businesses and hobbies, you might talk about Texas Longhorn cattle, fisheries, rodeos, veterinary medicine, history, horse shows, racing, their museum or their work with the Japan Annual Deaf Business Person Exchange, the FFA or the Montana Historical Society. You could even ask about their four children. On any of these topics, as well as many others, they both respond with smiles and enthusiasm; and Bill's commentary comes in a mile-a-minute delivery that prepares you to learn that he is also an auctioneer. Even when you avoid stereotyping the admittedly senior citizens who were at MSU in May for the 50th anniversary of their graduations, the Holts' live-wire energy is a bit of a surprise. Forget a coat in Hannon Hall? Ramona runs back across the lawn to fetch it. Going on the Veterinary Molecular Biology Lab tour? We can fit in an interview while walking to the bus. The Holt Heritage Museum and Holt "H Bar R" ranches in Lolo, Mont., and Alberta, Canada, take up only a fraction of their time. The pair are active with (and sometimes chair) at least 15 regional and statewide societies, foundations, councils and boards. If you pin them down for a moment to talk about the Longhorn's they love, they say it is because the cattle symbolize the Old West. "Longhorn cattle are part of the Old West, and that is what we have always loved and tried to preserve," says Ramona. "We use them for our beef and also sell them for breeding purposes and beef. They are very lean and low in cholesterol." Bill said he and Ramona started with about 40 Hereford heifers on their ranch in Lolo and then were drawn to Longhorns because those that survived after the Conquistadors brought them to America were both beautiful and hardy. Longhorns "have both disease resistance and easy calving," said Bill. "We've never pulled a calf." The Holts also have the distinction of having shipped the first Longhorn cattle to Australia. That was in 1985, and since then the Longhorns "have made a major impact in that area of the world," adds Ramona. While Longhorns have been part of their lives since 1967, they also have close ties to natural history and other wildlife. Ramona graduated in fish biology from MSU and worked at state fish hatcheries in Anaconda and Arlee before starting her own commercial fish hatchery and delivering fish to ponds in eastern Montana. When their four sons came along, she said she and Bill "decided that it was time to just ranch and raise a family." Bill, who served in the Marines then graduated in animal science, started doing veterinary work under a special USDA program right after World War II. Among their string of "incarnations," Bill announced professional rodeo and Ramona was a rodeo secretary, traveling together to rodeos for 30 years. While doing so, they developed a wide collection of Western memorabilia that has served as the core of their Holt Heritage Museum collection. The Holts say they "have always been donors to the MSU alumni program" and "were most impressed with what is happening in the College of Ag." Their 50th reunion on campus in May made them "very proud of the caliber and levels of learning throughout the campus."