Larry Kline
Havre Daily News
lkline@havredailynews.com
The fifth annual Legends for Lights Pheasant Jamboree is set to begin today, and Havreites will have a chance to meet the 20 former professional athletes who have signed on to help raise thousands of dollars for Montana State University-Northern athletics this weekend.
The participants include former University of Montana and Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Doug Betters; former UM offensive tackle Kirk Scrafford, who played for the Bengals, Broncos and 49ers; Tom Lysiak, who was the NHL's Rookie of the Year in 1974 and played for the Flames and Blackhawks; and Dave Kingman, who hit 442 home runs and knocked in 1,210 runs for seven ball clubs over a 17-year career.
The pheasant shoot will take the five-person teams all over northern Montana, event organizer Mike Tilleman said. The owner of Tilleman Motor Co. is a former pro football player himself, having played for the Vikings, Falcons, Oilers and Saints.
Area businesses participate in the fundraiser by donating money and forming four-person teams to hunt alongside the former players, Tilleman said.
The weekend begins tonight with a welcome event sponsored by Jim Beam and Pepsi for the participants.
On Friday, there will be a trap shoot at the Havre Trap Club at noon. The event is open to the public. Spectators get in free, while people who want to shoot can pay between $15 and $40.
On Saturday, Havreites will have another chance to mingle with the Legends at a community barbecue sponsored by BNSF Railway, held at the Hill County Fairgrounds community building. The cost is $5 per person and $15 for families. Tickets will be sold at the door only. The first 150 people to show up will receive a football to be autographed, Tilleman said.
Tilleman and fellow event organizer Robin Toner said the fundraiser would not be possible without help from the community.
”We'd like to thank everybody involved,“ Tilleman said. ”It takes a lot of people in the community to make this work.“
Toner said the event couldn't happen without the permission from local landowners.
”Without those people, this thing would be nonexistent,“ he said.
The event's corporate sponsors also include Arctic Cat, Castrol Oil and Independence Bank, Tilleman said.
