Many of us who love our region consider Wallace Stegner our most perceptive and insightful observer and constructive critic. He chastised a political economy and culture that fostered “boomers,” folks who high-graded, exploited, then bailed out. He admonished us to create a society worthy of our scenery and urged us to foster “nesters,” individuals who didn’t exploit our resources and leave, but rather settled down and built communities. I’m confident Stegner would revere Montana’s Volney Steele, MD.

Volney is a modern pioneer nester. He brought high human capital and conscience to our region. For the past 45 years, he has contributed to our community in medicine, education, history, compassion, and conservation.

We all know Bozeman is a magnet for highly successful folks. These individuals have excelled in various demanding arenas and now, having obtained success, settle here. And it’s no wonder. Our area has a near perfect conjunction of attributes: great scenery, splendid outdoor activities, a thriving university, excellent air service, a vibrant community, and medical services far beyond any reasonable expectations for a town our size.

But it wasn’t always so blessed. When I arrived as a young man in the mid ’60s, shortly after Volney’s arrival, I found a rather provincial place with high potential. Some of us lament what we’ve lost, and the losses are real, but on net this is a far better place. For this we owe some very special, community-oriented individuals. Join me in celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of Volney Steele, MD, a citizen who excels on many dimensions.

Vol was prescient, well ahead of the curve -- and we are lucky he was. He is precisely the individual who improves a community on many measures. His work and his play have helped make this place so attractive. Here is a brief overview of Vol’s good works -- but I only skim his contributions. He deserves a biography to memorialize a life devoted to competence, community, conservation, and compassion. He is a role model whose life merits emulation. Such folks warrant special recognition.

Vol grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and joined the US Navy V-12 medical program in 1942. He earned his MD in 1944 and served in Cuba, Greece, and Italy until ’48. He then returned to teach at the University of Arkansas Medical School’s Dept. of Pathology. Then back to the Navy, to the Panama Canal Zone, to Cornell’s Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and on to Chicago for certification in surgical pathology. And then, at last, he came to Bozeman to found the Physician’s Laboratory Services in 1959.

Volney led this organization for 27 years and dramatically upgraded patients’ medical safety. (I understand that when he arrived our hospital would have ranked highly -- but only by Third World standards.)

This is obviously a noble career, but we are blessed with lots of good docs. What’s so special about Vol? In addition to his medical competence he has made generous contributions to community, conservation, and scholarly history. I’ll mention one that is suggestive of Vol’s good works.

Eagle Mount epitomizes success in its work with handicapped and ill people. (See my June 25, 2003, column on www.free-eco.org for an account of Eagle Mount.) Perhaps its toughest challenge is Camp Brave Heart, its annual program for children stricken with cancer. These kids, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, come to Bozeman to experience outdoor activities, camping, river rafting, and fishing. I applauded it and contributed to it. Thanks to Volney, I now know they love it.

Did I really want to be with ten-year-olds, many of whom I knew wouldn’t live to eleven? No, not really. I’d rather just send another check. But Volney knew Ramona and I have a nice spring creek and a series of ponds, some wheelchair accessible. He gently but persistently convinced me of my duty to these kids. And yes, thanks to Vol and the guides he recruited, now all the kids catch a trout on our place.

Dr. Volney Steele sees children’s sufferings, understands their pathologies, and he acts to ameliorate their pains though outdoor experiences. Adults, like children, can benefit from role models. Vol is mine.