George L. Bousliman, of Helena, died July 28, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 72.
George was born to George and Leona Bousliman, in Williston, ND. The family, including George Jr.’s older brother Charlie, moved to Columbia Falls in 1946, where George Sr. opened a bar. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Mel Ruder once featured George Jr. in a Hungry Horse News column, describing how he used to wow bar patrons with his math skills. Ruder wrote, “When George was seven years old, we’d get him to add, multiply and subtract in his head. At age seven, he was better at math than most adults.”
George took those skills to Columbia Falls High, where he graduated in 1958 after an impressive career in wrestling and an unremarkable one as a 120-pound guard for the football team. He then went to Carroll College, graduating in 1962. After he and his high-school sweetheart Joan were married, the couple headed to Missoula, where George undertook graduate studies in political science.
After George completed his master’s program, they moved to Pierre, SD, where he worked as a researcher for the South Dakota Legislative Council. The family moved to Boise in 1966, when George took a job as assistant director for the Idaho Legislative Council. In 1969, they returned to Montana, when George was named Deputy Director of the Montana Executive Reorganization Program, under the direction of UM Law Professor Duke Crowley.
As Crowley noted at George’s retirement from the State Bar of Montana in 2001, “The UM political science department recommended George, saying, ‘this guy is a hard worker, quiet, goes about things almost silently, and gets results. You should hire him.’ I’m so glad I did.”
George looked at reorganization plans from across the nation and over time, from Depression-era New York to contemporary Georgia. When he didn’t find a template fitting Montana’s circumstances, he devised his own.
After assessing the size and performance of Montana’s state government, George and his team developed a plan to dramatically streamline it, paring 161 agencies down to 19. Bill Groff, who served for nearly 20 years as a senator in the Montana Legislature, including as president of the Montana Senate, said, “I don’t think there’s any initiative in the last 100 years as important for Montana as executive reorganization.”
But for all that George rejected from other states’ plans, he found one lesson quite useful: the way they managed their money. George found that rather than investing the funds it received through taxes and fees, the State of Montana was simply depositing the money in banks, earning a very modest return. So he proposed establishment the Montana Board of Investments. And the results were dramatic. As described in the Board’s most recent annual report:
“Prior to the Board’s assumption of the state’s investment program, state funds were invested by individual state agency staff, usually on a part-time basis. The creation of the Board in 1972 permitted a full-time professional investment staff to invest all state and local government funds…. The unified investment program has grown from a book value of $321 million at year-end 1972 to a book value of $12.91 billion at year-end 2012, an annual average increase of 9.7 percent.”
As Crowley noted, “I learned that in addition to getting an excellent administrator, we had also picked up a financial wizard. If I ever encounter a recording angel who asks what I’ve done to make the world a better place, my answer is simple: I hired George. In the more than 30 years since I’ve done so, everything that has resulted from that decision has been good…and some of it has been marvelous.”
When he finished with Montana executive reorganization, George took a similar job for the State of Washington, where the family moved in 1974. Three years later, Governor Tom Judge asked George to return to Montana to be his budget director. Having worked himself out of a job as the Washington State Productivity Improvement Coordinator, and having determined that he was neither good at nor fond of selling life insurance, George accepted the job, and in 1977 the family moved back to Helena.
Following his service in the Judge Administration, George worked in a variety of jobs, including stockbroker, county commissioner and lobbyist. In 1983, he landed the job that would cap his career: Executive Director of the Montana Bar Association.
When he was hired by the Bar, George wondered whether he was up to the task, as he would be managing an association of attorneys without being one himself. His hiring also roughly coincided with his Parkinson’s diagnosis. But George excelled as Bar director, with accomplishments including establishment of a program to support the provision of legal services for the poor; initiating a health insurance program for more than 1000 attorneys, their staff and family members; and forming, along with the state bars of Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia, the Attorneys Liability Protection Service, the lawyer-owned malpractice carrier. True to his roots as a budgeteer, he did it all while maintaining Bar dues at $100 for his entire 18-year tenure. George would be quick to note that he couldn’t have done it without a loyal and dedicated staff, most notably Betsy Brandborg.
Though he eventually relinquished his official duties, George didn’t check out of public service. Until the very end, he submitted regular letters to the editor at newspapers across the state, sharing his views about the world and how it could be improved. One reader, commenting on a letter George wrote in 2011, said, “Mr. Bousliman (speaks) courageously with clarity, the facts and wisdom. If he were running for president I’d give him my vote.”
George never wanted to be president. But he did want to leave the world a better place than he found it. His loving family and friends agree that on that score, he certainly succeeded. We miss you, George. If there’s life after this one, we hope yours includes successful afternoons fishing; World Series championships for your New York Yankees; and Indian paintbrush along your hiking path.
George is survived by his wife Joan; his daughter Stephanie and her husband Todd; his son Mike and his wife Theresa; his son Pat; grandchildren Samantha, Madeleine, Tom, Megan, Jessica and Braden; great-grandchildren Lenny and Lark; his brother Charlie; and lifelong friends Melvin P. and JoEllen Estenson.
Per George’s request there will be no public services held. Memorials in George’s name are suggested to the Helena Food Share, P.O. Box 943 Helena, Montana 59624 or the Hospice of St. Peter’s Hospital 2475 E. Broadway Street Helena, Montana 59601.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Hugh A. McWhorter says
Sincerest and most heartfelt sympathy to the family.
All things considered I really enjoyed George. I have fond memories of the naming of the Gallery Partnership, his reflections on brokerage management (“hey, here’s a desk now go sell something”) and his “arm of death” challenge to a member of the State Bar to see who could throw a baseball the greatest distance.
Obviously a talented man, having served as State Budget Director, a county commissioner and Executive Director of The State Bar.
Best,
Hugh
Kevin and Margaret Kauska says
Mike and Family – may you find peace in your memories, you are in our prayers.
With deepest sympathy – Kevin and Margaret
Burts Family says
We are very sorry to hear of your family’s loss. Please accept our deepest condolences in this sad time. (Isa. 25:8)
J Johnson says
Dear Family of George Bousliman – Please be comforted by your beautiful memories and by Bible promises at this difficult time. Be assured that it was not a part of the Creator’s purpose that people suffer and die. Everything made by God was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Death was introduced by Adam’s disobedience (Romans 5:12). There will come a time when pain and death will be no more (Revelation 21:4). Faith in Bible promises will ease our pain in the time of this loss. It is hoped that you further comforted by Bible promises that give us hope (John 17:3).
Ron Iverson says
Mike and family– Well, it’s been a long time since the kids in our neighborhood all grew up and went separate ways. And…since the adults did, too. I remember so well the good visits I had with George and his always engaging conversation. Visiting with our neighbors was one of the pleasures we enjoyed in the neighborhood of Ohio and Sanders. And of course, with the visits from the little guy, Mike, to our house to spend some time with Brett and “the girls.” Those were good days, and George always had the big smile and was fun to be around. We’re all gonna miss him. Ron
Laurie and Dennis Wiedmann says
Dear Family,
Our most sincere sympathy. May you find comfort in your memories. We hold you in our heart and prayers.
Sincerely,
Laurie and Dennis Wiedmann
Doug Olson says
George was a great friend and a steward of the State Bar of Montana as its executive director. He served his family, friends, businesses and communities well. He was a good conversationalist and a deep thinker about ethics and life. My prayers to his family and friends at his passing.