Harry L. Billings

Harry L. Billings (1913-1990) was a journalist and civil rights advocate who co-owned and -operated a newspaper called The People's Voice in Montana.

Early life Harry L. Billings was born on January 30, 1913. in Somerton, Montana to Ray Billings and Edna Hannaway. His wife Gretchen joined him two years later. In 1948, Harry became the managing editor for the paper in conjunction with Gretchen. They held this position for twenty years until their coworker Bennett Hansen took over the work in 1968. Harry resigned from the paper following “a lengthy dispute with organized labor over support of the Vietnam War”. Gretchen Garber grew up in Whitefish, and her grandparents “homesteaded the Plains area in the mid-1880s”.

Awards and recognition Harry L. Billings won the Montana Newspaper Hall of Fame award in 1997, and Gretchen Garber Billings won the award in 2007. In 1983, Harry won the University of Montana Distinguished Alumnus Award. Harry was also a member of the Montanan Bicentennial advisory council in the mid-1970s.

Later years The Billingses retired to their home in Thompson Falls in the 1980s and moved to Apache Junction in Arizona after Harry began suffering from respiratory problems. Harry died on April 23, 1990. Currently, Harry and Gretchen's papers are held by Archives and Special Collections at Montana State University.