SigMT

SiG MT 37 SiG MT 39 "His aention to detail and action made him one of the best cowboy sculptors ever known," she adds. e rodeo commiee at the Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada, handed out a Contway bronze as part of their trophy program for 31 consecutive years. He also participated in the Calgary Stampede Western Art Show, where he contributed to the Quick Draw scholarship program for Alberta youth. "Jay continued to donate for 27 years, becoming the only artist to make such a contribution," Lynn notes. MEMORY LANE Holly Matkin is a native Montanan who lives with her husband at the foot of the Elkhorn Mountains. She covers a wide variety of topics as a freelance writer for multiple local and national publications, and especially enjoys writing travel, history, and human interest pieces. He was also a rock-steady constant at the National Finals Rodeo Cowboy Christmas show in Las Vegas, where he displayed his work for over three decades. "Jay featured and sold his art from box stalls and auction rings, to ballrooms and exhibition halls in more towns and cities than he could count, all while gathering a following of hundreds," Lynn says. "He is a legend. He has a legacy, just like C.M Russell." e Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame also endorsed this likening, and bestowed Jay with its Saddle of Honor in a ceremony at the C.M. Russell Museum less than three months before he passed away. e only other recipient to ever receive the prestigious Saddle of Honor award was none other than C.M. Russell himself. "Jay was truly honored to be the second recipient following Charlie Russell," Lynn says. "It cements Jay's place in the history of western art in Montana and beyond. He is in good company." e Saddle of Honor was the last of many awards Jay received throughout his 84 years. He was also inducted into the Calgary Stampede Western Art Show Hall of Fame, the C.M. Russell Museum Skull Society of Artists, the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Montana Pro-Rodeo Wall of Fame during his storied career. e world of Western art lost one of its most legendary creators on November 21, 2019, when Jay passed away at the age of 84. He is survived by his children, stepchildren, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, and many friends and extended family members. So many people wanted to aend the "Storyteller in Bronze's" memorial service, it had to be held at the Great Falls Mansfield Convention Center in order to allow enough room. We'd say that's a prey good tip-of-the-hat farewell for an old ranch kid from the Eastern Montana plains. S MT You'd be hard-pressed to find a sculptor more honed in his craft than Jay Contway. Jay took home a slew of calf roping championships over the years. A keen sense of detail, even while kicking back in the studio.

• Cover