Class Of 1971 Adds Plaque To School’s Wolf Mount

Well Done, Class Of ‘71

A couple of years after Wolf Point lost its high school due to a fire, members of the Wolf Point High School Class of 1971 decided to leave a lasting memory by purchasing a mounted wolf for the newly built school.

Class member Sherry Boysun said that Rex Whitmer, now of Dillon, spearheaded the idea.

The feeling was that the school was brand new in 1970 and, therefore, needed a new mascot.

Last week, class members put up a plaque above the wolf to explain why the display is located in the high school.

“We thought people should know the story,” Boysun said.

Whitmer and Frank Hanel Jr. put the information together and had the plaque made. Denny Thompson of Alaska, who is now 104 years old, played a pivotal role in obtaining the wolf and paid for all the expenses.

Information on the plaque explains that the wolf mount project began in the spring of 1970 when students moved into its newly constructed building. Whitmer proposed an ambitious idea: securing a life-size wolf mount to serve as a permanent mascot display for the school. After the concept received enthusiastic support at a student council meeting, high school principal L.R. Safratowich approved moving forward with the project although no funding plan or budget was discussed.

Whitmer took the lead by contacting professional guides and outfitters across Alaska and Canada who advertised in Outdoor Life and Field & Stream. Whitmer mailed many letters to them with the question whether they would be willing to obtain a wolf suitable for mounting.

The one reply that came back was from Thompson, an Alaskan guide and outfi tter known for his work in remote regions of the state. Thompson agreed to secure a wolf for the school, and his efforts were extensive. Hunting wolves in Alaska’s winter conditions required tracking packs that followed migrating caribou herds across rugged terrain. After successfully harvesting a wolf, Thompson handled the skinning and preparation himself to ensure the hide was suitable for professional taxidermy.

Thompson then shipped the hide to Jonas Brothers/ Klineburger Brothers in Seattle, the premier taxidermy studio in the world. Once the mount was completed, it was transported to Wolf Point. Thompson covered every expense – hunting, preparation, shipping, taxidermy and delivery – without charging the school. His contribution was a complete and generous donation.

Throughout the years, the wolf was displayed in various locations and housed in multiple protective cases. The earliest case was made of Plexiglass, which allowed students to get close and interact with the mount. Later, a glass case was constructed so the wolf can be in a controlled environment to better preserve its condition.