Brian Salonen Interview, October 7, 2024

Brain Salonen, a former University of Montana football athlete, discusses how his father moved from Glasgow, Montana, where he worked as an educator and a coach, to Great Falls, Montana. He describes growing up in Great Falls, Montana, where he participated in punt, pass, and kick competitions funded by the Ford Motor Company. He reflects on his time at Great Falls High, where he played football under Mick Delaney. Salonen recalls his transformation when he was introduced to the weight room, evolving into a dominant Division 1 athlete at the University of Montana. He speaks fondly of his time at UM and shares positive memories of living in Dallas, Texas while playing football. Interviewer Ava DeBourg was an undergraduate student working on the Griz Nation Oral History Project as part of the Griz130 History Initiative.