1. Name: Rafe Rolland Tallard

2. Date of Birth: June 24, 1858

3. Place of Birth: Eagle Creek, Montana

4. Parents: Roland and Charity Tallard

5. Siblings: Roscoe Ormond (1851-1909), Will Lee (1853-), Loretta Long (1856-), Perry Jade (1857)

6. Describe your childhood. I grew up very poor. My father leased farm land. We grew pumpkins, carrots, beets and leeks. He was one of the town founders.

7. What did you enjoy doing as a child? Helping out on the farm.

8. What is your earliest memory? Dipping my hand in a churn of butter. My mother was so upset at me.

9. How old were you when you went on your first date and where did you go?

Fifteen. I asked Mavis if she'd like to come home to my place for dinner. So, our first date was with my family.

A year later, we married at the Methodist Church in Plentywood.

10. Married? Very happily married to a dream gal the heavens named Mavis. We wed on July 12, 1874.

11. How did you meet your spouse? I met Mavis Tyler at the lumber mill when I was fifteen. I'd gone down there to buy some wood to repair the roof.

12. Children: Daryl Roland (1884-), Thelma Denise, now Kennedy (1885-), Carmen Amanda (1891-)

13. Grandchildren: Three boys. Dixie had a little girl last year. She only lived six months.

14. Pets? We raised llamas for wool but I'd never consider any of them to be pets.

15. Education: I have a diploma from the Sheridan County Board of Education.

16. What brought you to Eagle Creek? I was born here. My father moved here back in the 1840s to mine copper. That never panned out so he became a farmer.

17. Current friends: Larry Hall, Rufus Mock, Augustus Grossman

18. Occupation: Mayor of Eagle Creek, although that is not a full time profession. I own a stake in the lumber mill and the gym.

19. What was your first job? Farming. When Lester Lomax offered me a portion of the lumber mill I leapt at the chance. The only thing I grow now are flowers.

20. How much did you make? Not near enough.

21. What is your favorite word? Serendipity

22. What are you doing now? Looking over a fitness catalogue. Trying to figure out if I can afford an ad in the River City Star

23. Do you admire a famous person? Teddy Roosevelt

24. What makes them admirable? His zest for the American experience.

25. What is your favorite food? Baked, Idaho potatos

26. What is your favorite color? Red

27. What is your favorite song? Rejoice, the Lord is King by Charles Wesley

28. Hobbies: I like to exercise down at the gym. It keeps me from getting soft.

29. Name of the last book you read? Common Sense by Thomas Paine

30. Tell me about a memorable moment in your life; a time you will never forget. Building and opening the first post office. That put Eagle Creek on the map. It was one of the proudest day of my life.

31. What things do you find yourself doing that you said you'd never do? Looking back on the "good ole days." 1910 is a wonderland of technology and instant communications. I wouldn't trade it for life in 1880, but still, on occasion I find myself wishing for younger years when life was at a slower pace.

32. What are the goals you are still working toward? I'd like everyone in town who can vote vote. Civic responisbilty has waned in recent years.

33. When people look back at your life, how do you want to be remembered? As the man whose name appears on the post office dedication plaque.

34. What is your favorite quote? "I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense." - Thomas Paine

35. Do you attend church or religious services? I help found the Eagle Creek Memorial Church.

36. What is your favorite Bible verse? Psalm 145:10-21

37. What makes you happy? Seeing others live up to their potential.

38. What makes you sad? Seeing others not live up to their potential.

39. What frightens you? There has been a sharp increase in recent years of leisure time. I am in favor of relaxation, but, all of these new fangled devices are making some folks lazy.

40. What is there about you that would surprise people if they found out? I never had any formal education. When I was eighteen, I rode my horse down to Plentywood one day, took a test and they handed me a diploma.