'Poor' man leaves $3M for hunters


HELENA, Mont. - LeRoy Beckman went to secondhand stores for hearing aids and heated only one room of his small Montana house.
He got around in an old panel truck, favored overalls and found his Social Security income adequate in his old age. "He looked dirt poor," said his friend Jim McDermand.

But the frugal old bachelor had an estate worth upward of $3 million when he died in 1997 at 88.

And it turned out the curmudgeon secretly had a plan for the money: He directed in his will that his estate be used to buy land and donate it to the state for use by hunters.

Now, four contiguous tracts of forest purchased by Montana officials - called the Beckman Wildlife Management Area - amount to about 6,500 scenic acres. The land is inhabited by antelope, wild turkeys, pheasants, fox, coyotes, raptors, songbirds, an occasional mountain lion and, of particular importance to Beckman, mule deer.

Beckman discussed his big idea with McDermand.

"When we finished he said, 'Don't tell any ... women or lawyers about this.' He didn't trust either one." But McDermand did persuade Beckman to meet with a lawyer to help carry out his wishes.

The Associated Press

Originally published on November 12, 2005

Fantastic! I never knew him but I know I would like him. The lawyer/woman comment iced it!

Knew the guy in passing from back in the 80's when I was a cop in Helena. Calling him a "curmudgeon" is being kind. Glad he left the money to hunters though.

I was wondering if they will pave a few roads through it? Anymore the majority of hunters I see are riding around in their SUV's and pickups. Guys who get out and hunt like Brad are getting rare.

FN in MT