Few people have left a mark on Billings quite like Willard E. Fraser. Known simply as “Willard” to many residents, he served as Mayor of Billings from 1963-1969 and again from 1971 until his passing in 1972. During his time in office, he promised to “Get Billings Going” and he did just that!
A visionary, promoter, and passionate advocate for Billings, Fraser championed parks, recreation, historic preservation, tourism, and environmental stewardship long before many of those causes became mainstream. Under his leadership, the city’s park acreage doubled, he helped preserve Pictograph Cave State Park, promoted Pompeys Pillar as a historic destination, and launched events like the Yellowstone River Float that brought visitors from across the country to Montana.
Fraser was also an enthusiastic cyclist. He often promoted bicycling for both its health and environmental benefits, famously telling a student concerned about air pollution, “I hope you are a non-smoking bicycle rider.” Following hip surgery in 1970, he rode up to ten miles a day, and the bicycle became a symbol of his 1971 mayoral campaign.
Today, we have an opportunity to celebrate that legacy.
Join us on Thursday, June 11, for a community ride honoring Mayor Fraser and the installation of a new sign recognizing his contributions at the Willard Fraser Bridge. Riders will gather at 1:00 p.m. at 105 Brewing, 815 Yellowstone River Road, with the ride departing at 1:10 p.m. for the 1:30 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Yellowstone Historical Society.
Participants will receive a commemorative bike pennant and are invited to enjoy refreshments afterward at the Northern Hotel.
The Willard Fraser Bridge is an important connection in Billings’ trail system, linking the Jim Dutcher Trail to the trail corridor leading toward Two Moon Park, the Kiwanis Trail, and beyond.
Whether you knew Willard’s story or are hearing it for the first time, today’s ride is a chance to honor a mayor whose vision for recreation, conservation, and community continues to shape Billings more than fifty years later.
