Montana's Visionary Mayor: Willard E. Fraser

by Lou Mandler

“As Lou Mandler’s sprightly written, extensively researched biography reveals, Fraser was the rare politician: a hard-working, imaginative visionary with pragmatic flexibility. He rightfully claims the title as ‘Billings’s greatest mayor.’ ”
~Keith Edgerton, MSU–Billings

Willard Edward Fraser (1907–1972) was the progressive and often controversial four-term mayor of Billings, Montana, during the turbulent 1960s, but his reach and impact lay far beyond the borders of the Magic City. A true humanitarian, Fraser was equally comfortable rubbing elbows with high-level politicians and celebrities—like his father-in-law, poet Robert Frost—and hobnobbing with the “bums” on Skid Row. He tackled air and water pollution, cleaned up urban blight, and ensured that women, youth, and ethnic minorities were not marginalized. Passionate about Montana’s historical and cultural heritage, Mayor Fraser promoted Billings and Montana to the world.