President Signs Montana Delegation’s Bill to Name Peak in Diekmann’s Honor

Bill Names 9,765-Foot Peak "Alex Diekmann Peak"

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines and U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte today made the following statements after their bill to honor the life of renowned Montana conservationist, Alex Diekmann, by naming an unnamed peak in his memory was signed into law by President Donald J. Trump.

The bill names an unnamed 9,765-foot peak as “Alex Diekmann Peak.”

“Alex Diekmann was a champion for Montana’s public lands,” said Tester. “Getting this bill signed into law ensures that his spirit will live on and his contributions to conservation and outdoor recreation will be remembered for generations to come.”

“Alex Diekmann Peak will now forever remind Montanans and visitors of the lasting impact Alex had on local communities and protecting Montana’s public lands,” said Daines. “I look forward to visiting and climbing Alex Diekmann Peak in Alex’s honor with his family to commemorate his life.” 

“Naming the peak after Alex Diekmann is a tribute to a man who united people to protect our public lands. Alex embodied the spirit of working together that defines our state,” Gianforte said. “I look forward to hiking Alex Diekmann Peak with my family to honor him, his work, and his memory.”

Background:
In Bozeman, Diekmann worked as a senior project manager for the Trust for Public Land. He worked for 16 years to protect the Madison and Greater Yellowstone Area, which includes the Taylor Fork in the Gallatin Canyon, Three Dollar Bridge, Chestnut Mountain and Frog Rock, and the restoration of O’Dell Creek in the Madison Valley.

Diekmann also worked on more than 55 projects and helped to preserve more than 100,000 acres during his time with the Trust for Public Lands. Some of his accomplishments also include conserving 23,000 acres of forested lands surrounding Whitefish, Montana. In addition, he sought to protect of The Offline Ranch, The Sun Ranch, The Granger Ranches, The Boltz Ranch, The Gecho Ranch and The Crumley Ranch.

Statements of Support:
Glenn Marx, Executive Director of the Montana Association of Land Trusts: “The entire Montana land trust community joins in the celebration of this tremendous recognition of Alex Diekmann’s legacy and lasting impact on Montana’s landscape. We gratefully applaud the efforts of the Montana Congressional Delegation and everyone who made this impressive tribute possible,” said

Dave Schulz, Former Chairman, Madison County Commission: “Alex possessed a truly unique set of gifts and without his community spirit, tremendous skills, and conservation commitment, protecting many places, including in Madison county, surely would have been lost. I am glad there will now be a permanent reminder of his legacy here in Madison County.”

Chuck Roady, Vice President & General Manager, F. H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Company: “I will always have tremendous respect for Alex because he worked with me with the same passion and intensity regardless of which of the myriad of the hats I wore as a forester, a manager of a wood products company, a sportsman, and as a wildlife conservationist. There could be no greater way in which to honor my friend Alex Diekmann than by naming a mountain peak in his name, and I thank Senators Daines, Tester, and Rep. Gianforte for coming together to make this happen.”

John Muhlfeld, Mayor, City of Whitefish: “Alex was so incredibly passionate for his work to conserve lands and open spaces for everyone to enjoy. But his true passion laid with his love for family, boys Liam and Logan, and wife Lisa. He was truly inspirational to me.”

Jeff Laszlo, Granger Ranches, Ennis, Montana: “I appreciate our Montana delegation’s successful effort to name Alex Diekmann Peak in honor of a true friend and one of the greatest conservationists the Madison Valley has ever known. From our working lands to our signature landscapes to vital public access points, Alex’s unique talents were the key to the complex land deals that now protect resources cherished by everyone. He remained engaged in the Madison’s conservation until his final days, and naming the peak after him is a fitting tribute to his legacy.”

Dick Dolan, Northern Rockies Director, Trust for Public Land: “Alex was a great friend, an exceptional colleague, and an admired conservationist. It is only fitting that a sentinel peak in an area that he did so much to protect now bears his name. The efforts of Senators Tester and Daines and Congressman Gianforte to make Alex Diekmann Peak a reality are greatly appreciated by all who were lucky enough to know and work with Alex to protect our public lands and natural heritage.”