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Class of 1996 [ BACK ]
| Aldo Forte |
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| Football, 1936-38 |
Aldo Forte came to The University of Montana from Chicago, where he starred for Fenger High School. As a collegiate player for the Grizzlies, Aldo earned honorable mention All-Pacific Coast Conference honors in 1936 and 1937, and probably would have done the same in 1938 had he not fractured an ankle and missed five games. During his career, Also was named to All-Opponent teams by both Idaho and the University of San Francisco. While he was at Montana, Aldo also played for the University Store baseball team. Aldo earned a degree in Business Administration in 1940. He played professional football with the Chicago Bears from 1939 through 1942, with the Bears winning World Championships in 1940 and 1941. Aldo was a second team All-League selection in 1941. After military service during the years 1942-46, Aldo came back to the National Football League, playing for the Detroit Lions in 1946 and the Green Bay Packers in 1947. After finishing his playing career, Aldo rejoined the Lions as assistant head coach from 1950 through 1965, with the Lions winning world championships in 1952, 1953 and 1957. Aldo has been named to the Roseland, Illinois Hall of Fame and the Italian-American Society Hall of Fame based in Chicago. Aldo and his wife, Dorothy, are the parents of Gary and Gregory. The Fortes live in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
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| Jud Heathcote |
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| Men's Basketball Coach, 1971-76 |
Jud Heathcote generally is credited with the revitalization of the Grizzly basketball program which had gone through roller-coaster years, some good, some bad, before he arrived on the scene in 1971. In his fourth season at UM (1974-75), Heathcote guided the Grizzlies to their first conference championship in school history as well as their first NCAA playoff appearance. Following a 20-6 regular season, Heathcote's team defeated Utah State in the first round of th NCAA Tournament, then lost by three points to eventual national champion UCLA. His five-season record at Montana was 80-53. During his stay at Montana, Jud also coached the UM handball club to a national championship. He went on to finish his coaching career with 19 years at Michigan State, where he captured one national championship and three Big 10 titles. His record at Michigan State was 340-220, and his career mark 420-273. His Michigan State teams participated in nine NCAA tournaments and three NIT's. He retired in 1995 as Michigan State's all-time winningest basketball coach. Jud originally went to Washington State University from South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, Washington, and played basketball and baseball for the Cougars. Jud earned B.S. and B.Ed. degrees from WSU in 1950, and an M.S. from the University of Washington in 1960. Prior to coaching at Montana, Jud served as head freshman and varsity assistant coach for Washington State, where his frosh teams were 99-9 and the varsity finished second to UCLA three times in the Pacific Eight conference. Jud served as assistant coach for the United States team in the Pan American games in 1975 and 1987, and was a head coach at the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1989. Jud and his wife, Beverly, live in Spokane, Washington. They have three children: Carla, Jerry and Barbara.
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| Marti Leibenguth |
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| Women's Basketball/Track and Field, 1984-88 |
Perhaps the most versatile and undoubtedly one of the most consistent women's basketball players in Lady Griz history, Marti Leibenguth played all five basketball positions before her career ended at UM. Marti twice was named Most Valuable Player and once Most Improved Player for the Lady Griz, and in 1987 received the Theresa Rhoads Award given to the player who best exemplifies Lady Griz basketball. Marti was a three-time All-Big Sky Conference selection and a District VII All-American. She also was the Little Sullivan Award, given to the top female amateur athlete in the State of Montana. Marti holds school records for career (.539) and single-season (.572) field goal percentage. Marti ranks in the top 10 in six of eight career statistical categories, missing out only in assists and three-point field goal percentage. She played professional basketball in France in 1988-89. With a throw of 160-1, Marti held the UM school record in the javelin until it was broken in last spring. Marti came to UM from Missoula Big Sky High School, and earned a B.A. in Math Education from UM in 1990. She is in her second season as girls varsity basketball coach at Big Sky High School, and will serve as boys freshman coach this school year.
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