W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A . C O M
75
FRANK CONLEY
WARDEN ON THE EDGE
T
oss a coin. "Heads," Frank Conley was a hero.
"Tails," Frank Conley was a villain. e trouble
is, no matter how many times you toss the coin, it will
land on edge.
Warden of the Montana State Prison for three
decades, mayor of Deer Lodge for just as long, and
chairman of the state highway commission for several
years, Frank Conley was a study in contradictions.
His most perplexing characteristic was his ability to be
— at least on occasion — better than his beliefs.
No attempt is made here to write a definitive biog-
raphy of Conley. Biographies exist, and he is, perhaps,
the most famous unknown man in Montana history.
Conley was born in Maryland in 1864. His father
died the next year, and as soon as he was old enough,
Frank worked in a grocery store to help support the
family. His schooling ended when he was fourteen.
by
LYNDEL MEIKLE
Frank Conley, Prison Warden, Mayor, also on
the State Highway Commission along the State
Prison tower called "Cinderella's Castle"
