List of mayors of Billings, Montana facts for kids
Billings, Montana, is a big city, and like all cities, it needs leaders to help it run smoothly. The main leader of a city is called the mayor. The mayor is like the city's chief executive officer, making sure everything from parks to public safety is working well. This page lists all the people who have served as mayor of Billings, from the very beginning until today.
Early Leaders of Billings (Pre-Charter Government)
Before a city has a formal set of rules called a "city charter," its government might operate a bit differently. For Billings, this period was from 1884 until 1977. During this time, mayors were elected to lead the city, helping it grow and develop. Some mayors served multiple times, showing their dedication to Billings.
- John Tully (1884–1887)
- William P. Matheson (July 1885 – April 1887)
- James R. Gross (April 1887 – April 1888)
- E.B. Camp (April 1888 – May 1889)
- Fred Foster (May 1889 – April 1890)
- Dr. Joseph Rinehart (April 1890 – April 1891)
- George Griggs (April 1891 – April 1892)
- H.K. Fish (April 1892 – January 1893)
- John D. Losekamp (January 1893 – April 1893)
- Fred Foster (April 1893 – April 1894)
- George Griggs (April 1895 – May 1897)
- Dr. Henry H. Chapple (May 1897 – August 1898) (resigned)
- P.H. Smith (August 1898 – April 1899)
- Chris Yegen (April 1899 – May 1901)
- W.B. George (May 1901 – May 1903)
- Fred Foster (May 1903 – April 1909)
- H.J. Thompson (April 1909 – May 1911)
- Frank Woods (May 1911 – April 1912)
- Robert Leavens (April 1912 – April 1915)
- Dr. E.A. Gerhart (April 1915 – April 1917)
- W.M. Johnston (April 1917 – April 1919)
- W. Lee Mains (April 1919 – April 1921)
- William V. Beers (April 1921 – February 1925)
- Edwin Grafton (February 1925 – February 1927) (resigned)
- Arthur Trennery (February 1927 – April 1931)
- Fred Tilton (April 1931 – December 1933) (died in office)
- C.J. Williams (1933–1937)
- Charles T. Trott (1937–1943)
- Harry E. Biddinger (1943–1949)
- Thompson T. Rowe (1949–1953)
- Earle Knight (1953–1959)
- Carl J. Clavadetscher (1959–1962, resigned)
- Harold E. Gerke (1962–1963)
- Willard E. Fraser (1963–1969)
- Howard E. Hultgren (1969–1971)
- Willard E. Fraser (1971–1972, died in office)
- Joseph A. Leone (1972–1977)
Mayors Under the City Charter (Charter Government)
In 1977, Billings adopted a new "city charter." This document is like a constitution for the city, setting clear rules for how the government works, including the mayor's role and responsibilities. Since then, mayors have served under these specific guidelines, helping to shape modern Billings.
- William B. Fox (1977–1984)
- James V. Arsdale (1984–1990)
- Richard L. Larson (1990–1996)
- Chuck F. Tooley (1996–2006)
- Ronald Tussing (2006–2010)
- Tom Hanel (2010–2018)
- Bill Cole (2018–2025)
More About Billings
If you're interested in learning more about the history of Billings, Montana, you can check out its timeline.
