Fellow writers and friends all remembered the various facets of the life and work of William “Bill” Kittredge, after his death on Friday at age 88.
As a writer, he was best known for his 1992 memoir about his youth on an Oregon ranch, “Hole in the Sky,” and a collection of essays, “Owning it All.” He co-created “The Last Best Place,” a 1,200-page anthology of Montana literature, from the earliest Indigenous storytelling to the present. He coined the title phrase himself, which has become an unofficial state motto that he fought to keep from a private trademark.
As a 30-year emeritus professor, he helped build the reputation of the Creative Writing Program at the University of Montana, mentoring generations of authors.