Ronan Hall of Fame: Distinguished Coach Marilynn Tanner
Marilynn Tanner, Distinguished Coach
Longtime coach, teacher and school administrator Marilynn Tanner is among the 2023 inductees into the School District 30/Ronan Community Hall of Fame.
Originally from Corvallis, Tanner came to School District 30 in 1969 as a first-year social studies teacher. Almost immediately she became involved in the resurrection of high school girls’ athletics in Ronan.
Girls attending Ronan had competed in basketball in the 1920s, 30s and early 40s, but World War II ended the competition. Marilynn, with assistance from Dave Edington and Joe McDonald, saw a need to provide girls with the opportunity to compete in athletics and promoted the development of basketball and track and field programs in Ronan in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In the initial season of the girls’ basketball re-start in western Montana in 1972, Tanner led Ronan to a season record of 11-5. Following completion of the season that ran in the fall, the Montana High School Association approved the sanctioning of girls’ basketball, and under Tanner’s direction the Maidens finished the season with a record of 13-4.
Tanner coached for two more seasons compiling a career record of 52 wins and 22 losses. In addition to coaching basketball, she was instrumental in getting the Maiden girls’ track program off the ground. She began coaching track upon her arrival in Ronan and was an assistant coach on the 1972 Maiden State Championship team.
She finished her coaching career as coordinator of the middle school track program. The Ronan Middle School Invitational Meet, held every spring, was re-named the Marilynn Tanner Invitational Meet in recognition of her years of dedication to the middle school track and field program.
Her final years in Ronan were spent as principal of Ronan Middle School, and as an administrator she continued to be an advocate for all student activities. She believed that these activities kept kids engaged in their education. She is remembered by students and staff as a dedicated educator and coach with a heart for the kids and community of Ronan.
An induction ceremony for the new class will be held at the Ronan Community Center on Saturday, Jan. 13.