On the History Trail with the Old Bison: A Memoir

I first met Robert M. Utley in May 1977.

- PAUL ANDREW HUTTON

He came to Bloomington to receive a Distinguished Alumni Service Award from Indiana University. I was a graduate student in history at IU at that time, and as soon as I learned that Utley was coming to campus, I sought out my mentor, Martin Ridge, to beg for the opportunity to pick up our guest at the Indianapolis airport and deliver him back. I assured Ridge that I would positively die for the opportunity to meet Utley. He thought this but a slight ambition (and never tired of reminding me of it in later years), but agreed to allow me to play chauffer. This eventful meeting was—as Bogart said to Rains in Casablanca—the beginning of a beautiful friendship, as Utley became a surrogate father and professional champion for me across the nearly half century to follow.