History

Fred L. Briggs started the business in 1934. Fred was a master plumber in Lewistown, MT, and had no intention of pursuing any other career than the plumbing business. Through some unforeseen circumstances, however, Fred ended up with a wholesale beverage license. Rather than stay in Lewistown, he and his wife, Georgia, moved to Billings and began selling Great Falls Select out of an apartment at the Lincoln Hotel. She was the bookkeeper and Fred did all the rest!

Circa 1947 - After graduating from college, Pete Decker and two of his partners started a mobile accounting office. It was short lived as Pete joined the Marines soon after.

The original Briggs warehouse was built in 1957. Briggs operated from this building until 1979 and then moved right next door to their new facility.

1980s - Dan Haggerty, who starred in The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams in 1977 and 1978, pictured with Pete Decker. Haggerty was a bear trainer and starred with a bear in the show, so Hamm's must have thought it appropriate to tie him into the Hamm's bear theme!

Circa April 1996 - Lunch at Tiny's with Coach George Karl, NBA coach for the Seattle Supersonics from 1992-1998, and friends of Briggs while the team was in Billings for a preseason game at the Metra. From left and around the table - Joe Bennet from Albertsons, Darold Ruff from Kwik Way, Dennis Munger from Albertsons, Curt Grimm from Tiny's, unknown, John Michalies from Briggs, Kevin Mahoney, Coach Karl, John Decker, and serving is Janet Grimm.

Circa 1997 - John and Claudia Decker with Bill Coors at a Coors barley grower's meeting shortly after Briggs purchased Coors Country in October of 1996.

Circa 1998 - Pete Coors pictured with John Decker, and former Briggs employees Darren Melton, Jim St. John, John Michalies, and Bob Weir during the first Coors Field Days in Huntley, MT.