O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West Oral History Project
Interviewer
Michael Larmann
Files
Description
Dave Highness describes his experience working as an Information Technology Specialist at the O’Connor Center in the mid-1990s. After recounting his upbringing in Missoula, Dave details how his passion for making maps led him to pursue a master’s degree in geography at the University of Montana. He then explains how the Geographic Information System (GIS) opened new job opportunities. Dave recalls how Larry Swanson recruited him and other graduate students to work part-time on the O’Connor Center’s Regional Economic Assessment Database (READ). He explains how Larry Swanson used READ to help local policymakers make informed decisions on their economies. Dave describes his early offices at the O’Connor Center inside Main Hall at the University of Montana and later the old Milwaukee Train Depot. Dave then explains how his previous work experience with the O’Connor Center helped him find employment at the Montana State Library and Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit organization.
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Document Type
Oral History
Original Date
3-17-2025
Time Period
Twentieth century; Twenty-first century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West Oral History Project, OH 489, Archives & Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 489-004
Media Type
Moving image; Sound; Text
Original Format
video/mp4; application/pdf; text/plain
Digital Format
video/mp4; application/pdf; text/plain
Run Time
00:31:52 minutes
Local Filename
OH_489_004_video_use.mp4; OH_489.004_transcript.pdf; OH_489.004_captions.srt
Citation
Highness, David E., "David Highness Interview, March 17, 2025" (2025). O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West Oral History Project. 4.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/oconnorcenter_interviews/4