John Murdy, a familiar face around Last Chance Gulch, received the Spirit of Helena Award for July 2026 at the August 31 commission meeting. The award was presented jointly by the City of Helena and the Helena Chamber of Commerce, as it is each month.
Chamber representative Cali Asham described Murdy as the kind of person who doesn't wait to be asked. "The first person who raises his hand when people need help" was how Asham put it. Murdy is known for showing up at community events as a volunteer and quietly handling maintenance tasks that don't fall under anyone's official job description — the sort of work that keeps things running without anyone noticing until it doesn't get done.
The Spirit of Helena Award is given monthly to recognize residents whose contributions to the community tend to go unannounced. Murdy's recognition reflects the kind of civic infrastructure that doesn't show up in any budget line.