Rufus Cato

From Usgs

Rufius Cato

Rufius Cato was born July 9th, 1943 in Baker, Montana as the fifth of seven children. His father was a pastor and his mother did not work, both were extremist conservatives. He was raised as a Methodist and did not leave Baker until the age of 18 to go to at Montana State University- Northern. He returned to farm, a business in which he excelled. However, his soil gave out for three years straight and he went bankrupt. Desperate, he moved to the largest city he had ever seen: Billing, Montana, in search of a better life. However, after working at a grocery store for eight months, he escaped the city-on foot-longing for his country life.

At Baker once more, he returned to his farming, this time learning to rotate the land on which he grew crops. However, once more he found himself crashed when his crop died. He blamed “those government fools poisoning the water." Refusing to get a loan, he "worked" for the church and got his first taste of politics in 1976. He returned to Billings-despite much agony-with the Baker Church (there were no other churches in Baker) to "take care of moral business." They were successful.

He was able to accumulate enough capital to replant. This time a deadly fungus of a kind nearly killed his crop. Fortunately, enough of his crop survived for him to replant. Thereafter, his farm flourished-at least as much as a Montana corn farm could.

It was in 1985 that the death of a distant relative in the faraway city of Helena landed him the opportunity of a lifetime. He inherited nearly $800,000, making him the richest man in Baker. Cato used this money to buy 80 acres, making him the biggest farmer in Baker too, as well as a creek to fish in and a forest to hunt in. The rest he donated to the church.

In 1992, Cato retired to the mountains. There, he became a stoic and he continued to live in happiness. However, his family panicked when he didn't return in six years as he promised to. He was found by a search and rescue party.

As a stoic, Cato saw himself fit to enter politics. The way he put it, I'll have one less of those idiots telling me what to do." However, he immediately found himself hating the city as he went to Helena. Abhorring from crowds, he quickly incorporated himself into elitist circles where there were many less people. He served in the state legislature for eight years. Afterwards, he retired from politics, but when he found taxes raised to "draconian levels" he immediately returned, to the applause of Baker.

He was appointed to the Senate following the resignation of Adrian McConnell.

Cato proved himself to be an active, honest legislator. His constituents often described him as honest, loyal, and hardworking. He doggedly fought for rural legislation and ferociously opposed the "development" of rural communities. He had several major legislative accomplishments, particularly in the areas of abortion, agriculture, and timber.

He ran two successful campaigns in the Rocky Mountains, handily defeating the opposing Democrats. He promised to serve in the Senate until either the country no longer needed him or he died. In 2015, death did in fact meet the Senate's oldest member. He died of the flu. He gave a farewell address to his beloved Montana and the nation, but it received very little attention.