Ed Gannon

Ed Gannon grew up on a ranch and farm on a gentle bend of the Missouri River, 14 miles upstream from Great Falls. This is where Lewis and Clark made their cottonwood dugouts after their metal frame/leather hide boat failed in July 1805. This ancient river cut through the surrounding plateau, leaving the river 300 feet below. The plateau’s capstone sandstone rim rock cliffs serve as a vivid, layered geology storybook. These cliffs were used as buffalo jumps by Indigenous peoples in comparatively recent times. With horses, cows, dogs, cats, brothers, sisters, hunting, and fishing, this was his classroom.

His father was an engineer for Montana Flour Mills, and his grandfather, Grandpa Jack, was a co-founder there. Kitchen table conversations revolved around science or history.

Ed completed an MS degree in Biochemistry in 1976 and married Diane the same year. They have four children and seven grandchildren. He taught high school biology and chemistry before transitioning to industrial chemistry sales, service, and R&D, gaining experience with GE Water, PPG Industries, and Arkema. When asked about his career, he describes it as Industrial Pharmacology.

In retirement, Ed co-founded PhoSul LLC, which develops and markets an eco-friendly phosphate fertilizer named PhoSul. This modified phosphate rock is formulated to provide plant-available phosphate while resisting leaching.

He is honored to serve on the Flathead Lakers board of directors and looks forward to contributing to the maintenance and improvement of the Flathead ecosystem.