Sheriff Johnny France

Johnny France is a former sheriff of Madison County, Montana, and coauthor, with Malcolm McConnell, of the Edgar Award finalist Incident at Big Sky (1986), the true story of the kidnapping of world-class biathlete Kari Swenson and the pursuit and capture of her mountain men abductors. France was born in Wyoming and raised on a ranch outside of Norris, Montana. He was competing in rodeos by the time he was twelve years old and won the Montana Rodeo Association’s all around title in 1965 and bareback championship in 1966. France began his career in law enforcement as a night patrolman and was elected Madison County Sheriff in 1980. His daring showdown with Dan and Don Nichols made national headlines and led to television appearances and an invitation to attend the 1985 inauguration of President Ronald Reagan. France was inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2012 and lives with Sue, his wife of fifty-six years, in Ennis, Montana, and Apache Junction, Arizona.