2017 Kelly Burnham

1984 Graduate

Before the next Vikings home game, listen closely. You will Brainerd radio station through the rest of high school and after likely hear the deep, baritone voice of its regular announcer who may graduating from BHS in 1984. He enrolled at Southwest State be familiar to many in the Brainerd lakes area. University in Marshall, taking radio and television courses. He assumed he’d get his bachelor’s degree there, but the summer after his freshman Kelly Burnham, a 1984 Brainerd High School graduate, is living his year, his boss at KLIZ asked him to stay on as sports director. dream. As a young boy, he would sit in front of the television, watching the Vikings with his NFL football players’ cards spread out in front of Burnham didn’t return to college. Instead, he took the job at KLIZ. The him. He’d move the cards around on the floor, as if he was coaching following spring the radio station sent him to cover spring training for the players on the field. the in Kissimmee, Fla. It was 1986 – the year before the Twins won the . “Honestly, I could have named every Viking on the team when I was 4 years old,” Burnham recalls. “I’ve loved the Vikings since I can ever “I’m 19 years old, wandering around Twins’ training camp and remember having memories.” interviewing players,” recalls Burnham. “It was the coolest thing I’d done at that point.” Burnham, who is known professionally as Alan Roach, has built an impressive resume that would make any sports fan green with envy. A year later, the radio station told him they no longer had a budget for He’s been the public address announcer for home a sports department, and Burnham left Brainerd, looking for radio games since 2016. He’s also had a front row seat to nearly every major work. He then took a series of radio gigs in Garden City, Kan.; Fort professional sporting event in the country and around the world as an Dodge, ; Des Moines, Iowa; and Colorado Springs, Colo., which announcer. eventually led to a job at a radio station in July 1991.

Burnham has been the public address announcer for nine Super Bowls; He changed his professional name to Alan Roach when he arrived in this February’s game in Minnesota will mark his tenth. He’s announced Denver. While he was working in radio in Brainerd, he worked under during the past four Winter Olympics: Sochi, Russia, 2014; his own name. But when he moved to , Burnham switched to Vancouver, Canada, 2010; Torino, Italy, 2006; and , 2002. Kelly Walker, an easy name for listeners to remember. Later, he decided He also announced boxing at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de to add an Irish flair; he worked as Kelly O’Shay when he played rock- Janeiro, Brazil. The day after the this winter in and-roll music. he’ll fly to PyeongChang, South Korea, to announce at the 2018 Winter . After moving to Denver, Burnham had a dilemma. There was an Burnham, who lives in Littleton, Colo., is or has been the public afternoon announcer named Steve Kelly and another announcer address announcer for the following Colorado teams: named Michael O’Shay. He couldn’t be Kelly O’Shay.

• (NHL) 1999 to present “There’s not really a good reason why Alan Roach popped into being, • (MLS) 2016 to present but it became my name in July 1991,” Burnham explains. “Because of • (NFL) 2000-2016 my longevity in Denver radio, now 95 percent of the people who have • (MLB) 1993-2006 contact with me call me Alan Roach. Even my closest friends don’t • University of Colorado Buffaloes 2007-09 know me as Kelly Burnham. My family calls me Kelly and only a very • Denver University Pioneers 2004-05 few people I’ve worked with a long time call me Kelly.” • Colorado Springs SkySox 1990-91 Burnham worked at nine radio stations in four states before landing in Burnham has served as public address announcer for numerous Pro Denver, where he worked at KOA Radio for 26 years. When he started Bowls, NFL drafts and Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement as KOA’s sports reporter, he would travel with the Denver Broncos ceremonies. He’s been the announcer for the NFL Pro Bowl since 2009 doing sideline reports at their away games. He did this for 16 years. “I and the NFL International Series games in London since 2007. He’s saw the ins and outs of a football team,” Burnham explains. “Standing also announced five Olympic Gold Medal Hockey games and multiple on the sideline of an NFL game is so different from sitting in the stands NHL and MLB All-Star Games. In 2015, he announced at the or watching it on television.” Pan Am Games in Toronto, Canada. Burnham’s five older siblings all still live in Minnesota. His parents, He’s announced for professional soccer games, including the 2017 USA Phyllis and Dale Burnham, who lived in Nisswa, have since passed Men’s National Team, 2016 USA Women’s National Team, the 2015 away. They both worked for many years at Grand View Lodge – as MLS All-Stars vs. Tottenham, and the 2017 Confederations Cup in Burnham did for six years while living in Nisswa. This is why Burnham Saint Petersburg, Russia, an international soccer tournament preceding says he and his family like to stay there when they come back and visit. the World Cup games, which will have him back in Russia in summer He and his wife Jennifer got married at Grand View Lodge in 2012. of 2018. In 2009-10, he announced for the Churchill Cup, an Burnham’s former English teacher and student council advisor, Guy international rugby championship. Doud, officiated their wedding.

If you’ve ever been at the Denver International Airport, you may Burnham has two children, a daughter, Katjana, 19, and a son, recognize Burnham’s voice. He’s the voice of the underground train D’Artagnan, 15. system at the airport. Burnham has fond memories of his own teenage years spent in “I’m so lucky,” Burnham says, of his broadcasting career. “It’s a dream Brainerd. He served as student council president his senior year. He job for anybody. It’s amazing how many of the world’s biggest sports was stunned when he learned he was being inducted into the Brainerd events I’ve been sitting at a microphone for. There are people who only High School Hall of Fame. dream of having a ticket to such an event. I have to pinch myself a lot.” “I can’t wrap my head around it,” Burnham says, of the honor. He says Ironically, Burnham’s sport of choice at BHS wasn’t football, but he feels humbled by being grouped with the other distinguished BHS , despite being a diehard Vikings fan. He and his family alumni who have been inducted before him. “I looked online at the 65 moved to Brainerd from the small farming community of Slayton, people who are in there and they are teachers, doctors, civic leaders, Minn., during Christmas break of his ninth-grade year when he started military heroes, people who have done so much charity work and school at Franklin Junior High. He had been in track and football while helped out children and done so much for the community. I feel a bit at Slayton, but once he got to Brainerd, he opted to stick with undeserving. I have a really, cool job and that’s all I’ve done. I’ll take it. I basketball through his senior year. love it. It’s a very special honor for me.”

“I was kind of afraid of everyone on the football team,” Burnham People often ask Burnham what’s the greatest sporting event he’s ever admits with a laugh. “I look back at that now and I wish I knew been involved with. It’s a difficult question for him to answer. differently. If you played smart, you wouldn’t get hurt. I wish I would have played.” “The Super Bowl is the single greatest sporting event – and I’ve done nine of them – and the Olympics is the greatest sporting spectacle of The summer before his junior year at BHS, Burnham got his first on-air them all – and I’ve done five of them,” Burnham explains. “It’s radio job, which proved to be the start of a lengthy broadcasting career. impossible to explain how humbling it is to be asked to come back and He was hired at KLIZ Radio as an announcer. He worked at the be part of these experiences. It’s unbelievable.” 2017 Kristen (Doyscher)

1998 Graduate Williams When you’re listening to your favorite country music artists on the radio or streaming one of their songs on Spotify, Apple Music or Pandora, it’s likely a Her internship led to a job at Warner Music Nashville in 2003, where she 1998 Brainerd High School graduate has played an integral role in getting continues to work today as a music executive with a staff of 23 employees in their music out to the masses. her department. The country music industry is starting to experience an uptick in revenues after years of declining profits in recorded music and physical Kristen (Doyscher) Williams, Senior Vice President of Radio and Streaming for products sold in stores. Williams says that streaming music is helping to drive Warner Music Nashville, has been named a 2017 Brainerd High School Hall of that increase. Last October she was promoted to Senior Vice President of Fame inductee. She works directly with radio stations and online streaming Radio and Streaming as part of an internal restructuring process to focus more platforms throughout the country to get their artists’ music onto playlists. She on streaming services. represents country artists such as Blake Shelton, Zac Brown Band, Brett Eldredge, Cole Swindell, and Hunter Hayes, to name only a few. “In the country genre, we still recognize that radio is the No. 1 driver for new music discovery, but streaming is catching up with other genres like pop, rock Today, Williams is a country music industry leader. She’s also become a role and urban,” Williams explains. “We restructured our department to give more model for women in the music business. But growing up in Brainerd, far from assets to those dealing with streaming partners. With that, we’re trying to be a the city lights of Nashville, it had never occurred to Williams that jobs like hers driver of some of that change.” even existed. Williams never thought she’d end up living in Nashville after college, but it is “I didn’t know that there was somebody responsible for getting music played home now. She met her husband, Bo Williams, soon after moving to the city. on the radio,” she says. “I assumed it just happened.” They live in Gallatin, Tenn., with their daughter, Mckenna, 9, and son, Eli, 7.

Williams, the daughter of Becky and Mark Doyscher, moved to Brainerd with Some of Williams’ career achievements and honors include: her family when she was 6. She’s the eldest of six siblings. When she was 12, • Billboard’s 40 Under 40 (recognizing the music industry top executives the family moved to Baxter, where she has fond memories of living on White under 40 years of age) Sand Lake. • Billboard’s Top 100 Power Players (recognizing the music industry top influential power players) “Growing up in Brainerd was incredibly special,” Williams explains. “You take • Elected to Country Radio Broadcasters Agenda Committee and most for granted a lot of things when you’re a kid and you don’t realize how lucky recently the Country Radio Broadcasters Board you are. I grew up on a lake and had lakes surrounding me. We lived only a • Voted as one of Country Aircheck’s “Power 31” Industry Leaders mile from the nearest gas station and we’d ride our bikes to the park and grab • Nominated for Country Aircheck’s SVP-VP/National Promotion Executive a snack on our way home. I had a longtime summer job at Kavanaugh’s of the Year (Resort). I love a small town feel and that’s partly because of how I was • Selected by GAC, in partnership with Hershey’s Chocolate, for a television raised.” spotlight on working mothers

Williams jokes that she now sings only in the kitchen and shower, but she fell Williams is a member of the Country Music Association, Leadership Music, in love with singing and performing while a student at Brainerd Public Warner Music Group Top Line and Country Radio Broadcasters. Schools. Her first musical performance was in fifth grade when she dressed in a fish costume and sang a song about a submarine as part of the Brainerd Her achievements and honors in community service include: “Windows” production. She didn’t start to get serious about pursuing her • Selected and volunteers as Chamber Panel Contributor for Women in the musical interests until she met Diane Hauan, Director of Vocal Music at Pierz Industry Healy High School, who had been her choir director at the former Franklin • Selected and volunteers as Country Radio Seminar Panel Contributor for Junior High School. Women in the Industry • Partnered with Uber for “Big Break,” giving aspiring country artists the “She was the first person who told me that I had a true instrument in my chance to play for Warner Music Nashville voice,” Williams says of Hauan. “She really taught me how to sing. She worked with me through private lessons and helped me recognize I had a real talent in Under Williams’ leadership, Warner Music Nashville has achieved: my voice.” • Six No. 1 singles and eight weeks spent atop the airplay chart with Blake Shelton, Brett Eldredge and Cole Swindell in 2016 plus Four No. 1 singles In Hauan’s letter of recommendation to Brainerd Public Schools Foundation, and 6 weeks spent atop the airplay chart in 2017 year to date – with Blake she wrote that Williams’ character, work ethnic and genuine personality made Shelton, Michael Ray, Dan + Shay her a fitting match as a Hall of Fame recipient. • Three CMA and ACM New Artists of the Year: Hunter Hayes, 2012 CMA “Kristen, as a student, had a radiating smile and an incredible vocal talent. New Artist; Brett Eldredge, 2014 CMA New Artist; and Cole Swindell, Even at such a young age, she could ‘sing circles’ around most people. More 2015 ACM New Artist than that, Kristen was and is a fantastic person. Her ability to succeed in • Chart share growth has increased 2.5 times since 2010, from 3.8 percent in everything that was placed before her, transcended into her adult life.” 2010 to 10.2 percent in 2014 • WMG Nashville on the whole went from 4 percent to 16 percent between At Brainerd High School, Williams met former BHS choral director Mike 2010-present; Williams now oversees 16 percent share of the chart Smith, who helped further develop her vocal talents. She participated in A • Over 5 billion audience impressions across all Warner Music Nashville Capella Choir, Concert Chorale Women’s Chorus and Windfall Ensemble. promoted singles in 2016, and another 2 billion audience impressions in Music wasn’t her sole interest while at BHS. Williams had a 4.0 GPA, was a 2017 to date alone member of Class Cabinet and a multi-sport athlete, serving as captain of both • Five gold albums, seven platinum albums, 21 gold singles, 16 platinum her tennis and teams. singles and six multi-platinum singles • 33 No. 1 singles topping the charts for more than 51 weeks since 2010 Williams graduated from BHS in 1998 and left the Brainerd lakes area for the College of Saint Benedict’s in St. Cloud. She initially planned to pursue a When Williams isn’t working, she and her family enjoy spending time at the teaching degree, but the dream of pursuing a vocal career persisted. During lake, on the baseball field or at a campground. Her daughter is now at the age her senior year, she had a conversation with Mike Smith, which she vividly where Williams was when she discovered a love for singing. recalls. Life has come full circle for this BHS graduate. “I told him I was going to be a teacher and he said, ‘If you don’t use your “She’s developing that love of music as well, and she’s starting to recognize voice, it’s a shame,’” Williams remembers. “It always stuck with me.”Following that she has a voice,” Williams says of her daughter, Mckenna. “It’s fun to see her freshman year at Saint Benedict’s, Williams packed her bags and moved to that same love happening in her as she goes into fifth grade where it started Nashville in August 1999 at age 19. She transferred to Belmont University, for me, as well.” known for its music business program. She did later return and graduate from Saint Benedict’s with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting at St. Ben’s in Williams was stunned and humbled when she learned she was being inducted December 2002. into the BHS Hall of Fame.

As she pursued her dreams in Nashville, her parents also reminded her that “It’s humbling. It’s such an honor, and I don’t use those words lightly,” she needed a back-up plan. While studying business administration /music Williams says. “I don’t necessarily see myself worthy of that honor. It’s really business at Belmont, she took an internship as a promotions coordinator with fun for me to look back where I came from and where I started and truly be Dreamcatcher Entertainment from 2000-2001, where she worked with acts grateful for everything that everyone did for me along the way.” like Kenny Rogers and Diamond Rio. She realized after some time in Nashville that a singing career wasn’t something she wanted to do long-term. A career path within the music industry seemed like a great fit. 2016 Robert (Bob) Gross

BHS Above and Beyond Award Bob Gross never intended to be an educator. Even the United Arab Emirates. He stayed there for one at Valley City State Teacher’s College, Bob didn’t year before filling a one-year term in the American intend to major in education. He became a college International School of Vienna in Vienna, Austria. wrestler, excelled at the sport and, through that In 2014, upon finishing his term in Austria, Bob experience, became interested in coaching. was ready to retire from education. Or so he “Teaching was a natural byproduct of that”, said thought. Bob. In 2015, after less than a year in the position, Natural is a word to describe Bob’s leadership Brainerd’s superintendent submitted his abilities. After only two years teaching in resignation. That’s when new retiree, Bob Gross, Wauburn High School near Lakes, his first received a call from Brainerd Public Schools asking teaching job out of college, Bob’s peers requested him to be interim superintendent, giving the he fill a new principal vacancy. Bob exemplified district time to find the right candidate for the what the teachers and staff wanted, and he long-term position. His love for the Brainerd accepted the position recognizing “it’s not your community was so wide and deep, so he couldn’t supervisors that get you the promotion, it’s the say no. “This community has been so good for me. people you’re expected to lead”. Most people need to move to advance their career, and I had the advantage of being able to do that After four years in Wauburn, Bob became assistant here”. principal of the new Brainerd Senior High School, and so began his 31-year career with Brainerd Soon Bob was back leading the district he loved. Public Schools . After five years between the role Up until his last day, Bob was involved in every at BHS and that of principal of then aspect of the district, even helping hire teachers Junior High, Bob was appointed assistant he will never supervise. But hiring good talent is superintendent in 1974 and then, in 1981, a skill of Bob’s, and as a district, “we want to give superintendent of Brainerd Public Schools, where parents the assurance this is the best person we he served for 18 years. During the early 1990s, Bob could hire, and we’re making sure top talent is was awarded Minnesota Regional Superintendent found”. of the Year as well as the American Library Association’s National Superintendent of the Year. During Bob Gross’s tenure as superintendent of Brainerd Public Schools, Brainerd was recognized Education wasn’t all Bob excelled at in Brainerd. as one of the top school districts in the state with He also served on and lead boards of directors for college entrance exam scores exceeding the state St. Joseph’s Medical Center, the Brainerd Area and national averages. That tradition of excellence YMCA, Brainerd Area Salvation Army, Brainerd has continued through the teachers and Area Chamber of Commerce, and Kiwanis Club. administrators Bob hired and those hired today, In 1987, Bob was named Brainerd’s Citizen of the most recently evidenced by all six of Brainerd’s Year. elementary schools receiving National Blue Ribbon awards for 2014, a previously After 31 years with Brainerd Public Schools, Bob unprecedented accomplishment by a single school opted for a new challenge and left Brainerd to lead district. the Singapore American School in Singapore. While there, Bob was awarded International With all he accomplished in his years as an School Superintendent of the Year. educator, Bob could have kicked back and enjoyed his retirement. Yet when the call for help came Bob spent eight years in Singapore before taking from Brainerd schools, he couldn’t resist the pull. on the role of Regional Education Officer for the When explaining why, Bob said, with his well- Office of Overseas Schools for the US Department known warmth and smile, “[ISD] 181 blood is of State, after which he transitioned back into running through me. It’s like I had an infusion.” school administration as the interim director for the American Community School of Abu Dhabi in 2016 Keith R. Keller

1978 Graduate For as long as Keith can remember, he’s always the Department of Defense’s Foreign Liaison wanted to be an aerospace engineer, preferably in Officer for 30 countries in central and eastern the US military. Moving to Brainerd as a Europe. sophomore, Keith graduated from Brainerd High School as valedictorian in 1978. He then earned In 2003, he was selected by the Air Force and the his bachelor of science degree in aerospace DIA to return to Europe as United States Air engineering and mechanics from the University of Attaché to Austria and Slovenia at the US Minnesota in 1982 and went to work for General Embassy in Vienna, Austria, responsible for Dynamics Convair in San Diego, Calif. as a bilateral Air Force relations with these two systems engineer and test conductor for the countries. Subsequently, he served as Chief of nuclear Ground Launched Cruise Missile Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) in the program, and as an aerospace engineer for International Relations Division at HQ US Air advanced ballistic missile and space development Forces in Europe (USAFE) at Ramstein Air Base, programs. After two years there, Keith began Germany, responsible for USAFE TSC strategy and graduate school at Massachusetts Institute of plans for 92 nations in Europe and Africa. From Technology (MIT). While working on his master 2009, until his retirement from the USAF in the of science degree in aeronautics and astronautics, rank of lieutenant colonel in 2013, he served as Keith was recruited by the United States Air Force deputy chief, Missile Defense Division, at HQ US (USAF). European Command (EUCOM), in Stuttgart, Germany. After attending Officer Training School in Texas in 1985, he finished graduate school at MIT and was After his retirement from the USAF, he worked as assigned to the Strategic Defense Initiative a government civilian at HQ US Africa Command Organization’s (SDIO’s) Space Surveillance and (AFRICOM) in Stuttgart as a Theater Strategy Tracking System program office at HQ Space Development Specialist, responsible for Systems Division. He led the design team that development of strategy and plans for conceived the revolutionary small satellite AFRICOM’s basing posture in 53 nations on the surveillance system called Brilliant Eyes, for which African continent. In August 2014, Keith was he won the USAF Engineering Excellence Award. recruited by NATO to serve as a civilian officer on He was then selected in a USAF-wide competition the International Staff at NATO HQ in Brussels, for the Air Force Engineer and Scientist Exchange Belgium in the Defense Investment Division, Program to be an Exchange Officer at Deutsche Strategy Directorate, Capability Delivery Section, Aerospace in Munich, Germany from 1992 – 1994, where he assesses the application of emerging where he worked in the space surveillance and technologies for future capabilities of, and risks to, reconnaissance systems division on joint the Alliance. cooperative space experiments between the US and Germany. While Keith has achieved so much in the years since graduating from Brainerd High School, he Upon his return from Germany, Keith was still fondly recalls his influential teachers at BHS appointed to the Office of Space & Technology, and credits the “top notch” educational system in Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space, with Brainerd for preparing him well for his career. duty at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in the Washington, D.C. area, where he As Keith sees it, “In order to achieve your dreams, worked as a systems engineer for a next- you need to set your long-term goals, and then generation Signals Intelligence Satellite program, make conscious educational and career choices and director for Special Imagery Intelligence along the way that prepare you to seize systems. In 1999, he was assigned to the Defense opportunities when they arise. BHS was very Intelligence Agency’s (DIA’s) Defense Foreign instrumental in helping me do this.” Liaison office at the Pentagon, where he served as 2016 Anthony(Andy)

1997 Graduate Griffin Going from local academic all-star to college at college entrance exam, one of only a few in the one of the most prestigious institutes of country to do so. Starting with Jeanne Larson technology to successful Silicon Valley software in kindergarten, Brainerd Public Schools engineer may give some people a big head. But worked to ensure Andy’s success. “When they not Andy. Instead he says, “You can’t take credit saw someone with potential, they fostered it for everything that happens to you, because so rather than shrugging it off saying, ‘We don’t many other people are involved”. While he has know what to do.” In addition to his other a lot to be proud of, the “it takes a village” academic opportunities through Brainerd concept is certainly true regarding Andy’s Public Schools, Andy said, “It’s great that success in Brainerd Public Schools. Brainerd invested so heavily in the AP program. It really laid the groundwork for me getting to Andy’s exceptional aptitude for learning was Caltech.” recognized early on by his Whittier Elementary kindergarten teacher, Jeanne Larson. “She saw Graduating from California Institute of me as someone who should be fostered, and Technology with a degree in Engineering and talked with my parents, Ray and Deb Griffin, Applied Science helped Andy land his first job about the [district’s] enrichment program at at Green Hills Software in Santa Barbara, Calif. Lowell”. By third grade, even with the During his 13 years with the company, he advanced learning provided by the enriched established himself professionally and became (now called Area Gifted And Talented known as someone who “got stuff done.” That Education, or AGATE) program, Andy needed reputation later helped Andy secure a job with more than was offered in the classroom. This the most iconic technology company in the time Andy’s education was augmented by world. community members who taught him more of the sciences he was so curious about and After spending his childhood poring over an developed his growing skills. Apple IIe, Andy is now a Senior Software Engineer for Apple in Cupertino, Calif. Andy The summer after third grade, Andy’s mother, said working for Apple is incredible, and it’s a teacher in Pillager schools, checked out a “amazing working on things half a billion district computer to bring home for the people use”. While “you certainly feel the summer. That Apple IIe became Andy’s pressure of everyone watching the company, I playground where he was able to explore and try not to think about it, or it would be a little learn basic computer programming. His intimidating”. passion for computers continues to this day. It’s hard imagining someone as accomplished By sixth grade Andy was leaving middle school as Andy Griffin feeling intimidated by to take math and science classes at the junior anything, but that humility is what makes him high, and in seventh grade, Andy walked from so relatable to those who haven’t experienced Washington Middle School to Brainerd High all he has. When asked what advice he would School for the first of his 13 Advanced give others, he said “If you’re interested and Placement (AP) classes: Computer Science. At passionate, be interested and passionate. Don’t the end of his senior year at BHS, Andy had let anybody say, ‘that’ll never happen’, because completed 13 AP classes. “If there was an AP it can. Just dive in and go.” Words to live by version of a subject I was studying, I took it.” from someone who has certainly embraced his That motivation led him to graduate in 1997 passion and interests, and with the help of a with the highest GPA of his graduating class great school system and community, dove in and in BHS history. As a high school junior in and found success. 1996, Andy scored a perfect 1600 on his SAT 2015 Colonel Ronald Albers

1965 Graduate With more than 6,900 hours of flight time with the United Col Albers’ last assignment was between May 2002 to States Air Force, Colonel Ronald L Albers’ travels have taken October 2002, as Commander of the him to Thailand, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and France 16th Expeditionary Operations Group at LeTube Air Base – just to name a few. However, his heart and service, have 125 near Istres, France. During the remained allegiant to his community and home. six-month period, he was responsible for all personnel, aircraft and material used for aerial refueling support of Col Albers was born December 9, 1946 in Brainerd and Operation Joint Guard. Shortly after his return from France, graduated from Washington High School in 1965. he retired as both a military member of the USAF as well as technician from the Ohio Air National Guard. During high school, Col Albers participated in countless extra curricular activities, including Brainonian and the Pow Since retirement, Col Albers has remained active in the Wow, the school paper. National Guard Association of the United States, Ohio “One of my guidance counselors had told me I didn’t try National Guard Association, Ohio National Guard Enlisted hard enough. But, I just wasn’t competitive. I wasn’t a Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Motts Military straight A student. I didn’t care about my grades.” Museum. He is also a member of the Ohio Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., American Legion and Military But what he lacked in academic perseverance, he more than Officers’ Association of America. made up for in activity involvement. “I was involved in just about everything. I was editor-in-chief His list of military honors is equally impressive to his tireless and photographer for the Brainonian, an officer in the service. Decorations include the USAF Legion of Merit, USAF American Field Services. I had more stuff after my name in Meritorious Service Medal, USAF Air Medal with four bronze the yearbook than anyone in high school. I was in National oak leaf clusters, USAF Aerial Achievement Medal, USAF Quill and Scroll Society, the National Honor Society…” Commendation Medal, Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation, USAF Outstanding Unit Award with four bronze After graduation, Col Albers opted to explore the world oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal with one silver beyond Brainerd. Following extensive travels alone and two bronze oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service throughout Europe that summer, he returned to attend Medal with one bronze service star, NATO Medal, Armed Brainerd State Junior College, graduating with an Associate Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with of Arts degree in 1967. He then attended the University of three bronze service stars, Southwest Asia Service Medal with South Florida in Tampa, receiving his Bachelor of Arts two bronze service stars, Armed Forces Service Medal, USAF Degree in English in March 1969. Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, USAF Expeditionary Service Ribbon with three bronze oak leaf clusters, USAF Longevity Just two short days following graduation, Col Albers entered Service Award with one silver oak leaf cluster, Armed Forces Officer Training School and was commissioned a Second Reserve Medal with one hourglass device, Small Arms Expert Lieutenant on June 30, 1969. In mid-July of 1970, he Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Republic received his pilot’s wings upon graduating from UPT at of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medals Columbus Air Force Base. His entire active duty career was from both the Saudi Arabian and Kuwait government, Ohio spent in the 301st Air Refueling Wing (32nd Air Refueling Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster, and Squadron) at Lockbourne AFB as a combat crewmember in the Ohio Faithful Service Ribbon with three bronze oak leaf the KC-135 aircraft. clusters. During the Southeast Asia conflict, he flew 111 combat Col Albers and his wife Rebecca live in Gahanna, Ohio and sorties and served three different tours from bases in are parents to grown sons, Michael and Oliver. Thailand, including flying operational missions covering the span of both Linebacker I and Linebacker II – the 1972 While honored to receive the award, Col Albers said it summer and Christmas bombing of North Vietnam. He belongs to his wife as much, if not more, than he; noting her separated from active duty in July 1974 as a captain and dedication to their family while he was overseas and, while immediately joined the Ohio Air National Guard. maintaining the household, she continued to attend law school full time. For more than 20 years, Col Albers was a traditional guard member with full-time employment in downtown “I was absolutely shocked,” he said upon learning of his Columbus, Ohio as a Safety and Human Resources Manager. nomination into the Hall of Fame. “I have just about all fond His duties in the Guard included Instructor Pilot, Chief of memories of my school days there.” Command and Control, and Flight Commander. During Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he flew operational sorties Col Albers said, when looking through school mementos, he as both a volunteer and an activated member of the 160th came across a paper he wrote when he was in fifth grade Air Refueling Group for more than four months. In 1994, about what he wanted to be when he grew up. He wrote he the 160th ARG was deactivated and the personnel, and wanted to be a mechanical engineer, living by the beach that aircraft, from the 145th ARS were merged into the 121st Air surfed and drove a hot rod. Refueling Wing. In January 1995, Col Albers became a full- time Air Guard technician and served as the 121st ARW While those plans didn’t quite come to fruition, Col Albers Chief of Safety until June 1996 when he became commander is quite content with the honorable life he has lived. of the Operations Group. In January 2001, he was appointed to the position of Vice Wing Commander. 2015 Dr. L.J. Nickisch

1974 Graduate Specializing in a field not many individuals can He also did undergraduate work at the even begin to understand or grasp, Dr LJ Institute of Technology Nickisch credits the stirring of his interests in and graduate work at the University of math and science to several of his teachers at – Madison. Following receipt of his Brainerd High School. Ph.D., Dr Nickisch moved to California to work as a defense contractor in the area of Dr Nickisch currently serves as Senior Scientist electromagnetic wave propagation physics. and Vice President of NorthWest Research Associates, and is primarily known for his work Dr Nickisch is also noted for his work in the in electromagnetic wave propagation in study of quantum vacuum fields, leading to the plasmas, especially the ionosphere. He is development of his theory of connectivity for considered to be the world’s expert in this field. which he was the recipient of the Outstanding Paper Award by the Institute for Space and Dr Nickisch graduated from Brainerd High Nuclear Studies for “Review of Experimental School in 1974 and was active in band, Concepts for Studying the Quantum Vacuum football, Brainonian staff and National Honor Field.” Society. Brainerd educators including Bill Matthies and Gary Fitch have been attributed Dr Nickisch’s work has been published in over to propelling Dr Nickisch’s scientific dreams 25 peer-reviewed journals and conference through a Masters and Doctoral program and proceedings. Though his work is of the highest into a continuing career as a theoretical level and is recognized around the world, he is physicist. also known for his ability to affably engage with others in a way that is inclusive and that “I was very involved in the band program and communicates clearly even the most difficult of particularly learned a lot from Dean Trzpuc,” concepts. Dr Nickisch noted. “He was good at inspiring excellence. Dr Nickisch said he returns to the Brainerd Lakes Area at least twice a year to visit his father Dr Nickisch also noted teachers at both the who still lives in the area, as well as his sister, junior high and high school level that initiated Lauren. passion in the science field. Regarding his induction into the BHS “My memories from Brainerd High are very Distinguished Achievement Hall of Fame, Dr good. We had world-class teachers and many Nickisch considers it quite the mark of of them specialized in many different areas. distinction. They truly provided enthusiasm toward “I think it’s an honor. I was very pleased. It’s learning and made learning fun.” also a chance for me to come back and see the school and talk to some of the students; maybe Following high school, Dr Nickisch attended inspire students to enter the filed of science. the University of Minnesota –Minneapolis and I’m looking forward to that part.” graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physics, the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Master’s of Science and Ph.D in Physics. 2015 Brian Nystrom

1977 Graduate Brian Nystrom has dedicated his personal and originally the Anoka County Task Force for Battered professional life to helping others. His strong family Women, raising over $50,000 through grant writing values, faith and commitment to community have to help provide startup funds for a shelter. Additional continuously been a true testament to his character. community service has included involvement with the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of His resume also lends further proof to his passion for Christian Social Workers, New Life Homes and the well-being of others. Nystrom has served 35 years Family Services, Open Arms, Society for Hospital in the mental health field. Social Work Directors, Steps of Success Group Home, In 1991, Nystrom founded Nystrom & Associates, Christians for Biblical Equality, Behavioral Health Ltd., as well as several other Care Providers Credentialing Committee and Quality mental health related divisions, which now has over Improvement Program Committee, Anoka County 750 employees and clinical interns. Adult Mental Health Advisory Committee, and the The Brainerd/Baxter clinic was added in the mid- Anoka County Mental Health Director’s Network. 1990’s moving to its new location in the Baxter medical campus in 2014. During his professional career, Nystrom has received high honors and achievements, including four Nystrom & Associates is a licensed outpatient mental governor appointment from 1992 to 2008 to the health and chemical dependency clinic with twelve Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy, offices in Minnesota and , Washington. In serving as Chair of the Board, Disciplinary Panel, 2014, alone, Nystrom & Associates programs Chair of the Internet Therapy Committee and Chair provided over 30,000 of the Supervision Committee. In 2001 he authored face-to-face services per month to 42,000 unique “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Marriages”. From annual patients. 1998 to 2001, he served on the State Board of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of In 1977, Nystrom graduated with honors from Social Workers and received the Health Central Brainerd High School. Much of his junior Innovator’s Award in 1984 and 1985. and senior year was spent taking classes at Brainerd Community College. He was also active in his church “Not only does he strive to better himself, his staff during this time. and his company” reads his nomination letter, “he also supports other agencies and community Following graduation, Nystrom received a Bachelor resources so they, too, can make a positive impact in of Arts degree, Cum Laude, in Social Work and people’s lives.” Behavioral Science from Bethel University as well as a Master of Social Work degree with a specialization Nystrom met his wife, Mary Ann in 1977 when they in mental health from the School of Social Work at were both students at Brainerd Community College. the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Nystrom They have been married for 36 years, have four adult is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and children and 12 grandchildren, and divide their time Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. between their homes in Minneapolis and Nisswa.

Out of the gates, Nystrom put his knowledge and passion to work. In 1978 he volunteered at the Women’s Center of Mid-Minnesota; participated in and presented at various seminars regarding marriage and family and domestic violence; and, from 1979 to 1981, served on the Board for the Alexandra House, 2015 Branelle Cibuzar

2000 Graduate Rodriguez Even as a young girl, Branelle (Cibuzar) Rodriguez dreamed Urine Receptacle Assembly. She was the lead for "Crew of joining the U.S. Space Program. The Brainerd native's Systems and Outfitting for the Advanced Exploration passion and desire to work on the cutting edge of space Habitation Demonstration Unit and Multi-Mission Space exploration has never wavered throughout her academic and Exploration Vehicle" designing waste collection and professional careers. Fueling that passion from the beginning habitation systems. More recently, Rodriguez led the team of were her parents, Shellie and the late Alan Cibuzar, who engineers tasked with changing the philosophy for fighting continuously encouraged and supported her, not only fires in microgravity by developing and designing a fine through academics, but by providing her opportunities to be water mist fire extinguisher for the ISS. fully immersed in the Space Program from an early age. In 2010, Rodriguez received her Masters in Rodriguez graduated from Brainerd High School in Engineering, majoring in Engineering Management, from the 2000 with honors. She was a three-sport athlete, Academic University of Texas. She has also authored and published All-American, seven-time Letter winner and captain of the numerous technical papers on environmental control and BHS soccer team. life support systems. Still today, Rodriguez said she looks back fondly on her years During her first 10 years at NASA, Rodriguez has at Brainerd High School. received numerous exemplary contribution awards. Her most significant was in 2013, when she received the NASA “I have so many wonderful memories from my time at Agency Early Career Achievement Medal for her ‘significant BHS; from taking part in the Alpine State Meet, early contributions to the Space Station Program in leadership and morning bus rides to ski meets, winning the first ever management of life support system hardware projects.’ Warrior Girls Soccer game and celebrating that win with my team, challenging myself in AP classes, adventures with In 2014, Rodriguez was promoted to the position of friends, and the coaches and teachers that left that lasting ISS Mission Evaluation Room Manager. Here, she leads teams impression. I am incredibly thankful for my time at BHS!” of subsystem and technical discipline engineers to resolve real-time on-orbit anomalies. She is responsible for all phases Upon graduation, she continued her education at the of ISS flight including maintenance tasks, daily operations University of . Following her freshman year of and anomaly resolution, coordinating with international college, Rodriguez had the opportunity to be a Space Camp partners, logistics, flight operations planning, payload facility Counselor at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center over the sustaining and on-going development projects. summer and share her passion for space with the next generation. In 2010, Rodriguez married Scott Rodriguez; and, in October of 2014, they welcomed their daughter, Samantha, During the course of her collegiate career, Rodriguez to the family. She continues to have a passion for NASA and was a member of the Society of Women Engineers, American space exploration and hopes to make further contributions Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Alpha Chi Omega to the U.S. Space Flight Program's goals and objectives for sorority. Rodriguez completed cooperative education tours many years to come, perhaps even as a member of the at Dow Chemical Company in Midland, , and Astronaut Corps, someday. NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in No matter where her travels and career take her, Mechanical Engineering in 2005. Rodriguez said her heart will always belong in the Brainerd Lakes Area, and attributes her success to the education she She began her career at NASA's Johnson Space Center, received at BHS. immediately after graduation, in the Crew and Thermal Systems Division - Life Support and Habitability Branch as “I am extremely humbled and honored to receive this a Project Manager developing space flight hardware for the recognition. Brainerd has always been ‘home’ for me, and I International Space Station (ISS). In her first few years, cherish the moments that I am able to come back and spend Rodriguez led several projects that are currently in flight on time with family and friends. I have always been proud to the ISS today, including the Station's Crew Quarters where be a graduate of Brainerd High School, and always will. The astronauts live and sleep and the Urine Monitoring System. educational opportunities I was able to have are a significant contributor to where I am at now. No words can truly express Additionally, she led several research projects that my gratitude and appreciation I have for all those that have looked at advanced technologies for exploration missions, guided, taught and supported me through the years. Thank such as the Electrochemical Disinfection system and the you from the bottom of my heart.” 2014 Tom Haglin

1981 Graduate On Tom Haglin’s desk is a coffee mug that reads: boards of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of “Vision is the gift to see what others only dream.” Commerce, Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union, Tri-Parish and St. Andrews Church board, and As insignificant as a coffee mug may seem, that current service on the Essentia Health board. particular message has developed into a mantra of sorts that Tom has chosen to live, and lead, by. Coming from a large family of nine children where both parents and some siblings have worked as After graduating from Brainerd Senior High School educators, it instilled in Tom the value and and Central Lakes College, Tom went on to earn his importance of public education, which is why he Bachelor of Science degree in Business also serves as a current school board member for Management, Management and Finance from the Brainerd School District 181. College of St. Scholastica. His career grew from sales and, latter, plant manager positions with “I’ve always been surrounded by the education Acrometal Companies; to founding LINDAR system,” he noted. “It wasn’t until about 10 years Corporation in 1993 along with his wife Ellen. ago that I started thinking about being involved Through the years, their company has earned many with the school board, hopefully bringing my awards and much recognition for innovation, experiences to the board to assist in any way growth and outstanding business practices. His possible. It has been a true pleasure that I was company holds several patents, specifically for the provided the opportunity to serve these last five food packaging industry, and has received the “Blue years on the board.” Chip” award from the US Chamber of Commerce Enterprise, as well as the 2009 Business of the Year Tom is most proud of his wife Ellen, and children award from the Initiative Foundation. Garrett, Connor, and Alissa. He enjoys spending time with family at their lake home, and attending LINDAR – a custom plastics manufacturer – has the many functions their children are involved. steadily grown over the years and has acquired With his family, he has spent many trips vacationing three other businesses along the way. In 2012, Tom and enjoying the sites of our country. Known for and Ellen purchased Lakeland Mold Company; his gift of vision to see what others only dream, Tom and, currently, their companies employ over 200 continues to seek other opportunities as far away people from the community. as Brazil to provide opportunity to the local community, economy, and school district. “If those before me did not contribute and grow our community, then likely today I would not have the “I see what our District can be like in five years, 10 same opportunities as I do. I truly enjoy building years, and further; therefore, I strive to challenge relationships with our community members and and push our leadership team to reach beyond school staff. If we all give back whenever we can in standards and following others. I prefer that we take some fashion, we will all benefit from it. It is also the lead and carve our own path to greater my hope that our children will recognize the accomplishments. In my personal life and contributions both my wife and I make to our businesses, I think often about how we can community in whatever ways, so they too will continue to transform our companies into leaders volunteer in some fashion as they get older.” within our industry. To follow only allows us to be nearly as good as others, but to lead puts us ahead, Tom takes community activism seriously as he and we must have vision in order to be a leader.” continues to work and support the community by serving on multiple boards and organizations. His involvement has included membership with the 2014 Nancy Pederson

1970 Graduate It was during high school, Nancy Pedersen discovered designed to follow-up the reared apart twins to study a love for life abroad. Calling it “both fascinating and a aging. Those twins were examined at regular three-year valuable experience,” she spent all of 1969 as an AFS, intervals over 30 years, and as a result, researchers have formerly American Field Service, student in King gained a better understanding of the interplay of genes Williams Town, South Africa, and returned to Brainerd and environments during aging. The SATSA study led High School in the middle of her senior year. to the Study of Dementia in Swedish Twins, a twin study of Parkinson’s disease, and numerous other twin While a BHS student, Nancy recalls involvement in an studies of health and well being. “alternative” school paper, an untraditional graduation ceremony, and being a part of BHS history. Nancy’s research has demonstrated how genetic influences decrease in importance late in life for some “When I returned from being an AFS student, Jack cognitive abilities whereas genetic influences for Arnold, Mike Lundeby, Bonnie Volkl and I started an Alzheimer’s disease remain substantial. Her current ‘alternative’ newspaper called the Bandicoot. I recall research efforts are focused both gene-environment that rather than having a classic graduation ceremony, interplay in healthy aging as well as on the cause of we – Jack, Mike and I – put together a collage of chronic diseases of the elderly including dementia, pictures and recordings of voices of classmates. Parkinson’s disease, late onset depression and other Because I was away for a year, when I returned I had diseases with neuropsychiatric components in midlife to catch up on English and Civics and History, so I such as chronic fatigue. In addition, she is currently missed being able to take some of the classes I had identifying the mechanisms by which changes in preferred to take, like finishing chemistry and taking patterns in the brain and blood are reflected in physics. We were also one of the first classes to attend cognitive decline, dementia and cardiovascular disease. all three years in the new BHS building. It was Nancy has co-authored over 520 scientific publications exciting.” and has mentored 21 PhD students and 14 post-docs.

Following graduation in 1970, Nancy earned a Although she didn’t imagine that she would stay Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of permanently in Sweden, the opportunities for research Minnesota, graduating Magna cum Laude; then earned and her love of Sweden were so great that she is still her Master of Arts and PhD in Psychology and Behavior there, a permanent resident. Genetics from the University of Colorado. “Sweden just felt like home,” Nancy said, “with much “I started off as a pre-med and psychology major at the same nature – birch trees and pines, and numerous UMD and heard from a statistics teacher that Behavior opportunities for sailing and skiing.” Genetics was a really hot field, so when I transferred down to the U in Minneapolis, I started taking a lot of She has been at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden’s medical genetics courses in addition to psychology. And then I university, for 34 years and is a Professor of Genetic applied to graduate school in Colorado where they had Epidemiology there. She also has an affiliation as a an Institute for Behavior Genetics.” Research Professor of Psychology at the University of Southern California, but has never lived in California. While in Colorado, Nancy had the opportunity to She has served as head of the Swedish Twin Registry, work for a summer in as a research assistant on the largest twin registry in the world, as the vice chair the Hawaii Family Study of Cognition. This was her and chair of the Department of Medical Epidemiology first opportunity to study how genetic factors can and Biostatistics, and as the vice dean of research at influence our health and behavior. Halfway into her Karolinska Institutet. graduate studies, Nancy was sent to Sweden to work on a twin study regarding smoking and alcohol use. “I usually get back to the US about twice a year,” Nancy While there, she and her colleagues made the noted. “I have a conference that is usually just before discovery there were an astounding number of twin thanksgiving, so I make a point of attending that and pairs in the Swedish Twin Registry that had been then visiting family.” separated at an early age and reared apart – potentially as many as 961 pairs, both identical and fraternal. Nancy has a sister, Sue Lindstam, and brother, Rich Pedersen, who still reside in the Brainerd Lakes Area. After finishing her PhD in 1980, she returned to Two other sisters live in Arizona and California. Sweden to start up the, now famous, Swedish Adoption Twin Study of Aging (SATSA), which was 2014 Joshua (JP) LaRue

1992 Graduate While a typical senior in high school spends their When I think about that and all the stuff I had to go year looking forward to college decisions and through just to write anything, I had to invent a weekend plans, Josh LaRue was learning to whole new method of communication in order to communicate all over again. express my ideas, thoughts and feelings. Trust me; I never want to be silent again.” It was during the winter of his senior year that Josh suffered a severe asthma attack that left him blind, The fact that Josh has now written and published five unable to move and unable to speak. Josh missed books, including “My Last Breath,” proves that life much of the school year while recovering, but was may have stolen his ability to speak, but will never able to meet his requirements and graduate along take his voice. with the Class of 1992 from his wheelchair. “Every man dies. For that is the nature of mortal “I think I was a pretty average student for the most man,” reads the prologue of ‘My Last Breath.’ “We are part,” Josh replied, only after a disclaimer that he all owed a death. I was seventeen years old when doesn’t enjoy talking about himself. “My interests death found me, and my life was changed forever. I back then were fishing and kayaking.” do not claim to have the answers. I can only tell you, the reader, what I went through and hope it helps in Following graduation, Josh participated in some way. Now, most of you reading this no doubt rehabilitation at the Courage Center in the Twin have seen movies and TV shows where people died, Cities for a year, learning how to walk and talk again and were supposedly brought back after seeing a and gain the independence any 19-year-old would bright light. I don’t doubt the validity of those claims. desire. I think each person’s death is different, just as each experience changes the person having it. I will try to “The accident I suffered left me blind, unable to use tell you who are reading this what I saw and felt my hands and with very impaired speech,” Josh during that time after taking my last breath, and what explained. “I was very frustrated not being able to followed after. My name is Josh LaRue and here is my communicate. I had to use my mind to find a story.” solution to the problem. There was nothing available for someone in my condition. So, with some help, I Today, Josh lives alone in Ohio where he continues invented a device that allowed me to write and to work on his writings and a cooperative project to communicate using Morse code.” bring his book “My Last Breath” to life as a documentary with Minnesota filmmaker Cy Dodson. Josh created Virtual Morse, a communication device that consists of a small 10-button keyboard that Despite setbacks and the challenges life has thrown resembles a harmonica. Each button has a different his way, Josh continues to persevere. He continues to function and is operated with the user’s tongue. Based be an avid outdoorsman and enjoys teaching others upon the Morse Code alphabet, this genius invention to hunt. He also hopes his writings will inspire has not only allowed Josh to send email, but also to others. attend college and write – and publish – several books. In fact, Josh was profiled in ‘Ripley’s Believe “Everyone has challenges. That’s part of life. I do my It or Not! Strikingly True’ for this method of best to overcome them. Part of it is not ever feeling transcription. sorry for myself. Do not let others try and crush your dreams or let them tell you something is impossible. On his Facebook page, dedicated to his work with It is more fun to prove them wrong.” Virtual Morse, Josh writes, “Not being able to speak for months after my accident. The doctors telling my parents I would be a vegetable if I ever woke up. 2014 Dennis Wolfgang

1979 Graduate Borgwarth Even at an early age, Hanspeter and Gisela Borgwarth knew to the strength of character and immense intelligence he their son Dennis was destined for greatness. possessed and shared on behalf of bettering his country. Sandwiched between three sisters, Dennis was as “He just grew into it and we didn’t know anything about it,” comfortable running a sewing machine as he was rebuilding Gisela said of her son’s abilities for matters of national engines. significance and delicacy. Sitting around the dining table at their Gull Lake home, the “It was a heavenly force,” agreed Hanspeter. Borgwarth’s lovingly recalled the life of a brilliant man that was cut much too short for reasons not even they can “It seems he was a go-to man if there were ever any explain. questions,” Gisela noted, adding his coworkers had shared that Dennis had accomplished more in his 53 years of life “One of his first pictures, he was six or seven, and he had a than many of them had done in all their years combined. little workbench with hammers and tools,” recalled Gisela of her young boy. “Once, I left the kids alone when our oldest In 2010, Dennis was honored at the United States Library of was 12. I had the sewing machine out where the toys were. Congress in Washington D.C. with the Golden Chairman We were maybe gone two hours. And he had sewed and Award for Innovation” in the national defense industry. stuffed a baseball with the sewing machine. He was able to just look at a chair and draw it exactly as it was. Everything Following his death, the Borgwarths received a handwritten we threw away, he had to take apart first to understand what card of sympathy from United States General John Vessey made it work.” and wife Avis, sharing their heartfelt condolences. During his years at Brainerd High School, Dennis “We thank God for his life and important work,” the Vessey’s participated in choir and played the trumpet in the band. wrote. “We and our Nation will be safer because of it.” With the help of a rusty bike, thoughtfully hidden in the bushes by the public library, Dennis would leave school The Borgwarths said their son found respite and release in occasionally during the day to play Taps at military funerals working during his off time in his garages rebuilding and at Evergreen Cemetery. While in the Boy Scouts, he played restoring motorcycles salvaged from wrecks. He founded and the bugle. Dennis continued to round out his interests and was the Chief Executive Officer of Hot Metal Engineering, a abilities. Equal to his musicality was his mechanical skill. labor of love involving extreme metal fabrication. Here, he developed metal-shaping tools used all over the world. Again “He would take people’s junk – discarded lawnmowers, collecting a number of patents on his work, he built street bicycles – restore them and sell them,” reminisced Gisela. rods, custom motorcycles, aviation sheet metal, restoration “We liked to have as many family meals as possible, and he parts and more. always had physical questions about how things worked.” “Designing new products for great companies and turning Following graduation from Brainerd High School in 1979, motorcycle and car concepts into real life vehicles. I am living Dennis attended Central Lakes College where he was later my American Dream,” Dennis was once quoted as saying. inducted into the Hall of Fame; and also earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Physics and Beyond his professional achievements, Dennis always Mathematics from the University of North Dakota, believed in giving back to his community. He volunteered graduating as Valedictorian of his class. He also earned countless hours in high school classrooms, speaking of degrees and certification in Business, Graphic Arts, Welding engineering as a career choice. As an Eagle Scout, he helped and Machine Shop. young Scouts earn various merit badges. When a local 4-H group needed help to build a Solar Electric Vehicle, Dennis Dennis and his family lived in Andover; and for 28 years, he invited the club to his home shop and donated time and was employed as a Senior Staff Engineer at British materials. Aeronautical Engineering, formerly known as United Defense. There, he worked in a highly classified environment Dennis had a passion for waterskiing and interests in ancient for the United States Department of Defense; developing the history, math, physics and the arts. Railgun, and over 17 various patents for his work. In recognition of Dennis’ life, brother-in-law Joe Telega wrote The March 2014 issue of The Economist published a piece a tribute befitting the man who dedicated his life skill to regarding the ‘Electromagnetic Railgun Launcher,’ noting it serving his nation and community. ‘uses a form of electromagnetic energy to hurl a 23-pound projectile at speeds exceeding Mach 7. “In a word… extraordinary! I choose this word because an ordinary person buys an automobile. Dennis built them. Paging through a variety of articles regarding work they Ordinary people use scissors or a knife to cut something, not believed their son was an integral part of, the Borgwarths are a plasma torch. Ordinary people use skis to ski on water. amazed at the capacity of knowledge and fortitude their only Dennis used his bare feet. Ordinary people ski on snow in son possessed and are saddened knowing the immense the winter. Not water. That’s why I say ‘extraordinary.’ Does pressure he must have been under regarding the ambiguity anyone else have a word to share? Because if Dennis did, I of his work. would have to look it up in the dictionary.” On January 25, 2014, Dennis passed away. The Borgwarth’s “I am very proud of every product I’m involved with,” Dennis best explanation for their son’s death: “He succumbed under was once quoted as saying in an article featured in a British tremendous job pressures and an environment of top Aeronautical Engineering publication. “We don’t build security clearance.” widgets in the defense industry. We build products to protect the country, to protect liberty and to protect the lives of our At a memorial service to celebrate the life and work of soldiers. I believe we owe it to our troops to build the best Dennis, individuals who worked closely with him, and possible products for them to do their job. I can’t imagine possessed some of the inside knowledge, could only testify being more proud of any other career choice.” 2013 Sheila Wasnie

1981 Graduate Haverkamp Sheila (Wasnie) Haverkamp’s life has been one of ization, the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic what many inspirational movies are made of – the Development Corporation or BLAEDC. The organi - girl raised by an ideal family, but later faced with zation began operating just a year earlier after local obstacles, only to overcome them and rise above to business and community leaders recognized the pave the way for others in similar situations. need for a concerted effort to create jobs and diver - sify the area economy. It was an incredible opportu - Sheila attended Baxter Elementary from kinder - nity for an ambitious young professional to display garten to sixth grade, the eldest of five children. her leadership skills. Sheila took full advantage of From seventh through ninth grade, she went to the position to develop her expertise in economic Franklin Junior High School, until moving on to development. Brainerd High School. She was involved in athletics, including gymnastics and basketball. She had good “It had been ingrained in me to create job opportu - friends and kept busy with after school jobs. nities for people to have the quality of life that they want for themselves and their families. BLAEDC was But during her junior year, Sheila’s world changed. not only a career opportunity, but also a path to In the midst of her high school career, she discov - allow me to impact other people’s lives the same way ered she was pregnant. Dropping out of school to I once wanted my own life impacted.” have, and raise, a child was not an option to this for - ward-thinking young woman. Instead, she enrolled Throughout the past 25 years, Sheila has devoted in the Alternative Education Center in the spring of her life to improving the economic vitality and her junior year, continued with classes through the health of our Brainerd lakes area. She is currently summer and into the fall. Her son, Joseph, was born the executive director of BLAEDC and is certified as as she entered her senior year and thanks to her an economic development finance specialist while motivation and the assistance of teachers and staff, being recognized by her peers across the region and she graduated with her high school diploma in state for her knowledge and positive attitude in the 1981. field. Her professional affiliations include Positively Minnesota, Economic Development Association of After graduation, Sheila said she opted to go directly Minnesota, Minnesota Association of County into the workforce and forego a post-secondary edu - Economic Developers, the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, cation. After all, she was a teen mother with respon - and Brainerd Rotary. sibilities and a mouth to feed. “I truly hope that I can inspire others,” she said, not - “I came from a traditional family and I got used to a ing that it was during her time at Brainerd certain quality of life,” she recalled. “However, after Community College that an instructor shared the beginning to work, I realized if I wanted to have paper The Courage to be Imperfect, a work that those same opportunities for my family, I needed Sheila said impacted her beyond measure. schooling. It became clear to me that I needed an educational background to reach a career path that “I was more critical of myself than anyone else could could support my son and allow us to live the way I be. I wanted to succeed and be respected by myself wanted.” and others. So I would always have high expecta - tions of myself. But I learned that it’s okay to be In order to best balance her situation, Sheila imperfect and believe in yourself.” enrolled at Brainerd Community College, graduat - ing with an Associate’s Degree in 1985; then trans - Sheila also added a supportive family has also ferred to Minnesota State University- Moorhead helped pave the way to the woman she is today. Her where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in husband, Gene, is also a Brainerd High School grad - Business Administration in 1987 with concentra - uate. Her oldest son, Joseph, also a Brainerd High tions in finance, management and marketing. School graduate, still lives in the area with his four During college, she also interned with the U.S. children. Son Nicholas is a BHS grad and is current - Small Business Administration and worked for ly in his second year of college at Central Lakes Norwest Bank. College. Daughter Megan is a senior at BHS and enrolled as Post Secondary Enrollment Option stu - “I didn’t follow the traditional path and it was not dent at CLC. always a perfect life, but what I think is most impor - tant was that I had the courage to move forward “Education was always an important part of my with the challenges I faced.” upbringing,” Sheila said, adding the pride she feels knowing she has raised three children who will also After college, Sheila returned to Brainerd to work call Brainerd High School home. “It’s a family tradi - with a relatively new economic development organ - tion and we’re all very proud of it!” 2013 Connie Marshall-Grittner

1964 Graduate The same year Connie Grittner graduated from Brainerd for lunch – like other junior college students would do. High School, the United States Congress approved the Gulf Connie and a girlfriend had signed up for a Personal Typing of Tonkin Resolution after North Vietnamese torpedo boats class; but due to the large number enrolled, they were allegedly attacked U.S. destroyers. While it may sound like forced to take it over lunch hour, so they ate lunch an hour nothing more than a page from a history book, the irony is earlier – the same time Gary came over. that the same girl who despised history later went on to lead multi-million dollar projects to purchase research and “He had a crush on my girlfriend,” Connie said. “So, that’s development goods and services for the Navy and the Joint how I knew who he was.” Services, including electronic warfare, radar, and surveil - lance equipment. But a couple of years later, they officially met and started dating. When she went away to school at St Cloud State Connie was born in Brainerd at St Joseph’s Medical Center. University and Gary attended North Dakota State She grew up in a home on the north side of Brainerd and University, she would come home on the weekends to work attended Whittier Elementary School through the third shifts at Thrifty Drug, and Gary would stop in to take her grade. When her family moved north of town to Cinosam out for a Coke. Road, she then attended Nisswa Elementary until sixth grade; then bused to Franklin Junior High School and But it wasn’t until after graduating from college did he pro - Brainerd High School. pose. Connie explained that her mother was a long-time educator “I’m sure he wanted to make sure I was worth it first and at Nisswa Elementary, and while she wasn’t sure what she that I had my college education paid for,” Connie joked. “In wanted to pursue post-graduation, she knew she didn’t those days you would work your way through college. If I want to be a teacher. could do it, anybody could’ve done it.” “I was a teenager,” she laughed. “I know I didn’t like history. Following a Bachelor’s Degree in business from SCSU and a But now, that’s all I do is research and write history. Things Master’s in public administration from the University of really take a change when you get a little older. You become Northern Colorado, Connie spent more than 25 years in the more aware of how important history is.” Department of Defense as part of the Cold War effort. At the age of 50, she took early retirement and began an era of vol - During her years at BHS, it’s safe to say Connie enjoyed the unteering. She builds Habitat for Humanity homes; serves social scene. as the treasurer of the Verendrye Museum and helped organize three successful trail rides to raise funds for the “I made it through high school and college. I wasn’t a museum; serves as the treasurer of the ‘Bring it Home’ proj - straight ‘A’ student but I wasn’t a straight ‘C,’ so I guess I was ect to return the old railroad depot to Fort Pierre, South somewhere in between. But, you know, when you’re in high Dakota; reads with the third graders at her local grade school, some things aren’t as important; and class work school; is active in the Oahe Yacht Club; volunteers at the wasn’t number one.” State Cultural Heritage Center; paid the tuition, books and fee costs for a neighbor girl who was the Connie was a cheerleader throughout her three years at first in her family to attend college; and is active in South BHS. During her sophomore year, she cheered on the “B” Dakota politics. squad, then moved up to the “A” squad her junior and sen - ior years. Cheerleaders typically cheered for both football After retirement, Connie and Gary also bought a home in and basketball during that time. She also recalled being Florida, and had previously purchased property in Fort involved in other extra curriculars and being named to the Pierre, South Dakota, where they are currently building a National Honors Society. pheasant wildlife habitat. Connie said her best memories of high school were her “We just fell in love with South Dakota,” she said. “We have peers and the memories they created, especially surround - a house right on the river. It’s a sportsman’s paradise. If ing football games. you’re into any kind of sporting activities, this is it! Fishing, hunting, we’ve got it all.” “That was a fun time. On Friday nights, one of my girl - friends would have a potluck before the game. Then we’d Each summer for the past five or six years, the BHS Class of go to the games and dance after the game. There were 1964 meets at the American Legion in Nisswa. Connie said always dances after home games. Those were fun times. If about 25 classmates and their spouses attend, allowing we had an out of town game, we’d get back into town after - them an opportunity to keep in touch in a less formal ward and everybody would put their quarter in a pool and capacity. we’d go over to the pizza house on South Sixth Street, across the street from the old train depot. They don’t make The Grittners are also passionate in regard to philanthropy pizza like that anymore. You’d take a bite and the grease and recently announced a $1 million dollar gift to the South would run down your arm.” Dakota Community Foundation to support history and gift - ed education. In addition, they have offered to donate a fort Another notable memory from high school was meeting her to Fort Pierre, and regularly donate to educational institu - future husband, Gary. He was a student at Crosby High tions including Central Lakes College, St. Cloud State School, but attended junior college in Brainerd. Gary was a University and the Cuyuna Range Educational Foundation. year ahead of Connie and would come to the high school 2013 William Potvin

1972 Graduate It likely would’ve been hard for an 18-year-old Bill Potvin oping the Brainerd market. In 1988, D.H. Engen and to imagine that a sports analogy would correlate to the busi - Associates was sold to Larson, Allen Weishair and ness world some 40-years later. But it is exactly that mind - Company. Now known as CliftonLarsonAllen LLP in Baxter, set that has made Bill such a tremendous, and well-respect - Bill was named partner at the organization in 1988, and is ed, leader not only in his field but also throughout this now the Partner in Charge of the Brainerd and Alexandria community. locations. In addition, he manages the tax practice for the Northern Minnesota offices of CliftonLarsonAllen, which In 1961, Bill and his family of five sisters and two brothers include Brainerd, Alexandria, St. Cloud and Buffalo. His (three more sisters and a brother were born after arriving in areas of expertise include tax preparation and planning, Brainerd), moved to the Brainerd area when his father was succession planning, business consulting and financial transferred with the Minnesota State Highway Patrol from reporting with a current focus in the industries of construc - New Brighton to become the local district’s captain. He was tion and real estate, and working with dealerships and the just entering the second grade at the time and enrolled at St hospitality industry. Francis of Assisi, which he attended through the eighth grade. The Brainerd office of CliftonLarsonAllen has grown from 10 employees in 1988 to 50 in recent years. He has trusted As he completed junior high at Franklin Junior High School the gifts, talents and vision of the teams he has assembled, and entered the Brainerd High School as a sophomore, it’s and allowed and encouraged his employees to take risks safe to say, Bill was a well-rounded and very active young and learn from successes and failures while always looking man. Among his involvements were choir, student council, for a new and better way of doing things. letterman’s club, foreign student club and National Honor Society. He was also a multi-sport athlete, participating in “As a Partner-in-Charge of an office, I have to be able to rec - football, basketball and baseball. ognize the strengths of everyone that works within the office. You then have to be able to draw on those strengths On the Warrior football team, Bill was a tight end. He and maximize them to the benefit of your clients and the received Player of the Week honors during his senior year office; but, most importantly, for that individual, so they and helped to “upset a very good Crosby-Ironton team.” He have a satisfying career experience.” recalls that highlight of his football career when he caught two touchdown passes and two extra points for the team. “As I share with my staff, everyone in this office is extremely important to our success. CliftonLarsonAllen has offices of Bill played at the State championships for basketball in many different sizes. The large ones are very important, but 1971 and 1972, splitting his time as a guard and forward. we have smaller offices like ours that are equally important. In the spring, he transitioned to starting third baseman on Our CEO once shared with me that an office like Brainerd the Warrior baseball team. proved how important a smaller location can be to the suc - cess of our firm due to the successes we have right here.” “I was very active in high school in lots of extracurricular Bill is also able to draw on experiences from his days of high activities,” he recalled. “For some reason, I just kept getting school sports to lend to his leadership toolbox today. involved and found that I enjoyed being involved.” “I will say that I was never the star athlete but I was able to It was while he was in choir that he met his future wife, participate at a high level and contribute to the success of Cindy Schilling. The couple hit it off during a choir tour the team. This experience gave me a better understanding and married in 1975, while Bill was a junior in college. of the role everybody can play on a team. You don’t have to Following graduation from high school, he attended be a star, but you do have to play hard and give your all. I’ve Brainerd Community College for one year, then transferred been very lucky. I’ve always been surrounded by individuals to Bemidji State College, were he finished in only two years who have strived to make things better and they never say with his degree in accounting. He took generals during the it can’t be done. They just figure out a way and do it. The first quarter of his senior year, then accepted an internship thing is, in business, just like in the sporting teams, every - at Johns and Lampi Certified Public Accountants. After body has a part to play and if they do it well, the team will completing his three-month internship and then graduat - have success.” ing, Bill was offered a job with the CPA firm’s Staples office. In 1982, Bill and Cindy moved to the metro area where he Bill and Cindy have three children, Brent, Natalie and worked for Long Froehling and Associates in Excelsior as a Allison, all residing in the Brainerd area. Like their parents, manager in their tax department. In 1984, they returned to all three graduated from BHS. Brent and his wife Traci have Brainerd where he began work with Donald H. Engen and the next generations of Potvins which will be beneficiaries Associates in Pequot Lakes, and was responsible for quality of the great Brainerd schools, their sons Cade and Jace. and growth within the tax practice. He opened an office in Brainerd in 1984 for Engen and began growing and devel - 2012 Jill (Johnson) Wyant

1989 Graduate Jill Wyant Johnson is currently Senior Vice In addition to her Ecloab responsibilities, President and General Manager of the Food Wyant serves on the Leadership Cabinet of & Beverage (F&B) Americas business for the Greater Twin Cities United Way and will Ecolab Inc., a Fortune 500 company that help raise nearly $90 Million in support of provides water, hygiene and energy Minnesota communities this year. In 2011, technologies and services for customers in she served as Executive Chairperson of more than 160 countries around the world. Ecolab’s Community Giving Campaign As leader of this $700 Million business, which raised over $1 Million, a company Wyant is responsible for serving the dairy, record. She and her family also volunteer as brewing, beverage and food processing a “Big Family” in the Big Brothers, Big industries in some of the industry’s largest Sisters program. Her professional and and fastest growing global markets. philanthropic achievements were recognized by Profiles in Diversity Journal Wyant joined Ecloab in 2009 as Vice magazine when she was named one of their President, Global Strategic Planning, where “Women Worth Watching” in September she was instrumental in developing the 2011. global water, energy and waste growth strategy for Ecolab. This strategy work Jill and her husband, Pat, have one son, culminated in the company’s $8 Billion Jacob, and reside in St. Paul. Jill enjoys acquisition of Nalco, the world’s largest spending time with her family, running, sustainability services company focused on biking, and reading. She credits her success industrial water, energy and air, in 2011. to the strong work ethic she learned from Prior to joining Ecolab, Wyant spent twelve her parents, the support of her husband and years at General Electric where she gained son, and the tremendous mentoring broad senior management experience, provided by teachers in the Brainerd School including sales, marketing, Lean Six Sigma District (especially David Stark and Stuart quality, product development and customer Lade). service.

After graduating from Brainerd Senior High School in 1989, Wyant attended the University of St Thomas, and graduated summa cum laude with degrees in International Marketing and Japanese Studies. She completed her undergraduate international program at Osaka Gakuin University in Osaka, Japan. Wyant earned an MBA with Highest Honors from the University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business in 2002. 2012 James Peterson, Sr.

1943 Graduate James (Jim) graduated from Washington Jim worked for the Brainerd School District High School in 1943 and the Brainerd for 35 years until retiring in 1986. Junior College in 1948. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of James was the epitome of a good man. He Minnesota Duluth in 1949 and his master’s devoted his time to his wife, children, degree from the University of Minnesota grandchildren, great grandchildren, as well Duluth in 1955. Jim served in the U.S. as the students and staff within the Brainerd Army Medical Corps during World War II school district. He earned several terms of and the Korean War. endearment during his lifetime including, Jim, Peter, little-man-with-a-big-voice, 1st Jim taught in Eau Claire, WI and Duluth, SGT, Mr. P, Prin, Dad, PapaShan, Grandpa, MN prior to returning to Brainerd in 1951. Bumpa, Bumpie, Mawka, Papa Ross, and SP. He taught at the Lowell and Whittier Elementary Schools for two years before He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran being appointed an elementary principal. Church, American Legion Post #225, Deep For several years, he was the acting Portage Foundation, REAM, R.P.T.P., Crow principal of three schools simultaneously. Wing Historical Society, and the Northland Arboretum. As an elementary school principal, Jim worked hard to ensure that his students and James passed away March 31, 2012 and is staff received the best possible care. Jim survived by his wife of 63 years, Marjorie, strongly believed in the power of positive son James Jr., and two daughters, Deborah reinforcement. Jim is known for Johnson, and Tamara Holland. implementing the “Principal’s Treat Jar” system into the Brainerd school district. Jim sent a personalized letter of congratulations along with a pass to the treat jar to students who showed improvement in their coursework. The students received a candy bar and, more importantly, heard words of praise from Mr. Peterson. 2012 Kevin Doran

1979 Graduate Since graduating from Brainerd High School Kevin is a graduate of St. Cloud State in 1979 Kevin Doran has been living at the University. At Brainerd High School he was pace of the daily news as a Broadcast President of both his Junior and Senior Journalist. He has been the face and the Classes. Growing up he played football, voice of the news for millions of people in basketball and baseball and he was a thousands of newscasts over his career. Mr. member of the A cappella Choir in High Doran has earned several journalism School. Kevin is the son of Tom and honors, including two Emmy Awards from Marguerite Doran. His brother Mike and the Academy of Television Arts and sister Kathy Barta both live in the Brainerd Sciences, an Edward R. Murrow Award from Lakes area with their families. the Radio Television Digital News Association for excellence in electronic Today Kevin and his family live in Victor, journalism, the National Anna Quindlen just outside of Rochester, in New York’s Award from the Child Welfare League of beautiful Finger Lakes region. The Doran’s America for excellence in journalism on have two daughters, Emma and Eva, and behalf of children and families, plus awards they are active members of St. Patrick’s from the Associated Press for his reporting Catholic Church. They volunteer their time on education issues and his anchoring. with many local charities. As recognition for their efforts Kevin and Teresa were named Kevin got his start in 1985 working as a Victor’s Citizens of the year in 2003. Producer and News Photographer at KCMT TV in Alexandria, now known as KCCO TV. Regardless of where Kevin is or whatever He met his wife Teresa while working as an story he is reporting, Brainerd is always in Anchor and Reporter at KTTC TV in his heart. He says the values of hard work, Rochester, Minnesota. To gain experience honesty and fairness he first learned from he moved to WSAZ TV in Huntington, West his parents and then from his teachers and Virginia and then on to WRTV 6 in others in his hometown have given him the Indianapolis, Indiana. He has been the perfect foundation for his work as a evening News Anchor and Managing Editor journalist. at both WROC TV News 8 and WUHF TV FOX in Rochester, New York since 2000. 2012 Phil Mattson

1956 Graduate As a student at Washington High School, Mattson has conducted honor choirs and Phil Mattson was at times given keys to the clinics throughout the United States, school building to practice piano. In the Canada, Europe and the Far East. He served world of choral music, the practice time as ACDA National Repertoire and Standards afforded to Mr. Mattson seems a great Chair for Vocal Jazz and annually conducts investment. Mr. Mattson is internationally the Carnegie Hall Vocal Jazz Festival. known as a conductor, arranger, pianist and During the summer, Phil Mattson Vocal teacher. Twice nominated for Grammy Jazz/Choral Workshops are presented on Awards with his group, The P.M. Singers, campuses in the United States, Canada and his success in training young musicians for Europe. His ensemble, Phil Mattson and professional careers led to the establishment Voices Iowa, was honored as “Vocal Jazz of The School for Music Vocations at Group of the Year” by Downbeat Magazine. Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa. Mattson lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is an active musician. He leads the Phil Phil Mattson has served as Director of Mattson Singers, a nationally known six- Choral Activities at Foothill College in voice vocal jazz ensemble and continues to California and Gonzaga University in arrange music for many choirs and vocal Spokane,WA. He has taught at Pacific jazz ensembles worldwide. He is an Lutheran University in Tacoma,WA and at accompanist for several leading Twin City The Phil Mattson School in Spokane,WA. singers and recently completed a CD of His undergraduate studies in music and Duke Ellington compositions with singer philosophy/religion were done at Concordia Dorothy Doring. He teaches a number of College, Moorhead, MN, graduating summa voice, piano and arranging students, and cum laude. His graduate degrees in choral this fall began teaching part-time at The literature and conducting were completed MacPhail Center for Music. He enjoys his at the University of Iowa as an NDEA six children and eleven grandchildren as Fellow. well as being a serious bicyclist and long- distance Harley-Davidson motorcycle rider. Mattson has published more than 100 works for choir and vocal jazz ensemble. The Manhattan Transfer, The Real Group, Chanticleer, The Four Freshmen, The Dale Warland Singers and Beachfront Property are among groups who have commissioned his arrangements. 2011 Brad Hill

1969 Graduate Brad Hill graduated valedictorian of achievement in service to the people of the Brainerd High School in 1969. Known as an community. extremely intelligent and inquisitive young man, he went on to study both Economics Brad traveled extensively, to some 100+ dif - and Special Education at the University of ferent countries. He never lost touch with Minnesota, eventually earning a Master’s his University contacts from around the degree in Special Education. world. Planning and traveling with him was a delight and an education. No place was Summer employment at the Brainerd State too exotic or too far off the beaten path. Hospital inflamed in Brad a passion for bet - Brad taught himself Spanish, becoming flu - ter treatment and training of residents. It ent for travel, consulting and to teach read - was not surprising that his intelligence and ing to the neighborhood immigrants. His his inquisitiveness took root in the develop - diverse library covered many book cases, ment of a professional assessment test for including two sets of many children’s developmentally disabled individuals. books, used for teaching reading. Reading Known as the Scales of Independent was a special passion, and he developed his Behavior, the SIB was co-authored by Brad, own program to teach it. Dick Weatherman, Richard Woodcock, and Robert Bruininks, 15 th President of the In a letter to the family shortly after Brad’s University of Minnesota. The test is widely untimely death, President Bruininks wrote: mandated by school districts and “We are proud to be able to claim your son Departments of Public Health & Education as an alumnus…His research and devotion in nearly all the states. It was also adapted, to the deinstitutionalization of people with with Brad’s help , for use in Spain. Brad was developmental disabilities improved lives busily engaged in consulting and training throughout the world….your son made his these SIB users through the years. brilliance and compassion a gift to society, and his work left an enduring legacy of Mr. Hill is most remembered by friends and tremendous importance.” family as a caring person and as an ‘oasis of calm .’ He was the stability that neighbor - Known as selfless, kind-hearted, and hood people looked to, and the tutor, men - humorous, Brad is believed to have con - tor, and foster home to numerous youth. No structed one of the first BHS Class of 1969 less fortunate, less capable, or yet to be edu - websites for the benefit of friends and class - cated individual had a more fearless advo - mates at BHS. Though he succumbed to cate or better teacher than Brad. Brad served complications related to a genetic condition on the Minneapolis United Way Board and called Marfans Syndrome too early in life, received the United Way “Unsung Hero friends, classmates, and family will forever Award” in 1997 for outstanding volunteer remember Brad Hill. 2011 Basil C. LeBlanc

1972 Graduate Basil LeBlanc graduated from Brainerd been deployed overseas several times, High School in 1972, and immediately once to Kosovo, twice to Iraq, in addi - went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude tion to humanitarian missions to from Saint Olaf College in 1976 and Central America. Closer to home, Dr. later from the University of Minnesota LeBlanc volunteered for 15 years at Medical School in 1993. Camp Needlepoint, a summer camp for children with diabetes. Throughout his Commissioned in the United States military and civilian life, Dr. LeBlanc Army in 1988, he was eventually pro - has used his talents to care for people in moted to Colonel in 2004 and served as need and donated his “time, skill and State Surgeon for the Minnesota Army energy to those less fortunate and to National Guard 2006-2010, and con - those in need .” tinues to serve in the Guard. He has 2011 Gayle Anderson Ober

1977 Graduate Gayle M. Ober is a 1977 graduate of Minnesota Public Radio. She was Brainerd High School whose achieve - responsible for management and lead - ments in music and in non-profit foun - ership of national and regional pro - dation management are exceptional. gramming, including programs such as Classical 24, Saint Paul Sunday, After leaving Brainerd, Gayle Ober went Pipedreams, and Performance Today. on to study and earn a bachelor’s degree in vocal music performance at the Currently, Gayle Ober is the Executive University of Minnesota as well as a Director of the George Family master’s degree in non-profit manage - Foundation, a Minnesota-based foun - ment from . dation which awards grants to qualified non-profits in the areas of Integrative Ms. Ober’s musical career beyond uni - Health, Spirituality, and Leadership. versity spans over twenty years, includ - ing singing with the Minnesota Chorale She is responsible for leadership and (1985-1995) and with the Dale management of all aspects of the foun - Warland Singers (symphonic engage - dation’s work, and serves as the first ments 2002-2004). Even as she lead point of contact to the community; the the planned closing of this prestigious George Family Foundation grants and acclaimed choral group, Ms. Ober’s approximately $2.6 million annually to involvement in non-profit work and the other non-profit organizations. arts rose to dramatic heights. In 2007, Gayle M. Ober was honored as Gayle Ober has served as the Director a Distinguished Scholar by the Hamline of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment for Graduate School of Management. the City of Saint Paul under Mayor Randy Kelly. Later, Ms. Ober became Gayle lives in Mendota Heights with the Managing Director of Classical her husband Tim and has two children, Music Programming and Partnerships Daniel and Analise. for American Public Media and 2010 Edward T. O’Brien

1923 Graduate Edward Thomas O’Brien died at the age O’Brien Properties and O’Brien Mineral of 76 in1982. He was the youngest of Company. He was the Mayor of thirteen children of Con O’Brien. He Brainerd, served on the school board, graduated from the Washington High was a charter member of Crow Wing School in 1923 and went on to receive Power and the executive board. Past degrees from the University of President of Brainerd Rotary and served Minnesota, Georgetown and Harvard. as District Governor.

He served in the Red Cross during He taught himself to play the piano. World War II. He owned the Brainerd Tom never married but loved his nieces Greenhouse, Brainerd Broadcasting Co. and nephews and his summer home on including Muzak and his mothers name Clearwater Lake where he did a lot of is still the call letters of KLIZ which he entertaining. Pete Humphrey once said loved to call her. of Tom “He would dine with royalty one day and have an ice cream cone He was part owner of O’Brien Merc., with me the next.” 2010 Madonna H. Meyer

1977 Graduate Madonna Harrington Meyer graduated More recently she co-authored, with from Brainerd High School in 1977 and her graduate student Pamela Herd, has gone on to teach and do research in Market Friendly or Family Friendly? The gerontology, social policy, health, and State and Gender Inequality in Old Age , gender. Graduating from Hamline Russell Sage 2007, for which she was University in 1981, she later earned her awarded The Gerontological Society of Masters in 1987 at the University of America Richard Kalish Publication Minnesota and a Ph.D. in sociology in Award. She is also author of dozens of 1991 at Florida State . scholarly articles and chapters on US old age economic and health policy. Today, Harrington Meyer is a Professor She is currently writing a book on of Sociology, and a Senior Research grandmothers who are employed and Associate in the Center for Policy also caring for their grandchildren. Research, at Syracuse University. She is the former Director of the Syracuse Madonna Harrington Meyer currently University Gerontology Center and was lives in Skaneateles, NY, with her hus - both Assistant and Associate Professor band Jeffrey Meyer, a Mathematics at the University of in Urbana. Professor at Syracuse University, and their three children, Ellen, 20, Her contributions to gerontology and Maureen, 17, and Samuel, 15. social policy are numerous. She is edi - tor of Care Work: Gender, Labor, and the Welfare State , Routledge Press 2000. 2010 Howard “Jiggs” Blanck

1954 Graduate Howard “Jiggs” Blanck graduated from Mr. Blanck was a very active supporter the Washington High School with the of the Brainerd High School, University class of 1954, attended Brainerd Junior of Minnesota, and was a Chair of the College and also attended Bemidji State Camp Confidence Celebrity Classic. In College and St. Cloud State College. He 1987, Jiggs and others were asked to was a U. S. Army Veteran. serve on the Board of the newly formed Brainerd Public Schools Foundation, Mr. Blanck worked in the newspaper and he served on that Board until 2009. industry for a number of years, includ - ing serving as the Business Manager for Mr. Blanck was strong in his faith, a the Brainerd Dispatch. In recent years strong family man and loyal to his he was self-employed in the ad special - friends. When Jiggs committed to tak - ty business with Brown and Bigelow of ing on a project, you could count on it St. Paul. being completed with the full measure of his energy and devotion, qualities we Mr. Blanck was very civic minded as have admired throughout his lifetime of evidenced by the various boards he service to our community. served on over the years. He has served on the Brainerd Parks and Recreation In an editorial written in the Brainerd Board, Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport Dispatch, they state “Though he was Commission, Brainerd Transportation strong-willed and opinionated, Blanck Commission, Brainerd Charter listened to others and sought common Commission and he was on the ground. He wanted Brainerd to move Brainerd City Council from 1974-1979. forward. He wanted its high school Mr. Blanck was also a charter member athletes to succeed. He gave the of the Brainerd High School impression of a man who couldn’t Distinguished Achievement Hall of understand why a person wouldn’t be Fame Committee where the committee an active booster of the Brainerd area. repeatedly sought and received the ben - Blanck was a booster in the best sense efit of Jigg’s great knowledge of local of the word. His love for all things history. Brainerd was strong and sincere.” 2010 LtCol William F. McCollough

1987 Graduate LtCol McCollough was born and raised in In 2005 he reported back to 3d Bn, 5th Brainerd, Minnesota. He graduated summa Marines for duty as Executive Officer, and was cum laude from Norwich University , was later assigned as the Team Chief for Military nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship, and was Transition Team 131. He deployed to Al commissioned in May 1991. After completing Anbar, Iraq where he advised 1st Bn, 3d Bde, The Basic Officers’ Course with honors, he 1st Iraqi Division during Operation IRAQI was assigned to the Infantry Officers’ Course. FREEDOM. In Oct 2006, he was promoted to His first posting was to 2d Bn, 3d Marines LtCol and assigned as the Operations Officer, where he served as Platoon Commander and 1st Marine Regiment. He then deployed to Executive Officer, Company E, and Assistant Iraq with Regimental Combat Team 1 where Battalion Operations Officer. he served as the Tribal Engagement Officer and Executive Officer. In 1995, Lt McCollough reported for duty with Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Upon return from Iraq he assumed command Company where he commanded the 2d of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. In May 2009 he Platoon, the 5th Platoon, and served as the deployed to Afghanistan where his Battalion Executive Officer. Deployments included to seized the Nawa District of Helmand Province, the Mid-Atlantic to interdict a Chinese participating in Operation KANJARI. freighter during Operation , and to CENTCOM in support of Operation After returning from Afghanistan he lectured DESERT and Operation SOUTH - widely on Counterinsurgency theory and ERN WATCH. In 1998 he received orders to practice at numerous military schools across Amphibious Warfare School, where he gradu - the United States, as well as in Great Britain, ated with honors . Canada, and Denmark. He is currently a stu - dent at the Marine Corps War College in Capt. McCollough then reported to 3d Bn, 5th Quantico, VA . Marines where he served as Weapons Company Commander and Bn Operations LtCol McCollough’s personal decorations Officer and deployed to for Operation include the Bronze Star with “V” device, the WILDFIRE . His subsequent assignment was Purple Heart, The Meritorious Service Medal as the Assistant Operations Officer, G-3, 1st with one gold star, and the Combat Action Marine Division, where he worked on the 1st Ribbon with one gold star . MarDiv response plans after the September 11th terrorist attacks . He is married to the former Caroline Sims of Columbia, TN and has two sons, Jack and In 2002 Maj McCollough reported to the Hunter . Officer of Legislative Affairs for duty as a Congressional Fellow. In 2003 he became the Deputy Marine Liaison to the U.S. House of Representatives. 2009 Shawn Stengel

1977 Graduate Shawn’s distinguished and varied career in show Marching Band concerts at Northrop Auditorium business is firmly rooted in his upbringing in and internationally in Winnipeg, Canada and for the Brainerd. Whether singing in the choir at president of Mexico in Mexico City. He studied Bethlehem Lutheran Church, putting on shows in trumpet privately with Dr. David Baldwin and Ron the basement with a willing troupe of siblings, rela - Hasselmann of the Minnesota Orchestra. In addition tives and neighborhood kids, taking piano and to playing with the Brass Choir and the Pleasant trumpet lessons, or attending Brainerd public Street Brass Quintet, Shawn was a member of Dr. schools, Shawn was always “in rehearsal” for a Bencriscutto’s elite Wind Ensemble, performing on career in performing arts. campus and Orchestra Hall, recorded for national Shawn and his family (Casey, & Doris, brother broadcast on MPR’s St. Paul Sunday Morning pro - Randy, sister Wendy) moved to Brainerd in the early gram, featured at Carnegie Hall, and touring the 60’s and he started school at Lowell. The next year, People’s Republic of China in 1980, breaking the family moved to South 7th Street, a block from ground as the first amateur performing group to per - Edison Elementary. There, Shawn’s notable achieve - form on the mainland since 1949. ments included Fastest 1st Grade Boy (repeatedly A move to Los Angles in the mid-80’s led to some beating fastest 1st Grade girl, Nancy Kunde, in the interesting hobnobbing with the stars while working To-The-Fence-And-Back Race) , Mrs. Koeppel’s 2nd at the exclusive Hotel Bel-Air. Shawn was also Grade Rat’s Nest Desk Award, getting glasses, and involved with the L.A. Songwriter’s Workshop, took playing (with minimal negative effect) on the unde - film scoring classes through UCLA, and music feated 6th Grade basketball team. directed his first professional show, RED, WHITE & A quick 3-year waltz through Washington Junior ROSIE. Shortly there after, Shawn auditioned and High and it was off to high school. Shawn was one was hired for the L.A. production of PUMP BOYS & of only a few students to be selected for both the DINETTES. Just a few weeks later, he was ‘traded” Symphonic Band and Acappella Choir as a sopho - to the Chicago production of PUMP BOYS and he more. During his BHS years he also played trumpet amassed over a thousand performances in that in the marching band, pep band and was the winner record-breaking run. of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for his work in the Stage Band. Shawn was named Principal Based in Chicago, Shawn’s musical theatre career Trumpet in the Minnesota All-State Orchestra after took off, literally, as he spent the better part of the his junior year. In addition to touring Europe during 90’s on the road as a musician and conductor tour - the summer of 1976 with the choir, Shawn also sang ing first with Cathy Rigby as PETER PAN, then with with the Madrigal Singers, helped name and per - the national tour’s of Kander & Ebb’s AND THE formed with Windfall, served as tenor section WORLD GOES”ROUND, CRAZY FOR YOU (which leader, and was Acappella Co-Most Valuable included a 3 month run in Berlin, Germany), and Member his senior year. During junior year, Shawn finally CATS. In between tours, he performed on added drama to his activities. He appeared in lead - stage across the country in regional productions of ing roles in several productions, eventually being PUMP BOYS and OIL CITY SYMPHONY. honored as Best Supporting Actor. Over the last 25 years, Shawn has worked on pro - During his high school years Shawn also sang with ductions at most of the theatres in Chicago, includ - the Minnesota All-Sate Lutheran Choir, played the ing the word premieres of Stephen Sondheim’s organ and sang in the senior choir at Bethlehem BOUNCE and Kander & Ebb’s THE VISIT starring Lutheran, and appeared in musical productions dur - Chita Rivera, both at the Goodman Theatre. He was ing the summer at Brainerd Community College Associate Conductor of WICKED for over 3 years at (now Central Lakes College). He was also a member the Oriental Theatre, and he recently directed a pro - of AFS and the Stengel family hosted two foreign duction of PUMP BOYS & DINETTE at the Drury exchange students, Carlos from Bolivia, and Beatrice Lane Theatre that is transferring to the Mercury from Ghana, Africa. Theatre in Chicago for an open-ended commercial Shawn attended the University of Minnesota in run. Minneapolis and graduated with degrees in Music Education and Music Composition. He was a mem - Shawn continues to live in Chicago where he con - ber of the “U” Marching Band performing at Golden tinues to direct and perform in addition to running Gopher football games, the wildly popular Indoor three businesses with his partner Tony. 2009 Michael O’Leary

1969 Graduate From our streets and our schools we send forth (4 years), Papua New Guinea (4 years), Fiji (8 change agents of the first order. Dr Michael years), and (3 years). For 12 of those O’Leary, who graduated from the “new” Brainerd years he was detailed from CDC to the World High School in 1969, is such an agent, serving Health Organization as a WHO Medical Officer. the needs of humanity worlds away from his In 2005 O’Leary retired from the PHS after 23 roots in our community. years of service, at the rank of O-6. During this time he made more than 150 international duty O’Leary’s interest in international life and work trips to about 25 different countries, authored was kindled when he spent a high school year or co-authored more than 40 scientific articles as an AFS student in Mbabane, Swaziland. He and papers, investigated many disease out - lived with the Glen family during part of his breaks, taught hundreds of medical students junior year, returning to BHS in January 1969 and health care workers, was a founder of the to finish high school and graduate with his Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network, and classmates. He spent the next 8 years at the was awarded several USPHS medals including University of Minnesota, gaining a BA in the Outstanding Service Medal. anthropology and his MD, followed by a med - ical residency program at the University of In November 2005 O’Leary returned to WHO, Hawaii. After three more years of training and now as a senior manager in the post of WHO board certification in Internal Medicine, he Representative in Cambodia, overseeing a staff attained also an MPH in International Health in of 50, including 25 international professional Hawaii, and completed a second residency in staff from 16 different countries. WHO in Preventive Medicine. He practiced clinical med - Cambodia provides technical support to the icine in Hawaii for 4 years. Ministry of Health across a full range of health programs, as well as leadership for collabora - O’Leary joined the Commissioned Corps of the tion among Government, international donors, US Public Health Service (PHS), and in 1984 he NGOs, and other key stakeholders in health. entered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC Atlanta) Epidemic In September 2009 WHO reassigned Dr Intelligence Service (EIS), a 2-year training pro - O’Leary to Beijing, to head its country office in gram in epidemiology and public health. He China. He and his staff are involved in efforts to spent most of this time in Seattle, as EIS Officer control and prevent a litany of health problems, at the Washington State Department of Health, from HIV to influenza to environmental haz - where he focused on infectious diseases and ards. outbreaks of disease. Michael O’Leary and his wife Pakawan, a phar - By 1986 he began a career in international pub - macist and Pilates instructor, were married in lic health. For nearly 20 years his work focused 1990. They have one son, Sean (1994), set to on epidemiology, infectious diseases, and inter - graduate from high school in 2012 at the national public health surveillance and Western Academy of Beijing, China. response, in the Federated States of Micronesia 2009 Henry C. Mills II

1946 Graduate Henry C. Mills II graduated from Stewart C. Mills, Sr. From his days as a Brainerd High School in 1946 after sixth grader working at Lively Auto attending Whittier Elementary and doing clean-up and showroom jobs, Franklin Junior High, where he was Mr. Mills interest and passion has Winter Snow King. At Washington helped to develop what we know today High School he was Sophomore Class as a group of enterprises know as the President. He graduated in 1948 from Mills Companies, of which Henry is Brainerd Junior College, attended the Co-President. University of Minnesota in 1949, and graduated in Business from Hamline Henry is the Co-President of Mills GM University in 1951. Brainerd, Mills Ford and the Bodyworks Brainerd, Mills GM Mr. Mills served with the 194 th Tank Willmar, Mills Ford Willmar, Mills Parts Battalion in the National Guard and was Distribution Willmar, Mills Supply stationed at Forts Leonard Wood, Company, Crow Wing Oil Company, Sheridan, Riley, Leavenworth as well as and Mills Properties. Incorporated. AS Camps Kilmer, Ripley and USERA well as Mills Fleet Farm locations Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, His service extended from 1946 until North Dakota and Iowa. the early 1960’s. Henry and his wife Nancy maintain res - Henry is part of the Mills family, whose idences in Appleton, Wisconsin and business started in 1955 with his broth - here at Gull Lake, Minnesota. er Stewart C. Mills, Jr. and his father 2009 Dr. Wayne Little

1950 Graduate Dr. Wayne Little’s contributions to the Student Services, and Internships. Prior business and education fields to his retirement in 1992 Dr. Little was are coupled with a history of Director of the College of Business service and commitment to the Brainerd Research and small Business Community. Development Center. He has authored or co-authored eleven textbooks and Wayne began his professional prepara - contributed to numerous other publica - tion at Brainerd Junior College where he tions. Aside from his University respon - earned an Associate in Arts Degree in sibilities Dr. Little has spoken at numer - 1952. He then completed a Bachelor of ous business and professional gatherings Arts at Hamline University in 1954 fol - and has held memberships and offices in lowed by service as a member of the such organizations and societies as Beta Army Security Agency. Before being Gamma Sigma, Phi Delta Epsilon, Twin transferred to reserve duty he was pre - Cities Insurance Personnel Directors sented an Outstanding Service Award. Association, United Way Business Later he earned a Bachelor of Science Division Director and others. (1957) and a Master of Science (1962) degree from the University of Minnesota. Since retirement Dr. Little has made a Dr. Little completed his PhD in lasting impact in community service. Marketing from the University of For six years he was President of the Minnesota in 1972. Board of Directors for Camp Confidence and was a Central Lakes Dr. Little’s early teaching and administra - College Foundation Board Member. He tive assignments were as a marketing has been President of the Brainerd instructor, business department chair Rotary Club and Governor-Elect of and administrator in various Wisconsin Rotary District 5580. Wayne and his and Minnesota Technical Colleges. At St. wife Jo live in the Brainerd Lakes Area Cloud State University he held positions and have four adult children (Claire, as Associate Dean and acting Dean of the Brian, Wendy & Wesley) and six grand - College of Business. Dr. Little also served children. as Director of Business Graduate Studies, 2008 John Arnold

1937 Graduate Demonstrated in both his personal and Hotel Association and the Minnesota professional life, John Arnold was syn - Resort Association. For 14 years he was onymous with Minnesota nice and cen - Minnesota’s delegate on the board of tral Minnesota hospitality. directors of the American Hotel and Motel Association. In 1984 he was Arnold was born and raised in Minnesota Resorter of the Year, and in Brainerd, graduating from Brainerd 1988 he was voted Director of the Year High School in 1937. He received a for the American Hotel and Motel bachelor of science degree from the Association. University of Minnesota, majoring in business and education. During World Locally, Arnold was a director of War II he served as a captain in the US Brainerd Savings and Loan for 28 years. Marine Corps. He also served as a director of the Brainerd Chamber of Commerce, the Arnold spent 10 years as an employee Central Lakes College Foundation, St of Northwest Airlines’ Food and Joseph’s Medical Center, and the Passenger Service divisions, stationed Benedictine Health Service Foundation. in Anchorage, Alaska; Tokyo, Japan; He was a Rotarian, a Shriner, and a and Minneapolis. This culminated with member of the First Congregational the position of Director of Food Service. Church.

Returning to Brainerd in 1957, he Upon retirement in 1996, Arnold and accepted an opportunity to become a wife Lovelle spent winters in Florida partner of Jack and Jim Madden at and summers in Brainerd. They have Maddens Resort. During the period four sons - Jack, Craig, David and Jim. from 1957 to 1996, he was also active John Arnold died on January 27, 2008 in hospitality industry associations and at the age of 87 in Delray Beach, served as president of the Minnesota Florida. 2008 Captain Wallace Lind

1905 Graduate As part of the graduating class of 1905, port) in so efficiently organizing, it’s likely Wallace L. Lind never imag - instructing and drilling the crew of that ined he’d be immortalized. But that’s vessel that everything possible was exactly what happened when the U.S.S. done to save the ship after she was tor - Wallace L. Lind was launched on June pedoed on May 31, 1918.” 14, 1944. From 1935 to 1938, Commander Lind Lind was born June 18, 1887 in was assigned to the Office of the Chief Brainerd and graduated in 1905. On of Naval Operations, Navy Depart ment, June 30, 1905 he was appointed a Washington D.C. During this period he midshipman in the U.S. Naval received his promotion to captain. Academy by Congressman Lindbergh Following the war, Lind served as an of Little Falls. In September 1915 he officer on a number of ships, eventually arrived at the United States Naval being appointed commanding officer of Academy for a post-graduate course in the U.S.S. Omaha with the American steam engineering, following which he Mediterranean Fleet in 1938. In 1939, attended Columbia University for spe - he returned to the Navy Department as cial instruction. budget officer and died on April 12, 1940. During World War I he served on a number of ships including the U.S.S. The U.S.S. Wallace L. Lind was named President Lincoln. He was awarded the after him four years later - laid down on Navy Cross for service during the war February 14, 1944 by the Federal with the following citation: Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J.; launched on June 14, “For distinguished service in the line of 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Wallace L. his profession as executive officer of the Lind; and commissioned at the New U.S.S. President Lincoln (naval trans - York Navy Yard on September 8, 1944. 2007 Thomas G. Anderson

1968 Graduate Tom Anderson graduated from Brainerd ees during his time with UPI. Anderson High School in 1968 with honors. then joined Hunt Technologies in During high school he excelled in aca - Pequot Lakes as their Chief Operating demics, athletics and activities – from Officer and is now part owner and the lettering in three sports, to being Chief Executive Officer of Minnesota named a member of the National Honor Thermal Science with offices in Baxter Society to his involvement in student and Plymouth. newspaper and the Letterman’s Club. His civic involvement includes serving Upon high school graduation, on a number of Boards including the Anderson attended Bemidji State Brainerd Lakes Area Development University and also attended Corporation, Brainerd Lakes Area Manchester College (part of Oxford Chamber of Commerce (president in University) as an exchange student for 1990), St. Joseph’s Medical Center, one year, participating on the Oxford Benedictine Health Care System, University boxing team. He received his Brainerd Lakes Area YMCA, Brainerd Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction Lakes Area Community Foundation, from the University of Minnesota, and the Independent School District where he also gained honors as a mem - 181 Foundation. Anderson is currently ber of the Beta Gamma Sigma honor a member of the Brainerd Rotary and in society, a member of the dormitory the past has been a member of Sertoma council and a student representative. and the Elks.

Anderson worked as a Certified Public In 1986, Anderson was named an Accountant with Arthur Andersen, and Outstanding Young Man in America. later as a financial manager with He has also served as a coach of youth Jostens, Carlson Companies and baseball and basketball and as an advi - Midwest Vision Center. He was sor with Junior Achievement. employed by Universal Pensions, Inc. for over 20 years including nine years Anderson currently lives in Baxter with when he served as the company’s presi - his wife, Beth, and has two adult chil - dent and chief operating officer. The dren – Josh and Kirsten (Kirk). company grew from 12 to 500 employ - 2007 Dr. Gene M. Bierhaus

1939 Graduate It was during his time as an athlete, and Hospital in Denver, Colorado. He co-captain of the Warrior football team, became the veterinarian for the at Brainerd High School where Gene Colorado State Racing Commission in Bierhaus earned the nickname the 1957 and his work in horse racing drug “Battering Ram.” regulation brought him national and international recognition as the ulti - Bierhaus excelled in Brainerd athletics, mate authority in horse racing medica - participating in football, basketball, tion issues. He held this position until track and . It was his all-state foot - his retirement in 1981 and provided ball honor that helped him earn a consulting for several years afterwards. scholarship to the University of During his veterinary career he was the Minnesota where he played football president of the Colorado Veterinary from 1939-1942 and was a member of Medical Association and in 1972 he the 1940 and 1941 national champi - was the first veterinarian ever to be onship teams. He was also the Big Ten honored as The Man of the Year by the light heavyweight boxing champion. Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective He went on to letter in football three Association. years at the U of M and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, though he opted In the early 1990s, Bierhaus returned to not to play in the NFL. the lakes area, enjoying his retirement years on Gull Lake. He was a charter After receiving a degree in education, member of the Brainerd Warriors Hall Bierhaus joined the United States of Fame (1985) and a member of the Marine Corps where he served as a lieu - Brainerd Dispatch All-Century Football tenant during World War II, namely in Team. the Battle of Iwo Jima. He won the Marine Corps Boxing Championship Bierhaus died unexpectedly in Lake while completing the Platoon Leaders Shore on October 11, 2006. He was Class and a Purple Heart after being preceded in death by his wife of 47 wounded twice in battle. years, Jeanne. He is survived by two daughters: Kristy Bierhaus of Denver Following the war he returned to col - and Susy Nettleton of Hopkins; grand - lege on the G.I. Bill to earn his doctor of daughter Molly McAdam of Hopkins; veterinary medicine degree and then and Mills family cousins in Brainerd. establish the Brentwood Small Animal 2007 Dr. Kimberley Broekemeier

1977 Graduate A 1977 graduate of Brainerd High School, brane permeability in mitochondria” and Kimberly Broekemeier was the valedictorian “the lipid metabolism associated with this of her class and had a 4.0 GPA. She was a intracellular organelle.” Advances in these National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist and areas impact numerous physiological and National Honor Society member. pathological processes, including embryo Throughout her high school years, she was development and cell damage caused by involved in several extracurricular activities. ischemia. She has several scientific articles She was President of the American Field published in Bio chemistry and The Journal of Service, an organization involved in sup - Biological Chemistry , two premier journals porting student exchange with foreign coun - for scientific publications in the field of bio - tries, and played flute in the BHS chemistry. Her main contributions have Symphonic Band, receiving star ratings in been “elucidation of the mechanism and Minnesota solo competition. She was a regulation of the mitochondrial permeability three-year letter winner in track and basket - transition,” with results published in The ball and competed in the regional meet in Journal of Biological Chemistry in 1989 and the long jump. discovery of a uniquely regulated phospho - lipase, a lipid-metabolizing enzyme, in Broekemeier attended St Olaf College where mitochondria, with results published in she was an honor student, received the Allis Biochemistry in 2002. Scholarship for Chemistry Majors, and was a recipient of the Edolph A. Larson Broekemeier’s career advanced to a position Scholarship. She graduated magna cum as senior research scientist at Ohio State laude in 1981 with a chemistry major. While University. In 1998, she accepted a tenure at St Olaf she also participated in organ les - tract assistant professor position in the sons, flute, and Norseman (freshman) band. chemistry department at Ohio Northern She was a three-year letter winner in track University in Ada, Ohio, a four-year private and was the 1980 State Pentathlete undergraduate college rated as one of the Champion, MAIAW, Division III. top five regional schools by US News and World Report. Broekemeier is currently a After college, Broekemeier worked at the tenured associate professor and teaches bio - Hormel Institute in Austin, Minnesota as a chemistry and advanced biochemistry lab technician where she became interested courses as well as supervises the biochem - in pursuing a scientific research career. After istry lab course. She is continuing her three years, she returned to school at the research on the “mitochondrial permeability University of Minnesota, enrolling as a grad - transition” as well as conducting a research uate student in the Department of project on the regulation of the mitochondr - Biochemistry. She received a Ph.D. in ial phospholipase A 2. She has served as Biochemistry in 1990 with an emphasis in mentor to 13 undergraduate researchers, has physical biochemistry and finished with a participated in writing at least 10 successful 4.0 GPA. grant proposals, authored 17 publications, 14 abstracts and/or conference presentations She returned to the Hormel Institute as a and sits on/and or chairs several influential postdoctoral fellow and began a career in University committees. basic biochemical research, working to fur - ther the understanding of how healthy tis - Above all, Broekemeier continues to be a sues and cells function. Her primary areas of “traditional mother” to her daughter. research have been “the regulation of mem - 2007 Cindy Fryklind Clough

1976 Graduate Cindy Fryklind Clough’s career has from a children’s program in Brainerd been kicked into overdrive since gradu - and growing to a 164 community- ating with the class of 1976 from strong business with 20,000 dancers Brainerd High School. participating annually in states from North and South Dakota, Iowa, Clough has served as coach of the Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois and Brainerd High School Dance Team, Minnesota. JFK has also expanded to “The Kixters,” since the 1976-1977 sea - include a mail order catalog division son. Since her involvement, the team (1989) with over 900,000 catalogs has won eight state championships, has mailed each year, as well as the JFK advanced to the state finals 26 times, Manufacturing division, which pro - and won the National High Kick duces costumes for dancers in the JFK Championship in 1987 in Florida. youth programs. The Clough’s employ approximately 500 people annually. She is cofounder (1981) and past pres - ident of the Minnesota Association of An author of dance and drill-coaching Dance Teams and has served on the manuals and a keynote speaker at MADT board for 12 years. She was a numerous state and national conven - member of the steering committee tions, Clough also holds the following responsible for having dance team accolades: induction into he Minnesota allowed as a Minnesota State High Dance Team Coaches Hal of Fame School League activity in 1995. She has (1987), Minnesota Dance Team Coach served on the Minnesota State High of the Year (1987), Let’s Cheer School League Advisory Board and the Magazine’s Hall of Fame (1988), North Dance Spirit Magazine Advisory Board. Dakota Drill Team Association Hall of Fame (1991), Brainerd High School During her career, Clough has choreo - Athletic Hall of Fame (1995), graphed over 20 major collegiate bowl Minnesota Dance Coach of the Year game half-time shows, including the (1999), voted as one of the top five Holiday Bowl in San Diego, the directors in the Midwest (2000), Freedom Bowl in Anaheim, the Orange Brainerd’s Young Citizen of the Year Bowl in Miami, the Citrus Bowl in (2001), recipient of the Breaking Orlando and the Outback Bowl in Barriers Award presented at the State Tampa. Her most memorable experi - Capitol for contributing significantly to ence came when representing the women’s sports in Minnesota (2004), United States with The Kixters and the and recipient of the State of Minnesota’s US Military Band from Washington DC SBA Entrepreneur of the Year Award upon the opening of the Tokyo Dome (2006). in Japan. Clough and husband, Steve, live in the Clough and husband, Steve, began the lakes area and have three children – Just For Kix (JFK) organization, starting Joel, Jerad and Alexandra. 2007 Vice Admiral Howard Thorsen

1951 Graduate VADM Howard Thorsen, USCG (Ret) tour as an instructor, and later was completed a distinguished 36 year Commandant of Cadets, at the Coast career in the United States Coast Guard, Guard Academy. during which he had extensive experi - ence in coordinating U.S. inter-agency His ‘second career’ has covered a broad and foreign activities, primarily related range of experiences. For the past ten to national security issues. As years, he has served as an Outside Commander, Atlantic Area, he was the Director on the Board of Directors (cur - commander of two-thirds of all Coast rently chairman) of a corporation pro - Guard forces, with responsibility for viding information technology equip - Coast Guard operations east of the ment and services to federal govern - Rocky Mountains, including the Great ment agencies, primarily associated Lakes, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico with classified security programs. He and Caribbean Sea. While in that consults on maritime issues and is a assignment, he was "double hatted" as Senior Fellow at The Center for Naval Commander, U.S. Maritime Defense Analyses. In 1999, he co-founded The Zone, Atlantic; a Navy command, Foundation for Coast Guard History reporting directly to CINCLANTFLT. and serves as chairman of the Board of Prior to that: he served in Headquarters Regents. Admiral Thorsen is a graduate as the Coast Guard’s senior policy offi - of the United States Coast Guard cial for defense operations and security Academy and is a Distinguished matters; held a major field command; Graduate of The Industrial College of and headed the Coast Guard’s R&D the Armed Forces. program, with a $20M annual budget. Howard and his wife, Marlyn, were Admiral Thorsen's assignments prior to married the day after he graduated from flag rank were primarily associated with the Academy. After moving 23 times Coast Guard aviation, as both fixed and during his Coast Guard career, they rotary-wing pilot at five air stations, returned to their home in Alexandria, with a specialty of aircraft maintenance. Virginia. They have two daughters, He commanded Air Station Corpus Tracey and Suzanne, and three grand - Christi, and was Chief of Aeronautical children. Engineering in CG HQ. He served one 2006 Clarence Holden

1930 Graduate A prominent businessman and philan - Holden and his wife, Fran, have been thropist in the Brainerd area for more benefactors to a variety of organiza - than 50 years, Clarence Holden was tions, including Camp Cuyuna, a camp known as a quiet and humble man who for Boy Scouts; the Central Lakes make great contributions to the com - College Foundation; the Nisswa munity he lived in. Community Children’s Library; and the Brainerd Family YMCA. Their $2.1 Born July 9, 1912 in Brainerd, Holden million contribution to the YMCA graduated from Washington High jump-started contributions for a $4.3 School in 1930 and from the University million expansion for the YMCA. of Minnesota in 1936. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Holden worked for Mills Motors in Church, the Elks Club and the high school before he joined the U.S. American Legion. Army and fought in Italy and North Africa during World War II. He ran Holden died on October 7, 2005 at his Standard Auto Parts with stores in home in Baxter. Brainerd, Little Falls and Crookston. 2006 Richard Nolan

1962 Graduate Richard Nolan’s life experiences include Trade Center Corporation. He worked work in education, government and and lived in Abu Dhabi as an invest - business. ment advisor to the Royal Family of Abu Dhabi, UAE and as owner/presi - In the field of education, Nolan, a 1962 dent of Emily Forest Products in Emily, Washington High School graduate and, Minnesota. later, University of Minnesota graduate, taught high school, directed Head Start Nolan’s related international experi - and Adult Basic Education programs ences include serving as a US and continues to lecture regularly at Congressional Delegate to the schools, universities and community European Parliament Exchange, creat - events on the subjects of global trade, ing and serving as a member of a spe - international business, government and cial congressional committee on politics. refugees, successfully negotiating with President Fidel Castro for the release of In government, Nolan served two American prisoners of war held in terms in the Minnesota House of Cuba, and brokering one of the world’s Representatives (elected as Minnesota’s largest off-shore drilling ventures in the youngest legislator in 1968), two years Arabian/Persian Gulf. Nolan also on the staff of US Senator Walter F served as a member of the World Trade Mondale and three terms in the United Center’s International Association States House of Representatives (select - Board of Directors and chairman of the ed as one of the “most respected” mem - International Association’s Trade Policy bers of Congress by syndicated colum - committee. nist Jack Anderson’s Congress Watch). He has served as Vice Chair of the State Nolan is now semi-retired on a small DFL Party, a member of the Democratic farm east of Crosslake and remains National Committee and a delegate to active in community affairs as chairman numerous democratic state and nation - of the Mission Township Planning al conventions. Committee, member of the Central Lakes College Foundation Board, board In business, Nolan worked as adminis - member of the Pelican Lake Property trative assistant to the President of Owner’s Association, regular lecturer at Fingerhut Corporation, president of an the Initiative Foundation and involved export management and general trad - in numerous other community initia - ing company, US Export Corporation, tives. finding overseas buyers and partners for American companies. Nolan is married to Mary Wieland- Nolan and has four children and 9 He was founder, chairman of the board, grandchildren. and president of the Minnesota World 2006 Cindy Jane Williams

1985 Graduate Since graduating from Brainerd High Haunting.” That same year, Williams School in 1985, Cindy Williams’ career earned an Emmy for best make up for has taken her to the far reaches of the her work on the television series “The world and in the face, literally, of inter - X-Files.” nationally known stars. Another notable highlight of her career After graduating from Brainerd High was working on the Oscar winning film School and Central Lakes College, “Chicago”, again with Ms. Zeta-Jones. Williams moved to , She also had the opportunity to spend California in 1989 where she attended time with her family in Europe during cosmetology school at Santa Monica the filming of “Oceans Twelve” in 2004. Community College. Her first break came in 1991 when she was hired by “While my work has taken me many 20th Century Fox Chairman Joe Roth interesting places, one experience I will as assistant make up artist on the film always remember was coming back to “Hot Shots” with Charlie Sheen. After Minnesota to film the 1996 feature working on a few films, she was named “Beautiful Girls,” Williams noted. head of make up for the feature film “Jungle Book.” The job took her to Williams credits her success to the India where “working in 118 degree strong work ethic she learned from her heat and in a country suffering from so parents as well as the teachers in the much poverty, was a life altering expe - Brainerd School District. She currently rience,” she said. makes her home in Los Angeles with her husband, Rob, and sons Grant and Her next overseas job was filming with Garrett. actress Catherine Zeta-Jones in “The 2005 Marilyn J. Koering

1956 Graduate The values taught and practiced during California Institute of Technology and her education here in Brainerd as well at the Jones Institute for Reproductive as the examples set by its residents gave Medicine (first "in vitro" fertilization her a foundation that has carried her center in USA) in Virginia. Her research through her years of higher education data and papers are now part of the followed by a most rewarding career. Carnegie Collection at the National There were "bumps" in the road that Medical Museum where they are avail - were made less traumatic by her able for use by other scientists. numerous mentors who both believed in and supported her. She has taught over 5,000 medical and graduate students in semester long After a superb liberal arts education at classes over her 34 years on the the College of St. Scholastica and excel - University faculty. This was a most lent graduate training at the University enjoyable time to be part of their edu - of Wisconsin (Madison) in research in cational process for those students primate reproductive biology, she would be able to assist to the needs of joined the faculty at the George so many people in the world. She Washington University Medical School received the life-time Distinguish teaching medical and graduate stu - Teaching Award in 1996 from the stu - dents. At the same time she was a guest dents and faculty. scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda where she Aside from these academic activities, conducted certain aspects of her she taught second grade Sunday reli - research. She also obtained her own gion classes where she says that she research funding and was a member of found the students quite similar to the (NIH) research grant study sections. medical students in their enthusiasm. These selected groups evaluated other Her life in Washington D.C. could not scientist's research proposals and she have been more enjoyable by partici - was often the only female member. In pating in the many cultural events, addition, her research results led her to bicycling around the monuments and conduct studies at the Primate Research realizing how fortunate most Center in , at the respected Americans are! 2005 Jon Thorson

1982 Graduate Jon Thorson - BHS Class of 1982: Jon novel catalysts and the development of received his B.A. degree in chemistry chemoenzymatic and chemoselective (1986) from Augsburg College and a ligation strategies for natural product Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry glycorandomization. Thorson is most (1993) from the University of recognized for establishing the field of Minnesota with Professor Hung-wen glycorandomization and his lab has (Ben) Liu. Following his graduate successfully demonstrated the broad work, Thorson held a postdoctoral utility of glycorandomized natural appointment as a Merck Postdoctoral product libraries as drug discovery Fellow of the Helen Hay Whitney platforms for new antitumor, antibiotic, Foundation (1993-1996) at the antifungal and antiviral therapeutics. University of California, Berkeley with The glycorandomization technology Professor Peter Schultz. From 1996- platform developed in the Thorson lab - 2001, Jon was an assistant member of oratory was recently licensed and is the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer being commercialized by zuChem Center and assistant professor of Sloan- (Chicago IL) where Thorson serves as a Kettering Division, Joan and Sanford I. key scientific advisor. In addition, Jon Weill Graduate School of Medical serves on the scientific advisory boards Sciences, Cornell University, during of Kosan Biosciences (Hayward, CA) which he was named a Rita Allen and eMetagen (Madison, WI). During Foundation Scholar (1998-2002) and the last year Professor Thorson and his Alfred P. Sloan Fellow (2000-2002). collaborators in the UW School of Professor Thorson joined the School of Pharmacy and the UW Comprehensive Pharmacy in the summer of 2001 and Cancer Center were also instrumental since moving to UW has been awarded in establishing one of only four presti - the American Society of gious NIH-supported natural products- Pharmacognosy Matt Suffness Award based National Cooperative Drug (2004) and selected as a H. I. Romnes Discovery Groups (NIH NCDDG) Fellow (2004). Thorson was promoted which will provide $6 million of to full Professor in 2003 and has research support over the next five recently taken on the position of vice years to focus upon the identification chair of the Pharmaceutical Sciences and preclinical evaluation of novel anti - Division in the School of Pharmacy. cancer leads.

Jon's research interests include under - He and his wife, Danielle, have one standing and exploiting microbial daughter, Cristina, and one son, Luca. biosynthetic pathways, mechanistic They currently live in Middleton, WI. enzymology, mechanisms of resistance Jon's parents are Dale and Karen to highly reactive metabolites, enzyme Thorson. engineering and evolution to generate 2005 Alex G. “Gene”Fremling

1949 Graduate Alex G. “Gene” Fremling was the co- School of Law in St. Louis before being valedictorian in the class of 1949. The drafted. class vice president, he was voted Most Studious Boy and Most Likely to He started working in programs with Succeed. the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and successor federal agencies in 1957. He graduated from in His career with the energy department 1953 cum laude with a bachelor’s included servics as manager of the degree in government and international Richland, Wash., operations office from relations. He graduated with a master’s 1973-1984. He retired in 1996 after in political science from the University working in several executive positions of Minnesota in 1957 and served in the with the Electric Power Research Army from 1954-55. He attended one Institute in Palo Alto, Calif. semester at Washington University 2005 Roger C. Vergin

1955 Graduate Roger C. Vergin grew up in an apartment centers, manufacturing businesses in above his parent’s Economy Auto Supply store electronics, motorized swimming pool covers, in downtown Brainerd. He earned his first and drilling machinery, and the processing of nickel at age five selling newspapers at the gold mine tailings in California. corner of 6 th and Laurel. He attended Brainerd’s Lincoln Grade School and Franklin Dr. Vergin returned to the academic world as Junior High and graduated from Washington Professor at Pennsylvania State University in High School in 1955. 1990 and his subsequent academic career primarily involved university administration. Roger was senior class president, co- At Penn State, he was Chair of the Department valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA, and voted Most of Management and Director of the Master of Likely to Succeed and Best Writer. He began Business Administration program. Under his college at St. Olaf and obtained a bachelor’s leadership, the MBA program grew from 180 degree in business administration and to 600 students, becoming the largest of the industrial engineering from the University of university’s 151 graduate programs. Minnesota in 1959. He went on to earn a master’s degree in industrial management in After leaving Penn State University for a short 1962, followed by a Ph. D. in business retirement period, Dr. Vergin became Vice administration in 1964, also from the U of M. President and Chief Academic Officer at the twelve-campus Heald College, headquartered Dr. Vergin’s first academic appointment was as in San Francisco, and later served as Executive Assistant Professor of Business Administration Vice President of The American College in at the University of California-Berkeley in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He retired from the 1963. He became Associate Professor at the academic world in 2005 and returned with his University of Washington in 1966, then wife, Dr. Rosemary Rainbolt, to Washington Professor at Simon Fraser University in 1971. State to be near his three sons.

Dr. Vergin’s academic research was in the fields While Roger practiced long and hard to of production management, organizational achieve athletic success in the Brainerd school planning, finance, and entrepreneurship. He system, his athletic accomplishments in high wrote over fifty research articles and published school were limited to lettering three times in textbooks in production and operations golf and being in the last cut from the 1954 management. basketball team that went on to win the state championship. In a wide departure from his academic career, Roger served as financial adviser / business manager for actor Marlon Brando in 1973-74, At the age of 71, he discovered the world of a full-time position that included building a masters and set out to prove resort on Brando’s island of Tetiaroa near that it is never too late for athletic glory. Since Tahiti. The story of this experience is then, he has won hundreds of gold medals in described in Roger’s 1997 book, “Brando – competition, set numerous state records in with his Guard Down.” Washington, Oregon, Idaho, , and Hawaii in the sprints and jumps, and won While a professor, he undertook several several USA Track & Field national business ventures, leaving the academic world championships. He has earned USATF All- to pursue an entrepreneurial career fulltime in American honors in thirteen different events 1985. He built houses, apartments, and and been ranked #1 in the USA in his age commercial buildings in Washington State. division in the long jump, triple jump, and Other ventures included creating childcare decathlon. 2004 Duane Blanck

1960 WHS Graduate An impressive five page resume is proof as Blanck served with the United States of Duane Blanck’s long standing history Marine Corps from 1960 to 1963; and commitment to community reached the rank of Corporal; was involvement in the lake’s area and assigned to the Communications beyond. Battalion, working in security and counter-intelligence; was awarded the Blanck has served as the Crow Wing American Spirit Honor Medal and County Highway Engineer since May of Good Conduct Medal; and was honor - 1975. He has been heralded in Better ably discharged. Roads magazine as “Engineer of the Month” and has been honored for vari - His professional affiliations and ous achievements including “1990 appointments span from local and state Outstanding County Engineer” by the to national associations and commit - Minnesota County Engineers tees. Despite a busy schedule, Blanck Association and “1991 Rural Engineer also makes time for community of the Year” by the National Association involvement, including serving as con - of County Engineers. gregational chairman of his church; charter member of the Nisswa Lions; Blanck’s leadership dates back to his member of the Nisswa American days at Washington High School as vice Legion-Billie Brown Post; member of president of his class of 1960, an honor the Brainerd Sports Boosters; 1997 co- graduate, athlete, and member of the chair (with wife Carolyn) of the Crow yearbook staff and the National Honor Wing County United Way drive; and Society. He went on to graduate with past involvement with the Cub an Associate of Art’s degree from Scouts, school PTA, summer youth Brainerd State Junior College in 1965; a baseball program, Nisswa Bachelor of Science degree (cum laude) Transportation Action Plan Committee, in Civil Engineering from the and ISD #181 School Site Selection University of North Dakota, Grand Committee. Forks, in 1968; and a Master of Science degree (magna cum laude) in Civil Blanck and his wife, Carolyn, currently Engineering from the University of live in Nisswa and are parents to sons Missouri, Columbia, in 1969. Daren and Dawson and daughter Danae. His commitment extends to his country, 2004 Peggy Kriha Dye

1987 BHS Graduate Since making her debut with the San Kriha Dye was most recently praised for Francisco Opera in the summer of her performances as Musetta in La 1996, Peggy Kriha Dye has been bohème with the Shanghai International acclaimed internationally for Arts Festival; Donna Elvira in Don captivating audiences with her raptur - Giovanni with the Tulsa Opera; Drusilla ous soprano voice. in L’incoronazione di Poppea and the First Lady in Die Zauberflote with Opera A 1987 graduate of Brainerd High Atelier; among countless others. School, Kriha Dye received her under - graduate degree in music from St. “Kriha’s performance was a constant Cloud University, her Master’s degree delight,” said the San Francisco from the Manhattan School of Music, Chronicle of her 1993 performance in and spent two years as a member of the Die Fledermaus. “She sang with an Juilliard Opera Center. unforced brilliance that made her music sparkle.” Following her performances as Stella in the San Francisco Opera’s world pre - Winner of a prestigious scholarship miere of A Streetcar Named Desire, Kriha grant from the Liberace Foundation, Dye has appeared there as Zerlina in Kriha Dye was a participant in the 1993 Don Giovanni, Pousette in Manon and Merola Opera Program singing the role Lauretta in the company premiere of of Nanetta in Falstaff and Adele in Die Betrothal in a Monastery. The former Fledermaus. In 1995, she appeared as Adler Fellow made her San Francisco Barbarina in the Merola Program stag - Opera debut in 1996 as Musetta in La ing of Le nozze di Figaro, and sang bohème, subsequently appearing with Barbarina and Susanna on the subse - the company during the 1996-97 sea - quent Western Opera Theatre tour. son in Die Fledermaus, the west coast premiere of Harvey Milk, and Salome. Kriha Dye is married to husband She also portrayed Kate Pinkerton in Matthew and is mother to daughter the San Francisco Opera’s new staging Anna and adopted son, Nicholas. The of Madama Butterfly, appeared with the family currently lives in Morris Plains, company during the 1997-98 season New Jersey. She is the daughter of in Death in Venice and Le nozze di Figaro, George Kriha and Carol Bombardier, and was seen as Damigella in both of Brainerd. L’incoronazione di Poppea. 2003 Duane Lund

1943 Graduate Dr. Duane Lund’s leadership reach (Nixon), and was appointed by the extends far outside of the lakes area. Secretary of the Interior to the National Advisory Council on Trails. He was Lund received his BA degree from appointed by Vice President Walter and his MA and PhD Mondale to the White House from the University of Minnesota. Conference on Education and by Minnesota governors to the Boundary He has been a senior consultant to the Waters Advisory Committee, the Blandin Foundation of Grand Rapids Minnesota Manpower Commission and since retiring after 25 years as superin - the Minnesota Professional Teaching tendent of schools in Staples. Prior to Practices Commission. He also served that, he served as chief of staff to United on task forces for the National Academy States Senator Edward J. Thye in of Science and the National Institute of Washington D.C. Education.

Lund is the author of 35 books, includ - He was a consultant on vocational edu - ing "Lessons in Leadership," "Early cation to the Washington D.C. school Native American Recipes and district and to the U.S. House of Remedies," "The Historic Upper Representatives. He was awarded an ," "Lake Superior, Yesterday honorary American Farmer degree by and Today," "Our Historic Boundary the Future Farmers of America. He Waters," "The Indian Wars," "White served on the People to People missions Indian Boy," "Youngest Voyageur," as to China and Cuba and was a member of well as a variety of cookbooks. He was a team of educators studying education named Minnesota Author of the Year in in western Europe. 1985 by the Minnesota Association of Librarians and Media Specialists. Lund is currently active in his church, Rotary and serves on the Rosenmeier Lund served two terms on the National Board at Central Lakes College. He has Advisory Council for Vocational also served on several University of Education by presidential appointment Minnesota committees. 2003 Dr. Helen Longfellow

1929 Graduate From the medical field to local nonprofit Her compassion for poor families result - organizations, Dr. Helen Bane ed in untold low budget services. A Longfellow has made her mark on life in common reference to her was "free baby the lakes area. deliverer."

Longfellow graduated from Washington As co-founder of the local Zonta Club, High School in 1929, then followed up she participated regularly for 50 years. her education by earning a bachelors The Toastmistress Club, Salvation Army degree and medical degree from the Board and Trustees Board of First University of Minnesota. She was one of Congregational Church all benefited only four women among 125 enrollees from her leadership. during her first year of medical school. Retirement from full time medical prac - After serving a residency and short term tice in 1981 opened her schedule to new practitioner stints in New York, avenues of service as a volunteer for and Wisconsin, Longfellow returned to Crisis Line and Literacy Tutoring. Brainerd as a family practitioner and sur - geon from the mid 1940s until retire - Longfellow and husband, Judge Henry ment in 1981. Her medical career was Longfellow, have three children who also often a solo practice, but she served sev - graduated from Washington High eral terms as Chief of Staff at St. Joseph's School and Brainerd High School. hospital and worked closely with Dr. Fitzsimmons. 2003 Jim Anderson

1961 Graduate Jim Anderson is a man with a humble Minnesota Asphalt Pavement nature and a huge heart. Association; past board member Minnesota Transpor tation Alliance; Anderson is the sole owner of recipient of the City of Brainerd "Tower Anderson Brothers Construction, a Award"; and was co-chair of the growing Brainerd lakes area business. Governor's Fishing Opener on Gull The number of employees has grown Lake. from 12-15 in 1962 to approximately 180, with projected continued growth. In addition to his sole ownership of Anderson Brothers Construction, Anderson has served on and been pres - Anderson is the owner and/or partner ident of many boards in this area and in in a number of other area businesses. the State of Minnesota. His involve - He has also contributed financially to ment has included: past president of many organizations through "in kind" Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of contributions and with outright gifts of Commerce; past board member of money over the years. Minnesota Chamber of Commerce; past board member St. Joseph's Anderson's own words sum up his Medical Center; board member Bremer charitable giving: "I'm kind of a private Bank since 1977; past chairman person when it comes to this stuff and National Infrastructure Division of don't need a lot of noise when it comes Associated Builders and Contractors of to being involved in something that America; past board member Central needs to be done." Minnesota Chapter of Boy Scouts of America; past board member St. Cloud Anderson and his wife, also a 1961 State University Foundation; past Washington High School graduate and board member Brainerd Community homecoming queen, have homes both College Foundation; past president in Florida and the lakes area. 2002 Sen. Don Samuelson

1951 Graduate The name Don Samuelson speaks for "I take the job seriously," he told a itself. Samuelson has become synony - Dispatch reporter in May of 2000. "I mous with the political process in enjoy it. I've got to admit that I truly Minnesota for 33 years, all the while love working there." working to improve the quality of life for the very people he grew up with. Samuelson is a frequent member of conference committees where House A bricklayer by trade, Samuelson's first and Senate leaders hammer out the election win came in 1960 as an officer final agreements on bills that will be of his union where he continues today heard before both houses. He describes as a union representative and business himself as a tough negotiator on issues manager. In 1968, Samuelson was he believes in, attributing that trait to elected to the Minnesota House of his background as a union representa - Representatives. In 1982, he was elect - tive. Some of Samuelson's special leg - ed to the State Senate where he is cur - islative concerns include finance, rently serving his sixth term as Senator health care and insurance. for District 12. Samuelson's appointments to the many Staying true to his roots, Samuelson committees and commissions reflect was instrumental in helping secure $23 his passion and spirit. In April, he was million for the Central Lakes College appointed to the conference committee addition after the merger with the to oversee progress of the Northstar Brainerd Technical College. Corridor commuter rail system.

Despite the occasional frustrations of a Samuelson lives in Brainerd with his legislative career that spans three wife Nancy. decades, Samuelson says he enjoys his work as a lawmaker. 2002 Dr. Roger Moe

1948 Graduate A survivor of prostate cancer since Dr. Moe has been at the forefront in the 1986, Dr. Roger Moe has devoted his diagnosis and treatment of breast can - life to the very sciences that strive to cer. This is demonstrated by noting a save others facing life-threatening dis - few of the many honors and awards he ease. has achieved. In 1993, he received the Recognition Award for Teaching from Dr. Moe, professor of surgery at the the graduating chief residents of the University of Washington Seattle, University's Department of Obstetrics remains a very active part-time surgeon and Gynecology. In 1995, he received and recently led the development of the the Golden Tennis Shoe Award from East Side Specialty Clinic to better U.S. Sen. Patty Murray for major con - serve patients in the suburbs of tributions to the citizens of Washington Issaquah, Woodinville and Factoria, state. In 2001, Dr. Moe was chosen for Wash. a Distinguished Alumnus Award in his department. Dr. Moe graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor of sci - In a regional listing of peer-selected ence degree in 1952, M.D. in 1959 and physicians with a reputation of being completed residency in 1964. He left the best at caring for patients, Dr. Moe Washington in 1963 for a one-year was cited in The Best Doctors in the appointment as Assistant in Surgery at American-Pacific Region in 1996 and the University of Amsterdam. He began again in 1997; and The Best Doctors in his academic career at the University of Seattle in 1999 and 2000. Washington in 1967 as Instructor in Surgery and rose through the ranks of "Concerning his legacy, I think that it is assistant professor in 1968, associate in large part due to him that we have professor in 1971 to full professor in developed one of the premier breast 1994. study programs in the nation," com - mented another colleague. A colleague once described him as "the classic image of caring, a knowledge - Dr. Moe currently resides in the able, gentle surgeon doing whatever is Beilvue/Seattle area. required to provide first-rate care." 2002 Carl Zapffe

1929 Graduate Born in Brainerd, Carl Zapffe made four of which received national awards; great strides in the world of science and and eight books plus four technical history throughout his 82 year life. movies. As a principal American authority on stainless steel, his book Zapffe died December 8, 1994 at his published by the American Society for Baltimore, Maryland home, but left Metals, when translated into Japanese behind a legacy not soon to be forgot - in the late 1950s, played an important ten. part in lifting that nation to its position of world supremacy in the production Zapffe was a registered professional of stainless steel. He was a charter fel - engineer and a nationally certified low and honorary life member of the chemist with both a consulting office American Society for Metals, an hon - and laboratory in Baltimore. He had orary life member of the American four degrees from Michigan Welding Society, and emeritus member Technological University, Lehigh of the American Chemical Society and a University and Harvard University, member of other professional organiza - including doctorates in both research tions such as the American Geological and engineering. He was the inventor Society, American Geophysical Union, of fractography, both term and tech - American Institute of Aeronautics and nique, now in universal use for fracture Astronautics, and the American analysis; originator of the magnetos - Institute of Physics. pheric M-space concept in cosmology and relative physics; also the geohy - He was past director and president of drothermodynamic model for Earth- the Baltimore Rotary Club; commodore Moon evolution and the Great Ice Ages; of the Gull Lake Yacht club and served and was a recognized expert and author as historian for the Historic Heartland in fields of fur-trade history and the Association, Inc. in Minnesota from American Indian. His biography is car - 1971. ried in 11 national and four interna - tional listings. At the age of 13, Zapffe also set a national record in Scouting by making Zapffe was also the discoverer of hydro - the rank of Eagle Scout the same year gen as the cause of numerous defects in he entered the troop. both forged and cast steel and was the author of some 200 scientific papers, 2002 Hortense McKay

1927 Graduate The quote accompanying Hortense nurses to leave the wounded. McKay's graduation photo in the 1927 Brainonian couldn't have been closer to Evacuated by submarine to Australia, the truth in characterizing her life's McKay voluntarily served three more work and contribution: "All can see in years in New Guinea and the me an emblem of true purity." Philippines. Her name is included on a monument in the Philippines as one of Following graduation in 1927, McKay the 104 "Angels of Bataan." She earned attended the Saint Cloud Teacher's the Bronze Star and is the subject of a College then worked for one year in a historical work Jungle Angel: Bataan rural Crow Wing County school before Remembered. attending nursing school, where she earned her nursing degree in 1933. In 1949, McKay earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the After joining the Army in 1936, she University of Minnesota and continued was eventually sent to the Philippines her Army nursing career, rising to the and survived the heavy bombing of rank of Lt. Colonel, and retiring in Clark Field, and heroically served the 1960 after three posts as Chief Nurse in wounded on Corregidor and later at a overseas and domestic Army hospitals. primitive hospital in Bataan. Although she did not take part in the infamous McKay died in 1988. march, she is said to be one of the last 2001 Robert Anderson

1953 Graduate Anderson, a resident of Paradise Valley, time for his hobby of collecting and Ariz., graduated in electrical engineer - driving vintage automobiles. He drove ing in 1963 from the University of the Tour de France in 1995 and the Minnesota. He was with Honeywell on Tour of Morocco in 1999. He also is a the Apollo Moon project until 1966 pilot, a link to his boyhood days of fly - when he joined Medtronic, starting his ing model airplanes with his father. lifelong career in the field of medicine. Anderson and his wife, Sydney, have In 1969 he founded Valley lab, a four children. Robert is the son of Ida Boulder, Colo., firm that became a and the late Kenneth Anderson. He was world market leader in electrosurgical raised in Brainerd. His mother remem - systems. Valley lab went public in 1972 bers that his inventiveness came at an and was purchased by Pfizer in 1983. early age. During the summers in Anderson served as chief executive offi - Fairmont with his aunt and uncle, cer until 1985 when he became chair - Anderson worked in the Green Giant man and also became president of canning factory. He rigged up an easier Health Care Ventures, a wholly owned way to monitor the flow of the vegeta - subsidiary of Pfizer whose mission was bles using a mirror so he would have venture capital. time to read before he had to dump the hopper. His mother also said he Over the years he has served on more showed he was "very conscientious and than 20 corporate boards. He holds responsible" as a Harrison School pupil numerous patents in the medical field. because of his job delivering newspa - pers. He retired in 1996, giving him more 2001 Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson

1967 Graduate Air Force Lt. Gen. Carlson is director from Webster University and a second for force structure, resources and master's in strategic studies when he assessment for the Joint Chiefs of Staff graduated with distinction from the in the Pentagon. He also serves as sec - U.S. Naval War College in 1989. retary of Joint Requirements Oversight Council where he coordinates joint staff He began his Air Force career in 1971 actions for the vice chairman of the as a distinguished graduate of the UMD Joint Chiefs of Staff and represents the Air Force Reserve Officer Training interests of commanders of combatant Corps program. He has more than commands in requirements, acquisi - 3,000 hours of flying time. His assign - tion and the Department of Defense's ments in his military career have planning, programming and budgeting included flying the F-4 Phantom, the system. OV-10 that he flew in a combat opera - tion in the evacuation of citizens from Carlson lettered in track, cross country Cambodia A-10 Thunderbolt, the F-16 and swimming at Brainerd's and F-117 stealth fighter. He was pro - Washington High School. He was also a moted to lieutenant general on Feb. 1, sports writer on the school newspaper. 2000.

He graduated cum laude from the He and his wife, Vicki, have one daugh - University of Minnesota-Duluth ter, Jani, and two sons, Bryan and Scott. in1971 with a degree in accounting and They live in Springfield, Va. His parents in 1980 was awarded a master of arts are Cliff and Helen Carlson of Brainerd. degree in management, with honors, 2000 M. Eleanor Nolan

1926 Graduate After a career as an attorney, judge and even though her Catholic pastor said civic leader, Ms. Nolan died in 1965. she would be excommunicated if she Her nephew, former Congressman Rick took the post. Nolan spoke about her at the dinner. And a sister, Betty McGowan, accepted “Well, I’ll just have to find a new a plaque at the induction ceremony church,” she said, Nolan recalled. along with other family members. The YMCA was built, filling a need for Eleanor was a rather extraordinary per - Brainerd youths. And, as an aside, son,” Rick Nolan, a 1962 BHS gradu - Nolan noted that he was told that the ate, said. “She had a commanding pres - Catholic pastor was quick to call the ence. She would have enjoyed this YMCA to ask it would be OK for the evening very much.” nuns to swim in the pool after hours.

Nolan recalled that his aunt, in a time “She had a great passion for law and a before there was harmony between great passion for life,” Rick Nolan Protestants and Catholics, agreed to recalled of his aunt. serve as chair of the YMCA fund drive 2000 Dr. Harold Kletschka

1941 Graduate Kletschka cited what he called the Kletschka also spoke of the role of his cooperative spirit that helped people high school teachers. In particular he pull through the Depression. “There praised Ralph Squires, who taught him was a priceless value that was placed on the scientific methodology that he has life then,” said the doctor who was a used in his career. pioneer in the development of a perma - nent, totally implantable artificial heart. Kletschka’s hope is that students of the future will “recapture that appreciation He noted that his sister, Barbara, was of life that existed in the 30s. If they do one of his first patients for the artificial that — whether there’s a plaque in the heart blood pump. He said many of his hall or not — they all will be members innovations would not have been pos - of the hall of fame.” sible in today’s regulatory climate. 2000 Paul Hunt

1972 Graduate Hunt and his wife, Lynn, co-founded “Not all the locks worked perfectly,” he Hunt Technologies, the Pequot Lakes said with a twinkle in his eyes. “It didn’t firm specializing in the Turtle system take us long to get in any room in the that transmits electric meter readings place.” over power lines to receiver sites for information processing at an electric Referring to his high school days as a utility office computer. television production student, Hunt said that by “carrying a camera and a Hunt showed at an early age he was an microphone you could go any place inventor. As Jim Hunt, 2000’s hall of you wanted to go in the building. We fame committee chair and former high were into all sorts of tunnels and ceil - school principal, noted at the ceremo - ings here.” ny, Paul blew up his parent’s kitchen with rocket fuel components. Hunt credited the high school for fos - tering his inventive spirit. Paul Hunt noted that he was a sopho - more just as students entered a new “This was a good place to learn things. Brainerd High School building. The staff let us try new things.” 1999 John A. Mehaffey

1954 Graduate John A. “Jack” Mehaffey graduated sion in the Library of Human Resources from Brainerd High School in 1954. He in recognition of professional and civic attended the Minnesota School of achievements. Business under the ’s col - lege scholarship program. His firm, Communications Service Company Inc., is based in the Chicago Jack began his lifelong career in news - area. papers as a Brainerd newsboy in 1944. He pioneered the networking of pre- The Mehaffeys are benefactors of the printed advertising to be inserted into Right Friends organization and they newspapers. host an annual outing for vulnerable handicapped adults in the lakes area. In 1976 he was selected by the He makes his home in Naples, Fla., and American Heritage Research for inclu - has a summer home in Brainerd. 1999 Stewart C. Mills Jr.

1946 Graduate Stewart C. Mills Jr., who graduated Stewart C. Mills, Jr. was a member of from Brainerd High School in 1946, the 194th Tank Battalion, Minnesota also attended Whittier Elementary National Guard, just after World War School and Franklin Junior High II. He graduated from several Army School. He graduated from Brainerd schools, including the NCO Command Junior College in 1948, attended the and General Staff College, Fort University of Minnesota from 1948-49 Leavenworth, Kan., in 1953. and attended Hamline University from 1949-51, graduating with a major in With his twin brother, Henry C. Mills business administration. II, he is co-owner of Mills Supply Co., Mills Fleet Farm, Mills Automotive, He is part of a family that has lived in Mills Properties Inc., Lively Auto Co. the Brainerd area since the 1800s. His and Crow Wing County Oil Co. He is a mother, Helen K. Mills, still lives in the past president and director of Mid- Gull Lake area. He was the son of the States Distributing of St. Paul, 1960-70, late Stewart C. Mills, His grandparents which includes 500 stores nationally. were Casper H. and Mae E. Mills, early He was the first recipient of the MW residents of the area. His cousin is Kiesau Achievement Award presented another noted BHS alum, Dr. Gene by Mid-States Distributing in 1972. Bierhaus. 1999 Linda Eder

1979 Graduate Linda Eder, a member of the BHS class 1998 as part of “My Favorite Broadway of 1979, is not expected to attend the — The Leading Ladies” concert with Hall of Fame ceremony because of her Julie Andrews, Liza Minnelli, Chita busy singing career. After recently Rivera and Jennifer Holliday. appearing in a public television special, she is a featured performer in the She married Wildhorn last May (1998). Broadway production ‘Civil War.” His credits include “Jekyll & Hyde,” in which Eder starred. She is scheduled to Her husband, Broadway composer star in “Havana,” a Broadway musical Frank Wildhorn, wrote her hit single, comedy in 2000. Production is sched - “Something to Believe In,” which has uled to begin this fall. “Havana” is a been selected as the WB Television vehicle written for Linda by her hus - Network theme song. band, who received a record advance for the 1940s-era musical. She will She performed at Carnegie Hall in play the daughter of a Mafia boss. 1999 C. Elmer Anderson

1928 Graduate C. Elmer Anderson, a 1928 graduate of Agency and bought the company in Brainerd High School, died on January 1934. 22, 1998. He was represented at the hall of fame ceremony by his son, At age 26 he was elected Lieutenant Clyde. Governor of Minnesota in 1938. He was re-elected Lieutenant Governor in Anderson attended school in St. 1940, 1944, 1946, 1948 and 1950. Mathias Township and Brainerd. He was able to skip two grades, once Anderson became governor on Sept. because of lack of enrollment in his 27, 1951, when Gov. Luther Youngdahl class and the other because of a junior resigned to take a federal judgeship. C. high equivalency exam. Elmer was elected governor in 1952 and served until January 1955. He was He attended two quarters at the Uni- elected mayor of Nisswa in 1961 and ver si ty of Minnesota as a pre-med 1963. He was elected mayor of major. He worked for the Service News Brainerd in 1975 and served until