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Lifelong Learning

Hall of Honor

The Moorhead High School Hall of Honor recognizes alumni, faculty, staff and other community members who have demonstrated notable accomplishments or provided significant contributions to their school, community or society.

Alumni will be recognized for their outstanding accomplishments while at Moorhead High School as well as achievements following graduation. Alumni may not be considered for nomination until ten years following their graduation from Moorhead High School.

Faculty, staff and other community members will be recognized for their contributions to Moorhead High School. Individuals may not be current employees of the school district and may not be considered for nomination until five years following their completion of employment with the district.

Nominations are continually being accepted for members to the Hall of Honor. A committee will review nominations and conduct research of records to select outstanding candidates for the Moorhead High School Hall of Honor. Nominations remain on file to be considered for future recognition.

Each year inductees to the Moorhead High School Hall of Honor will be recognized at an induction ceremony in conjunction with Moorhead High School's homecoming.

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Nomination Form


To nominate someone for our Hall of Honor, please fill out the Hall Of Honor Nomination Form Online or Download the PDF.

Inductees

NameInduction Date & Message Summary
Cathy Carlson
Cathy Sue Carlson
Class of 1972
9/28/2019
Cathy Carlson graduated from Moorhead High School in 1972. During high school, she was in band, orchestra and the National Honor Society. Carlson graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and earned her veterinary medicine degree from University of Minnesota. In 1986 she received her doctorate in pathology from North Carolina State University. Carlson worked at N.C. State and then Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. In 1998, Carlson joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She was promoted to professor in 2004 and has served as chair of the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department since 2018. An expert in bone pathology, Carlson has written numerous articles and book chapters and received millions of dollars in federal grant support. In 2018, Carlson received an honorary doctorate from the Swedish Agricultural University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Kathy Coyle
Kathy Coyle
Class of 1968
9/28/2019
Kathy Coyle graduated from Moorhead High School in 1968. Best known as a sprinter in high school, Coyle was fifth in the nation in the 220-yard dash at age 17. She earned her bachelor’s degree in speech communication from the University of Minnesota and later earned her master’s degree and doctorate in communication from North Dakota State University. Coyle was the first prime time, female television news anchor in the Fargo market on KXJB TV, where she worked from 1976-96. Coyle anchored, wrote, produced and was a photographer during her 23-year career in local television. She then worked in marketing, academic research and teaching. Coyle was a community and economic development specialist with USDA Rural Development for 16 years before retiring in 2017. Coyle continues to volunteer with projects for numerous community organizations.
Chad Sundem
Chad R. Sundem
Class of 1989
9/28/2019
Chad Sundem graduated from Moorhead High School in 1989. During high school, Sundem played hockey, baseball and football, including playing on the 1987 state championship football team. Sundem played hockey for the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1993. He earned a master of business administration from Touro University International, Cypress, Calif., in 2005. After 20 years of military service, Sundem retired as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army in 2014. During his service, Sundem had combat deployments on five different occasions and earned the Bronze Star for Valor, two other Bronze Stars, the Legion of Merit, and numerous other commendations. In 2014, Sundem joined BNSF Railway Company where he is currently general manager for the Twin Cities Division.
Dave Thune
Dave Thune
Class of 1968
9/28/2019
Dave Thune graduated from Moorhead High School in 1968. During high school, Thune was involved with art, journalism, music, political science, and the pep organization “O.” He was often gently reprimanded for wearing long hair and taking part in a “takeover” of morning announcements to read an anti-war statement. Thune earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from North Dakota State University in 1973. He worked at the Rourke Art Gallery in Moorhead and the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul. He was elected to the St. Paul City Council and served for 20 years before retiring to make art and play rock and roll. Thune was a colorful politician winning both friends and enemies for his work. He authored St. Paul’s Human Rights Ordinance, guaranteeing the rights of GLBT people, and an ordinance banning smoking in bars and restaurants. He continues to advocate for neighborhoods, historic preservation, and people with disabilities.
Brad Atchison
Brad Atchison
Class of 1973
10/6/2018
Brad Atchison graduated from Moorhead High School in 1973. During high school he participated in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was a member of the 1971 state championship football team, the 1972 state runner-up football team, and the 1973 state track and field champions. Atchison graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health. Atchison taught and coached in Clara City, Minn., for 18 years and in Willmar, Minn., for 22 years. Atchison’s career record was 589-249, currently ranking sixth in all-time wins for girls basketball coaches in Minnesota. He took six teams to state tournaments with a girls basketball state championship team in 1986 and a runner-up team in 2004. In 2002 Atchison was inducted into the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. In 2004 he was named Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.
Chuck Gulsvig
Chuck Gulsvig
Class of 1975
10/6/2018
Chuck Gulsvig graduated from Moorhead High School in 1975. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, in 1979 and his master’s degree from Moorhead State College, now Minnesota State University Moorhead, in 1987. From 1979-1981 Gulsvig taught and coached for Kennedy (Minn.) Public Schools. Gulsvig began teaching physical education at Moorhead High School in 1982. He coached sophomore football for 26 years and boys basketball for 27 years. As the boys basketball head coach, Gulsvig compiled a 445-222 record. He was named Minnesota’s Class 4A Boys Basketball Coach of the Year in 2002, and he was inducted in the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2009 Gulsvig became public affairs director for Sanford Health in Fargo, N.D.
Lynne Kovash
Dr. Lynne A. Kovash
Class of 1970
10/6/2018
Lynne Doxey Kovash graduated from Moorhead High School in 1970. During high school, she participated in swimming, yearbook and band. Kovash earned her bachelor’s degree in language arts and secondary education and her master’s degree in special education from Moorhead State University, now Minnesota State University Moorhead. Kovash completed her doctorate in educational leadership through the University of North Dakota in 2009. Kovash spent her entire career in education with Moorhead Area Public Schools. She was a special education teacher, assistant principal, supervisor of planning and assessment, and assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. She served as the district’s tenth superintendent from July 2008 until retiring in November 2017. Kovash has been active with numerous organizations, including serving as president of Minnesota Association of School Administrators in 2014-15. She received the MASA Polaris Leadership Award in 2018.
Glenn Melvey
Dr. Glenn R. Melvey
Class of 1942
10/6/2018
Glenn Melvey graduated from Moorhead High School in 1942. During high school he was active in band, safety patrol, football and basketball. After graduation, Melvey served four years in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a U.S. Navy Reserve officer from 1947 to 1983, retiring as a commander. Melvey earned his bachelor’s degree from Moorhead State Teachers College, now Minnesota State University Moorhead, in 1949. He earned his master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota in 1950 and his doctorate in educational administration from the University of North Dakota in 1970. Melvey’s 47-year career with Fargo (N.D.) Public Schools included working as a teacher at Central High School, principal at Jefferson Elementary, and assistant superintendent for instruction and curriculum from 1970 until his retirement in 1997.
Lowell Bolger
Lowell C. Bolger
9/30/2017
Lowell C. Bolger graduated from Moorhead High School in 1954. During high school he earned all-conference basketball honors twice and helped the basketball and baseball teams advance to state tournaments. Bolger earned his bachelor’s degree in social studies and physical education from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1958. He taught and coached in Hawley and Duluth, Minn. In 1966 Bolger began teaching and coaching for Moorhead Area Public Schools. He was Moorhead High School assistant basketball coach until 1982 and retired from teaching in 1993. Bolger was instrumental in bringing adapted physical education to Moorhead Area Public Schools, and he worked as co-director for Minnesota Special Olympics. He was named to the North Dakota Fast Pitch Softball Hall of Fame in 1979 and inducted to the MSUM Dragons Hall of Fame in 1988.
Kris Landsverk
Kris Landsverk
Class of 1978
9/30/2017
Kris Landsverk graduated from Moorhead High School in 1978 at age 16 as an honors student and class salutatorian. He was active in music and theater, and he played the viola with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera Orchestra. Landsverk earned his bachelor of music degree with high distinction from the University of Iowa School of Music and continued his studies in France. Landsverk has played viola with orchestras in Iowa and Germany. Since 1987, he has been assistant principal viola in the Philharmonic Orchestra of Luxembourg. Additionally, Landsverk was active as a chamber musician and recorded works of chamber music. He coaches chamber music for youth ensembles and adult amateur groups, has given educational presentations, and performs at assisted living facilities.
Brent Teiken
Brent G. Teiken
Class of 1988
9/30/2017
Brent G. Teiken graduated from Moorhead High School in 1988. During high school he played basketball and baseball. Teiken earned his bachelor’s degree in English and business from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., in 1992 and his master of business administration from University of St. Thomas School of Business, Minneapolis, Minn., in 2004. From 1993 to 1996, Teiken worked for Great Plains Software, now Microsoft, in Fargo, N.D. In 1996 Teiken co-founded Sundog Interactive and has served as Sundog’s CEO since the company’s inception. Under Teiken’s leadership, Sundog has been recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies and best places to work. Teiken is actively involved on community boards and as a youth baseball coach.
Rod McLarnan
Rod McLarnan
Class of 1944
10/8/2016
Rod McLarnan graduated from Moorhead High School in 1944. He enlisted and served 22 months in the Navy. McLarnan earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota in 1950 and his law degree from William Mitchell in 1954. He practiced law in Moorhead from 1958 to January 2013. McLarnan joined the Salvation Army board of directors in 1985 and later served as chairman for 22 years. From 2002-13 he was a volunteer lawyer at the Minnesota Legal Aid office in Moorhead. McLarnan served on the Moorhead Park Board for 12 years, he taught English to children through Global Volunteers, he reads with students at S.G. Reinertsen Elementary School, and he has been an active volunteer for many community organizations.
Elizabeth (Betty) Myers
Elizabeth Ann (Betty) Myers
10/8/2016
Betty Myers graduated with honors from Spring Branch High School in a suburb of Houston, Texas, in 1962. She attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She completed her master’s and doctorate at University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Myers began working for Moorhead Area Public Schools in 1984 as a second-grade teacher at Riverside Elementary. From 1987-2003 she served as principal at Robert Asp. During her tenure at Robert Asp, Myers was a mentor to teachers and administrators throughout the district. She retired in 2004 as principal of Riverside. Myers was named a Riverside Teacher of the Year, and she received a Distinguished Service Award from the Art Educators of Minnesota.
William “Bill” Quenette
William “Bill” Quenette
10/8/2016
Bill Quenette graduated from West Fargo (N.D.) High School in 1951 and Concordia College in 1957. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany from 1953-55. He earned his master’s degree from Washington State University in 1960. Quenette taught physical education at Moorhead High School from 1966 until 1993 when he retired. He coached for the Spuds from 1966 until 2005, playing a key role in many state tournament appearances as a head and assistant coach for football, basketball, baseball and golf. Quenette received the Minnesota Assistant Coach of the Year Award three times. He was inducted into the Concordia College Athletic Hall of Fame (1990), the Minnesota High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame (2004), and the Minnesota High School Coaches Hall of Fame (2012). Quenette died in February 2013 at age 79.
Ron Wiisanen
Ron Wiisanen
Class of 1970
10/8/2016
Ron Wiisanen graduated from Moorhead High School in 1970. During high school he was an honor student, student council member, sophomore class president and active in music. Wiisanen studied pre-medicine at the University of Minnesota and attended medical school at the University of Minnesota, Duluth and Minneapolis, graduating with his M.D. degree in 1978. He completed a residency in family medicine at University of North Dakota School of Medicine in 1981. He became board certified in family medicine in 1981 and in obesity medicine in 2013. He has practiced family medicine and obesity medicine at MeritCare/Sanford for 24 years. He currently practices bariatric medicine as a senior physician at the Sanford Eating Disorders and Weight Management Clinic in Fargo. He is also a clinical associate professor for the UND School of Medicine.
Darvin Miller
Darvin C. Miller
10/3/2015
Darvin Miller graduated from Binford (N.D.) High School in 1963. He earned his diploma in auto mechanics from North Dakota State School of Science in 1965 and a bachelor’s degree from University of North Dakota Ellendale in 1969. After teaching a year in South Dakota, Miller began the automotive program at Moorhead High School in 1970 and taught there until retiring in 2006. Under Miller, the Moorhead High automotive program earned National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) certification in 2002 and became Minnesota’s third Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) certified program in 2003. Miller also coached students for state and national automotive contests for 22 years. He was named Moorhead Teacher of the Year in 1981 and Moorhead High School Teacher of the Year in 2005.
Peter Rogness
Peter Rogness
Class of 1978
10/3/2015
Peter Rogness graduated from Moorhead High School in 1978 where he was a National Merit Scholar and designed theater productions. He attended St. Olaf College before earning a bachelor’s degree in stage design at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and a master’s degree in film design at New York University. For the past 22 years Rogness has worked as an art director for film and television. He is credited as the art director for 28 films and has credits as assistant art director for six more films. Rogness received both a 2011 Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie and a 2012 Art Directors Guild Excellence in Production Design award for the HBO miniseries “Mildred Pierce.”
Shirley Tweten
Shirley J. Tweten
Class of 1955
10/3/2015
Shirley Olson Tweten graduated from Moorhead High School in 1955 where she was involved in band, Library Club, Pin Pan Club and Honor’s Society. Tweten earned a degree in home economics education and science from Concordia College in 1959. Tweten taught at Elbow Lake, Minn., Borup, Minn., and Oak Grove High School, Fargo, N.D. She earned a degree in English as a Second Language at Minnesota State University Moorhead, while tutoring for Moorhead Area Public Schools. Tweten taught ESL at Moorhead High School from 1984 to 2009. From 1981 to 2010, Tweten also taught evening classes for Moorhead Community Education’s Adult Basic Education. Tweten was named Moorhead High School Teacher of the Year in 1992. She is a 2005 recipient of the City of Moorhead’s Human Rights Award for Education. Shirley Tweten died on October 12, 2010, at age 73.
James Garrity
James A. Garrity
Class of 1972
9/27/2014
James Garrity graduated from Moorhead High School in 1972. During high school he was involved in cross country, wrestling and track. Garrity earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Minnesota. He earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1980 and then completed an internship at Hennepin County Medical Center before completing his residency in ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Medicine in 1984. In 1985, he did his fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology and orbital surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and Allegheny General Hospital prior to returning to Mayo Clinic in 1986. He is currently the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Professor of Ophthalmology. He specializes in neuro-ophthalmology, orbital diseases and surgery, especially orbital inflammations, orbital tumors and thyroid eye disease.
Vivian Jacobson
Vivian “Jake” Jacobson
9/27/2014
Vivian Rauk Jacobson graduated as salutatorian from Esmond (N.D.) High School at age 14. She graduated from Moorhead State College, now Minnesota State University Moorhead, where she majored in music, dramatics and education, and taught for 10 years in North Dakota and Minnesota schools. In 1945 Jacobson was named U.S.O. program director of the European Theater of War, staging performances during World War II. During her 31 years teaching for Moorhead Area Public Schools, Jacobson taught music and fifth grade at Park School for two years and then music at Riverside Elementary. Jacobson was affiliated with the Tri-College Student Teaching Program, supervising a record 245 student teachers. Vivian Jacobson died on Nov. 1, 2008, at age 92.
Mark Ladwig
Mark Sean Ladwig
Class of 1999
9/27/2014
Mark Ladwig graduated from Moorhead High School in 1999. During high school, he was active in figure skating, track and band, and he participated in Science Olympiad, football, diving, pep band and theater. During his skating career, Ladwig made thirteen appearances at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, earned six U.S. Figure Skating Championship medals, competed at the World Championships twice, and placed 10th at the 2010 Olympic Games in pairs figure skating. Since retiring from competing in 2013, Ladwig has been appointed a Gold Test Judge. He actively volunteers within U.S. Figure Skating and for 2012-16 was elected figure skating’s athlete representative to the United States Olympic Committee Athlete Advisory Committee.
Helen Wussow
Helen Wussow
Class of 1978
9/27/2014
Helen Wussow graduated from Moorhead High School in 1978. In high school she played viola in orchestra and was creative writing editor for the newspaper. Wussow graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English and humanities from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1982. She earned her master’s degree in 1984 and doctorate in 1989 from Oxford University, England. Wussow has spent 22 years in academe, including 14 years working in university administration. Since 2010, Wussow has served as dean of lifelong learning and associate professor of English at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Wussow has written, edited or reviewed numerous journal articles, books and book chapters, and she presents on modern British and European literature nationally and internationally.
Marion Gillespie
Marion Eldridge Gillespie
Class of 1926
9/21/2013
Marion Eldridge Gillespie graduated from Moorhead High School in 1926 where she was voted female student “most likely to succeed.” Gillespie attended North Dakota State University for one year and Moorhead State Teachers College for one year. She took night classes at Concordia College while working full-time for Hamm’s Distributing Co. Gillespie was a teacher at Interstate Business College, Fargo, for 26 years and ran Gillespie Studio with her husband. A global traveler, Gillespie organized trips through Gillespie Tours annually. She gave humorous readings for more than 60 years, acted as emcee and entertainer for groups, and participated in a multitude of clubs and activities. Gillespie was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she sang in the Cathedral Choir for 78 years. She died on April 14, 2006, at the age of 98.
Larry Knutson
Larry Knutson
9/21/2013
Larry Knutson graduated from Ashby (Minn.) High School in 1966. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1973 and studied radio broadcasting at Thief River Falls (Minn.) Technical College. Knutson is a self-employed radio announcer and house painter. For the past 34 years, Knutson has covered Spud athletics on the radio. He does the public address for Moorhead High School track meets and volleyball games and serves as master of ceremonies for civic and school organizations. In 2005, Knutson received Education Moorhead’s School Bell Award. Since 1983, Knutson has been the radio voice of Cobber athletics for Concordia College, Moorhead. In 2008, he received the Mike Augustin Award for his contributions to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference athletics. He was inducted into the Concordia College Hall of Fame in 2011.
Ken Tangen
Ken Tangen
9/21/2013
Ken Tangen graduated from Lisbon (N.D.) High School in 1948. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Concordia College, Moorhead, in 1958. In 1962, Tangen began teaching English at Moorhead High School, where he taught for 30 years, mentoring fellow teachers and preparing students to be lifelong learners. Tangen served as the Student Council advisor for 20 years and founded the Knowledge Bowl team, which he coached for 14 years. The Knowledge Bowl team competed at the national competition for seven consecutive years. In 1992, Tangen was named the Moorhead Teacher of the Year. Following his retirement in 1992, Tangen worked for 16 years at Concordia College and Minnesota State University Moorhead as a student teacher supervisor, and he revamped the practicum program at MSUM.
Benjamin Dille
Benjamin Dille
Class of 1978
9/22/2012
Benjamin Dille is a 1978 graduate of Moorhead High School and a National Merit Scholar. During high school, he was involved in band and orchestra. Dille graduated cum laude from Macalester College in 1982. After earning his law degree from University of Minnesota in 1986, Dille practiced law in Moorhead. He earned a master’s degree in European law in 1991 from University of Exeter in England and in 2012 completed his doctorate from the London School of Economics. Accepted into the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service in 1991, Dille has served as a diplomat in posts in Venezuela, Mexico, Shanghai, Nicaragua, Washington, D.C., Czech Republic and Iraq. Dille has received numerous awards, including the Secretary of State’s prestigious Arnold Raphel Memorial Award in 2008.
Dorothy Dodds
Dorothy A. Dodds
Class of 1941
9/22/2012
Dorothy Dodds graduated from Moorhead High School in 1941. She earned an elementary education degree from Moorhead State Teachers College in 1945 and a master’s degree in education from Colorado State University in 1948. Dodds taught kindergarten at the Moorhead State Campus School from 1949 until it closed in 1972, and then she taught in Minnesota State University Moorhead’s education department until retiring in 1986. A lifelong educator, Dodds developed the first recognized early childhood education curriculum in Minnesota, was a strong advocate for children, and was a founding member of Moorhead Healthy Community Initiative, an organization to provide after-school activities and build assets in Moorhead youth. Dodds was recognized by MSUM with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999, and MSUM established an endowed scholarship in her name.
Lloyd Paulson
Lloyd W. Paulson
9/22/2012
Lloyd Paulson graduated from Parkers Prairie (Minn.) High School in 1942. He served in the Army in 1945-46, reaching the rank of staff sergeant. After working for Scheels as a manager/partner for 28 years, Paulson retired in 1980. Paulson is a generous supporter of youth and the community. He helped found the Moorhead Area Education Foundation, which has provided 1,389 Moorhead High graduates with $1,127,950 in scholarships since 1992. He recruited the original MAEF board of directors, served as first president, did fundraising for the endowment fund, and has personally funded two scholarships. The foundation’s endowment is just above $1 million, and the annual phonathons have raised a total of $431,202. Paulson has provided financial and volunteer support to many local organizations, including Moorhead Kiwanis, Hjemkomst Center, Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival, Nordic Culture Clubs, and Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County.
Robert Paulson
Bob Paulson
Class of 1970
9/22/2012
Bob Paulson graduated from Moorhead High School in 1970. In high school, he was involved in debate, theater and swimming. Paulson earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from North Dakota State University in 1974. He earned his master of business administration from the University of Denver in 1978 and did graduate studies at Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State University in 1981. Paulson served as an officer in the Army National Guard. He has worked at The Nature Conservancy in Rapid City, S.D., since 1996, serving as Western Dakotas Program Director since January 2008 to preserve the ecosystems of the region. While at TNC, Paulson created Whitney Preserve, which conserves more than 17,000 acres, and he negotiated the acquisition of three Conata Basin ranches on 32,000 acres, enhancing endangered black-footed ferret habitat while providing grazing income.
Steve Wonderlich
Steve Wonderlich
9/22/2012
Steve Wonderlich graduated from Moorhead High School in 1974. In high school, he was involved in Key Club, football, and track and field, setting the school record in shot put. Wonderlich earned a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in 1978. He completed his doctorate in clinical psychology in 1985 at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Wonderlich is a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor in the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Grand Forks, N.D., director of clinical research at the Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, N.D., and chair of the Department of Eating Disorders for Sanford Health, Fargo. He is also director of the Treatment Collaborative for Traumatized Youth. Wonderlich has been principal investigator on many research projects, has written numerous journal articles, books and book chapters, and presents on topics of eating disorders nationally and internationally.
Lisa Borgen
Lisa Nelson Borgen
Class of 1980
9/24/2011
Lisa Nelson Borgen graduated from Moorhead High School in 1980. At Moorhead High, she participated in volleyball, track and Student Council. Borgen earned her Licensed Practical Nursing diploma in 1982, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1993 and her Juris Doctorate from University of North Dakota School of Law in 1996. She opened Borgen Law Office in Moorhead before being elected Clay County attorney in 1998 and 2002. She served as the chief prosecutor until 2006 when she was appointed 7th Judicial District Court Judge. Borgen was elected to the judicial position in 2008 for a six-year term. She serves as a general jurisdiction judge, specializing in drug court, domestic violence court and child protection/truancy court.
Rodney Kossick
Rodney J. Kossick
Class of 1955
9/24/2011
Rodney Kossick graduated from Moorhead High School in 1955. During high school, he participated in science club, track, chorus, operetta and language club. Kossick earned a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1959 and his master’s degree from Western Michigan University in 1962. He served in the North Dakota Air National Guard from 1955-58. Kossick worked for the North Dakota Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Washington State Services for the Blind, Australian National Council for the Blind, Indiana Rehabilitation Services and Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. From 1966-68, Kossick worked in South Vietnam as a blind rehabilitation consultant. He received the Civilian Medal of Honor, second class, from the South Vietnamese government in 1968. From 1980 until his retirement in 2000, Kossick was a blind rehabilitation specialist in Milwaukee, Wis.
Vincent Pulicicchio
Vincent Pulicicchio
9/24/2011
Vincent Pulicicchio attended International Falls (Minn.) High School. After graduating in 1945, Pulicicchio spent two years serving in the United States Navy. After his discharge in 1947, Pulicicchio attended the Vermilyea Academy of Music in Los Angeles and performed with the Glendale Symphony Orchestra. Pulicicchio earned a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1950 and his master’s degree from Colorado State College, Greeley, in 1958. In 1951, Pulicicchio, known as “Mr. P” to his students, began a 34-year career teaching orchestra for Moorhead Area Public Schools. In 1965, he developed Apollo Strings, a string ensemble that traveled across the United States, Canada and Europe and behind the Iron Curtain. Vincent Pulicicchio died on Jan. 18, 2010, at age 82.
Larry Shellito
Larry W. Shellito
Class of 1964
9/24/2011
Larry Shellito graduated from Moorhead High School in 1964. At Moorhead High, he was involved in wrestling and Student Council. Shellito earned two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead. He completed his doctorate from the University of Minnesota in 1998. Shellito is a U.S. Army War College graduate. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1968, serving in Vietnam. In 1973, Shellito joined the Minnesota Army National Guard, where he served for 37 years. From 1972 to 2003, he worked at Alexandria Technical College, serving as president the last nine years. Major General Shellito was appointed Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard from 2003 to 2010. He was appointed as the 17th commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs in January 2011. Shellito earned numerous military awards including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.
Mark Voxland
Mark O. Voxland
Class of 1968
9/24/2011
Mark Voxland graduated from Moorhead High School in 1968. At Moorhead High, he participated in debate and carolers. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1972. Voxland is president of Voxland Electric. In 1988, Voxland was elected to the Moorhead City Council. He has served as mayor of Moorhead since 2002. Voxland has served on numerous regional and state organizations, including Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corp, Red River Basin Commission, National League of Cities, League of Minnesota Cities, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities and Minnesota Mayors Association. Voxland has been active with Moorhead Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts and Trinity Lutheran Church. He has earned numerous Boy Scout and Jaycee awards and the MSUM Distinguished Alumni Award, and he was named to the Kiwanis Hall of Honor.
Ann Ellenson
Ann Ellenson (Anna Mae Berg)
Class of 1954
10/2/2010
Ann Ellenson, known in high school as Anna Mae Berg, graduated from Moorhead High School in 1954. She was involved in music, journalism, drama, Science Club and the National Honor Society. Ellenson graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in business education and psychology. From 1966-1981 Ellenson taught in the business department at Moorhead Area Vocational Technical Institute, now Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Moorhead. She developed a human relations curriculum and wrote the textbook "Human Relations" in 1973, with a second edition published in 1980. From 1980 until retiring in 1995, Ellenson co-owned Fevig Insurance Agency in Moorhead. Ellenson served as chair of the Moorhead Area Chamber of Commerce board in 1989-90. Her involvement also included Chamber committees, Moorhead School District Title IX committee, Moorhead Community Foundation Task Force and Moorhead Soroptimist Club.
Becky Gulsvig
Becky Gulsvig
Class of 2000
10/2/2010
Becky Gulsvig graduated a year early from Moorhead High School in 2000. At Moorhead High School, she participated in Key Club, Student Council, choir, Carolers, the fall musicals and speech. Gulsvig also participated in the musicals at Trollwood Performing Arts School. In 2004 Gulsvig made her Broadway debut in "Hairspray" as Lou Ann. After a year she took over the principal role of Amber Von Tussle. Gulsvig was a member of the original cast of Broadway’s "Legally Blonde the Musical," playing Leilani and understudying the lead role. She left to tour the country for two years with "Legally Blonde." Gulsvig’s television appearances include a short stint on "All My Children," a national Verizon commercial and a special appearance on "The Tony Awards." She performs the national anthem at professional games.
Douglas Hastad
Douglas N. Hastad
Class of 1967
10/2/2010
Doug Hastad graduated from Moorhead High School in 1967. At Moorhead High, Hastad played basketball and baseball. He graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, in 1971. Hastad earned a master’s degree from Washington State University in 1972 and a doctorate in secondary education from Arizona State University in 1980. Hastad was an elementary physical education teacher for Moorhead Area Public Schools from 1972-1976 and served as Moorhead High School’s girls tennis coach and boys basketball assistant coach. Hastad held positions at Concordia College, Northern Illinois University and Texas Christian University. He worked at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse from 1989-2006, serving as chancellor from 2001-2006. Hastad has been president of Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis., since July 2006. He has written five editions of the college text "Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education and Exercise Science." Hastad was selected as a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow in 1992.
Larry Ludemann
Larry R. Ludemann
Class of 1972
10/2/2010
Larry Ludemann graduated from Moorhead High School in 1972. During high school, he participated in sophomore football, wrestling, track and cross country. He was a state qualifier in track his senior year and holds a school record in the 880-yard run. Ludemann earned a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1976 and a master’s degree from North Dakota State University in 1978. He earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Iowa State University in 1987. In 1988 Ludemann became a veterinary medical officer for the United States Department of Agriculture Center for Veterinary Biologics in Ames, Iowa. Since 2001 Ludemann has been a senior staff veterinarian for the USDA. In March 2001, Ludemann volunteered to help to eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease from the United Kingdom. He received a Group Honor Award for Excellence from the Secretary of Agriculture for his work.
Adolph Murie
Adolph Murie
Class of 1918
10/2/2010
Adolph Murie graduated from Moorhead High School in 1918. Murie earned a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, in 1925 and his doctorate in biology from the University of Michigan in 1929. He spent the better part of 32 years working for the National Park Service, undertaking pioneering studies that were published in four books: "The Wolves of Mount McKinley," "A Naturalist in Alaska," "The Ecology of the Coyote in the Yellowstone," and "The Grizzlies of Mount McKinley." Murie was also instrumental in protecting wolves from eradication and in preserving the biological integrity of Denali National Park and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Park Service and the prestigious John Burroughs Medal. The Murie Science and Learning Center in Denali National Park was dedicated to Murie in 2004. Adolph Murie died on Aug. 16, 1974.
Louise Bjorkman
Louise Dovre Bjorkman
Class of 1978
9/26/2009
Louise Bjorkman graduated from Moorhead High School in 1978. During high school she was active in band, orchestra, drama and Z Club, and she was valedictorian. Bjorkman graduated from Luther College in 1982. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota Law School where she was an editor of the Law Review. Bjorkman was a partner and attorney with Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel from 1985-98. She was appointed to the Second Judicial District Court in September 1998 by Governor Arne Carlson. She was elected in 2000 and served until 2005. From 2005-08, Bjorkman worked as a partner at Larson King, L.L.P. In June 2008, she was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Her current term expires Jan. 3, 2011.
Robert Bonawitz
Robert L. Bonawitz
Class of 1955
9/26/2009
Robert Bonawitz graduated from Moorhead High School in 1955. He participated in wrestling, football, language club and Lettermen’s Club. Bonawitz earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in 1981. Bonawitz negotiated government and commercial contracts, including classified military projects, for Control Data Corporation. From 1975-77, Bonawitz was associate director of operations and visitor services for the Minnesota Zoological Gardens. He returned to Control Data Corporation in 1977. From 1986-92 he worked as director for contracts and business development for Empros Systems International, a division of Control Data Corp. Bonawitz was president and owner of Orca, Inc., a machine tool company, from 1992 until retiring in 2000. Since retiring, Bonawitz has spent time teaching, counseling as a member of SCORE, consulting and volunteering.
Ron Gadberry
Ron Gadberry
9/26/2009
Ron Gadberry graduated from Hillsboro (N.D.) High School in 1954 and from Concordia College, Moorhead. He earned a master’s degree from South Dakota State University. Gadberry’s 48-year education career included 19 years as a physical education and health teacher and coach in Moorhead. While at Moorhead High School, Gadberry served as wrestling head coach for 18 years. During that time, the wrestling team won 207 duals, nine district championships, six subregional championships and nine regional championships, including seven consecutive regional championships from 1975 to 1981. Gadberry coached four state individual champions, two runners-up and 11 placewinners. Gadberry was named Minnesota Regional Coach of the Year four times and was selected to the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. Gadberry was nominated five times for national Wresting Coach of the Year and was a finalist in 2000 and 2003. 
Dean Hornbacher
Dean Hornbacher
Class of 1963
9/26/2009
Dean Hornbacher graduated from Moorhead High School in 1963. While at Moorhead High he was involved in the concert choir and Wig and Sig Drama Club. Hornbacher graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1967. While attending high school and college, Hornbacher worked as a part-time clerk at Ted’s Supervalu and Northport Clothiers. He began his career at Hornbacher’s Foods in 1967 and has been president and chief operating officer of Hornbacher’s Foods since 1980. In 1999 Hornbacher received the Governor’s Award for the Arts from North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer. He received the Grocer of the Year award from the North Dakota Grocer’s Association in 2004, the Lions Club International Foundation’s Melvin Jones Fellow award for humanitarian services in 2006, and the Vocational Training Center’s Directors Award for support of workers with disabilities in 2007.
Mary Nilsen
Mary Ylvisaker Nilsen
Class of 1956
9/26/2009
Mary Nilsen graduated from Moorhead High School in 1956. Her involvement there included band, orchestra, Spud staff, Cho Kio, Language Club, Debate, Declamation, Writers’ Club, National Honor Society and Quill and Scroll. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, a master’s degree in writing from the University of Iowa, and in 1994 a master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School. She is an Enneagram instructor and spiritual director. In 1990 she established Zion Publishing. Nilsen is the author or co-author of several books, Christian education curricula, and articles and book reviews in a variety of journals. Nilsen has taught writing at the University of Iowa, the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, Collegeville Institute and several seminaries.
Paula Bauck
Paula W. Bauck
10/4/2008
Paula Bauck graduated from Roseau (Minn.) High School in 1937 and Bemidji (Minn.) State University. She earned a master’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Bauck was a teacher, gymnastics and track coach, and coordinator for girls athletics for Moorhead Area Public Schools until retiring in 1983. During her 14 years as girls track and field coach, Bauck coached three state championship teams and had the top-ranked 880 medley relay team in the nation in 1975. She was named Minnesota Girls Track Coach of the Year three times. In 1968 Bauck helped write the regulations adopted by the Minnesota State High School League that laid the foundation for high school girls athletics. Bauck was active on state and regional committees and coaches associations. She was inducted into the MSHSL Hall of Fame in 1991. In 1999, Bauck was the first inductee into the Minnesota Girls Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Julie Buckley
Julie A. Buckley, M.D.
Class of 1987
10/4/2008
Julie Buckley graduated from Moorhead High School in 1987 as valedictorian. She was active in swimming, music, musicals, Key Club and Knowledge Bowl. Buckley was named a United States Presidential Scholar in 1987. She graduated summa cum laude from St. Olaf College in 1991 and earned her medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1995. She completed an internship in pathology at Johns Hopkins and residency in diagnostic radiology and fellowship in cross sectional body imaging (CT, MR and Ultrasound) at Stanford University Medical Center. Buckley has received scholarships and awards for scholastic excellence and research pursuits from regional and national associations, including the Science Museum of Minnesota, Radiological Society of North America, Roentgen Ray Society, and American Association for Women Radiologists. In 2001, Buckley joined the Palo Alto Medical Clinic Department of Radiology and has served as department chair.
Olaus Murie
Olaus J. Murie
Class of 1908
10/4/2008
Olaus Murie graduated from Moorhead High School in 1908 and from Pacific University, Oregon, in 1912. From 1920 to 1926, the U.S. Biological Survey hired Murie as a wildlife biologist to conduct a study of Alaskan caribou. In 1927, he investigated the Jackson Hole, Wyoming, elk herd. Murie’s concern for a more ecological boundary for the elk helped to create Jackson Hole National Monument in 1943. In 1945 he became director of the Wilderness Society. Murie spearheaded the crusade to establish the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. For his service to wilderness protection, Murie received numerous awards, including the Audubon Award, the Sierra Club’s John Muir Award, the Wildlife Society’s Aldo Leopold Memorial Award for outstanding publication, and a Fulbright Fellowship. He authored or illustrated several books. Murie died October 21, 1963, at age 74.
Phil Seljevold
Phil Seljevold
Class of 1945
10/4/2008
Phil Seljevold graduated from Moorhead High School in 1945. At Moorhead High, Seljevold participated in band, orchestra, choir, basketball, football and track. Seljevold graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, in 1950. He earned a master’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead. In 1958, Seljevold began working as the elementary physical education supervisor for Moorhead Area Public Schools. In 1968, he began a 21-year career as the athletic director for the school district. As athletic director, Seljevold was a part of the 1970s move to include girls in athletic programs. He was named Region 8AA Athletic Director of the Year four times, and in 1996 he was inducted into the Minnesota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame. Seljevold was chairman of the Moorhead High School Stadium Committee and is a past Moorhead High School Hall of Honor Committee member.
Hartvick "Shocky" Strand
Hartvick “Shocky” Strand
10/4/2008
Hartvick “Shocky” Strand graduated from Portland (N.D.) High School in 1940 and from Concordia College, Moorhead, in 1944. Strand served in the United States Navy as an officer on the USS Napa from 1944-46. On Feb. 19, 1945, he led the third wave of barges onto Blue Beach, Iwo Jima. In 1949 Strand began teaching and coaching at Moorhead High School. He was track head coach from 1951-68. He had 17 straight district track titles and state track titles in 1967 and 1968, and he was head basketball coach for state tournament teams in 1953 and 1967. From 1968-1982, Strand was vice president of Bob Fritz Sporting Goods. He began coaching again at Moorhead High School in 1982. Most recently, he was the hurdle coach, retiring in 2001. In 1994 Strand became a charter inductee into the Minnesota Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Mary Grinaker
Mary Jane Grinaker
Class of 1977
9/29/2007
Mary Grinaker graduated in 1977 from Moorhead High School. She participated in band, orchestra, choir, track, basketball and tennis. In track, Grinaker set state records in the 60-yard hurdles, 880-yard relay and long jump and tied the national high school record in the 110-yard hurdles. Grinaker graduated from University of Wisconsin, Madison, and earned a master’s degree from Smith College, Northampton, Mass., where she served as head coach of track and field and cross country from 1981-1991. From 1991-2001 Grinaker was assistant coach of track and field and cross country at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Since 2002, Grinaker has been a recovery team member at Regeneration Technologies, Inc. She is a high school assistant coach for track and field, and she has been organizing “Girls on the Run” locally. Grinaker was inducted into the Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame in 2006.
Scott Isensee
Scott Isensee
Class of 1976
9/29/2007
Scott Isensee graduated from Moorhead High School in 1976 where he was salutatorian and a National Merit Scholarship recipient. Isensee graduated from North Dakota State University and earned master’s degrees from Kansas State University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Isensee worked for IBM from 1983-1999 as a user interface architect and designer. While at IBM he led a team of designers, programmers and writers, developed new styles of user interface, wrote guidelines and developed tools for user interface design, and represented the United States on ISO and ANSI committees on user interface design standards. Since 1999, Isensee has been a user interface architect at BMC Software where he designs user interfaces for systems management products. Isensee holds 50 U.S. patents, and he is the author of numerous technical publications and a coauthor of five books.
Morrie Lanning
Rep. Morrie Lanning
Class of 1962
9/29/2007
Morrie Lanning graduated from Moorhead High School in 1962. In high school, Lanning was involved in Student Council, football, wrestling, thespians, Wig and Sig, track and Declamation. He graduated from Concordia College in 1966 and earned a master’s degree from North Dakota State University in 1968. Lanning began working at Concordia College in 1966. He became dean of students in 1973. From 1979 until his retirement in 2005, Lanning was vice president for student affairs and dean of students. In 1973 and 1977 Lanning was elected Third Ward alderman on the Moorhead City Council. Lanning served as mayor of Moorhead from 1980 through 2001. Since 2003 Lanning has served as state representative for Minnesota House District 9A. Throughout his years of public service he has held numerous leadership positions in city, state and regional organizations. Lanning is a member of several boards and commissions, and he has been recognized for his legislative work by numerous organizations.
Jeffrey Molldrem
Jeffrey J. Molldrem, M.D.
Class of 1982
9/29/2007
Jeffrey Molldrem graduated from Moorhead High School in 1982. During high school he was active in theater, wrestling and K-Club. Molldrem earned a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1986 and his M.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1990. He completed a residency in internal medicine, fellowship training in hematology and medical oncology, and postdoctoral research fellowship in immunology. Molldrem joined the faculty at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in 1997. He serves as a professor of medicine and section chief for Transplant Immunology in the Department of Blood and Marrow Transplant. Molldrem’s main interest is in translational immunology. His research focus is understanding immunity against leukemia and developing novel immune therapies for patients with leukemia. Molldrem has published numerous articles related to his research, and he lectures world wide.
Thomas Proehl
Thomas C. Proehl
Class of 1982
9/29/2007
Thomas Proehl graduated in 1982 from Moorhead High School where he was involved in Student Council, band, choir, theater and speech. He graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead and earned a master of fine arts degree from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. During the 1990s, Proehl worked in New York as general manager of The Dramatists Guild and as a founding member and the managing director of the Signature Theatre Company. In 1999, Proehl became general manager of The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. He was named managing director in 2002 and oversaw the construction of the new Guthrie Theater complex. Since December 2006, Proehl has been executive director of the Minnesota State Arts Board. Proehl continues to serve as an advocate for the arts and artists through his service to communities, organizations and individuals.
Timothy Solien
T. L. Solien
Class of 1967
9/29/2007
Timothy L. Solien graduated from Moorhead High School in 1967. His involvement included “M” Club, Quill and Scroll, “Spud” paper and golf. Solien earned a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska. From 1980-1992, Solien was a studio artist. His work has been in numerous exhibitions including the 1983 Biennial Exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the 39th Biennial Exhibition of American Painting at the Corcoran Museum in Washington, D.C. His artwork is held in numerous university, museum and corporate collections, including the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Art Institute of Chicago, and National Museum of American Art, Washington, D.C. Solien began teaching at the collegiate level in 1991. He has been a professor of painting and drawing at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, since 1997.
Matt Cullen
Matt Cullen
Class of 1995
9/16/2006
Matt Cullen graduated from Moorhead High School in 1995. Cullen distinguished himself in hockey and was named a Mr. Hockey finalist and Associated Press High School Player of the Year in 1995. In the 1996 National Hockey League draft, Cullen was drafted 35th overall by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. In 2005-06 Cullen achieved career highs in goals (25) and points (49) while helping the Carolina Hurricanes win the Southeast Division championship, and he played a key role in Carolina’s Stanley Cup championship. In July 2006, Cullen signed with the New York Rangers. Cullen has played for four World Championship teams and was a 2004 bronze medalist on Team USA. In 2003-04, Cullen and his wife began the Cullen Children’s Foundation, which has raised more than $450,000 to use locally for children with cancer.
George Hanson
George R. Hanson
Class of 1976
9/16/2006
George R. Hanson graduated as salutatorian from Moorhead High School in 1976. He studied at Concordia College, Vienna Academy of Music, The Curtis Institute, and Indiana University. Since 1996, Hanson has been music director and conductor of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. For the symphony’s Mozart festival in 2006, Hanson debuted as pianist, conducting Mozart’s concerto no. 23 from the keyboard. In 2003, Hanson received the Echo Klassik award, second only to the Grammy in international importance, for his recording of music of Anton Rubinstein. Hanson has shared the stage with his mentor and teacher Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood, appeared with Tony Bennett and Dizzy Gillespie, and recorded with the rock group R.E.M. Hanson has appeared with nearly 90 symphony orchestras and opera companies in 19 countries.
Fred Scheel
Fred B. Scheel
Class of 1938
9/16/2006
Fred Scheel graduated from Moorhead High School in 1938. He studied forestry at the University of Minnesota. From 1942-46, Scheel went from Navy preflight to fighter pilot for the U.S. Marine Corps. Scheel assumed management of Scheels Hardware in Fargo, N.D., in 1947. Scheel pursued his interest in photography, studying under Ansel Adams and Brett Weston, who are regarded as the best black and white photographers. Scheel has published two books with black and white photographs, “A Search to See” and “A Search to See II.” In 2002, he published the book “Poems and Other Words.” Over the years, Scheel has been actively involved in the community and contributed generously to many organizations.
Jeremy Torstveit
Jeremy R. Torstveit, M.D.
Class of 1965
9/16/2006
Jeremy Torstveit graduated in 1965 from Moorhead High School where he was involved in basketball, track and journalism. Torstveit graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York. From 1979 to 2002, Torstveit was a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon (adults and pediatric) and a thoracic trauma surgeon at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz., where he now has emeritus status. In 1991, Torstveit co-founded the Children’s Heart Project of Arizona. He has led 21 cardiac surgery medical missions to Sri Lanka. Torstveit is an International Council of Motorsport Sciences member, National Hot Rod Association track physician and advisor, and National Dragster columnist. In 2002, Torstveit was designated Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka for the state of Arizona. He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 and 2001.
Fred Behling
Fred L. Behling, M.D.
Class of 1942
10/8/2005
Fred Behling graduated from Moorhead High School in 1942 where he was senior class president. Behling graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine and completed a fellowship in orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. From 1958 until his retirement in 1992, Behling was an orthopedic surgeon at Palo Alto Clinic in Palo Alto, California. In 1972, he founded the clinic’s Sports Medicine Department. A pioneer in the area of sports medicine, Behling served as team physician for the San Francisco Giants, the San Francisco 49ers, and the 1973 World University Games. He served as team physician for the Stanford University football team for 34 years. The national Athletic Trainers Association awarded Behling the President’s Challenge Cup Award in 1983.
Patrick Benedict
Patrick Benedict
Class of 1951
10/8/2005
Patrick Benedict graduated from Moorhead High School in 1951. In high school he distinguished himself in wrestling. From 1954-56, Benedict served in the U.S. Navy. For 50 years, Benedict has been president and chair of Benedict Farms in Sabin, Minnesota. Benedict was featured on the cover of Time magazine in November 6, 1978, for a feature story titled “New American Farmer.” In 1973 he was one of the founding members of American Crystal Sugar Coop. Over the years he has been actively involved on community boards. Benedict is currently treasurer of both the NRI (Neurological Research Institute) board and the Golden Growers, formerly Northern Corn Processors, which he helped found in 1993.
Allan Carlson
Dr. Allan D. Carlson
Class of 1957
10/8/2005
Allan Carlson graduated from Moorhead High School in 1957. He graduated summa cum laude from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota in 1961. He completed his master’s and doctorate degrees at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Carlson has worked on measurements of neutron cross sections for over 35 years. While at the University of Wisconsin he used a tandem Van de Graaff accelerator for measurements of total neutron cross sections to study fluctuations in neutron cross sections. Since 1972, Carlson has been a physicist for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) where he became coordinator of the Van de Graaff and linac neutron cross section standards activities. He retired in April 2001 and is now a NIST contractor.
Byron Gigler
Byron K. Gigler
Class of 1961
10/8/2005
Byron K. Gigler graduated from Moorhead High School in 1961. While in high school, he distinguished himself in basketball and in track, setting state and local records for the hurdles and long jump. Gigler graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1966. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1966-70 including a tour in South Vietnam. From 1971-1999, Gigler worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, first as a special agent and later as a supervisory special agent. Since retiring from the FBI in June 1999, Gigler volunteers with various ministries. In 2003 he became the India Program Director of World Encounter where he identifies and trains people who wish to participate in short-term ministry outreach to northern India and assists in leading outreach teams to India.
Alan Hopeman
Alan R. Hopeman
Class of 1938
10/8/2005
Alan Hopeman graduated from Moorhead High School in 1938. He was class president and involved in numerous activities including music, class plays, debate, football, basketball and track. Hopeman graduated from Concordia College in 1942. After serving in World War II, Hopeman graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1950. He served as chief of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at several army hospitals until retiring from the Medical Corps in 1970. From 1970-1995, he was a professor of surgery at several medical schools, then president of medical staff at Denver General Hospital, and most recently an emeritus professor of surgery (cardiothoracic) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. Hopeman was recently honored by the School of Medicine’s Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery with an annual named lecture on a subject related to cardiothoracic surgery.
Warren Magnuson
Warren G. Magnuson
Class of 1923
10/8/2005
Warren Magnuson graduated from Moorhead High School in 1923 where he was the football quarterback and class treasurer. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1926 and from the University of Washington School of Law in 1929. Magnuson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1937. He won reelection in 1938, 1940 and 1942. During World War II, Magnuson left Congress to serve in the United States Navy. In 1944, Magnuson was elected to the U.S. Senate where he served for six terms (36 years), ending his last two years as President Pro Tempore, third in the line of succession to the Presidency. While in the Senate, Magnuson chaired the Commerce Committee and later chaired the Appropriations Committee. He sponsored significant health care, civil rights, consumer protection, and environmental protection legislation. Warren G. Magnuson died on May 20, 1989, at the age of 84.
Bernice Christenson
Bernice Marks Christenson
Class of 1936
9/25/2004
Bernice Christenson graduated from Moorhead High School in 1936. She earned a bachelor’s degree from George Pepperdine College and a master’s degree in education from the University of Southern California. Most recently Christenson worked for five years as Director of Alumni and Public Affairs at the University of Southern California’s School of Education until her retirement. Prior to that she worked for 30 years for the Los Angeles City School System, including as curriculum supervisor for 600 elementary schools in Los Angeles.
Ada Comstock
Ada Comstock Notestein
Class of 1897
9/25/2004
Ada Comstock graduated from Moorhead High School in 1892. She graduated from Smith College in 1897 and attended Moorhead Normal School, getting her teaching certificate. Comstock taught at the University of Minnesota and then became the university’s first dean of women. Later she served as dean at Smith College and president at Radcliffe College. A building is named after her at each of the three campuses with which she was affiliated — University of Minnesota, Smith and Radcliffe. Comstock was also a founder of the American Association of University Women. Ada Comstock Notestein died in 1973.
Beverly Lynch
Beverly Pfeifer Lynch
Class of 1953
9/25/2004
Beverly Lynch graduated from Moorhead High School in 1953. She received her bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University, her master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, and her doctorate from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Lynch is a professor at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and Director of the UCLA Senior Fellows Program. Lynch was previously Dean of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at UCLA.
Margaret Newton
Margaret Newton
Class of 1910
9/25/2004
Margaret Newton graduated from Moorhead High School in 1910. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the Fargo College and Conservatory and a master’s degree from McPhail School of Music in Minneapolis. Newton worked as a teacher and music supervisor for the Moorhead Public Schools from 1915 to 1956. She produced and staged an operetta each year for 41 years until she retired. Newton also worked as a vocal music education methods teacher at Concordia College. She continued to work at Concordia for eight years following her retirement from the school district. Margaret Newton died in 1971.
Ronald Offutt
Ronald D. Offutt
Class of 1960
9/25/2004
Ronald Offutt graduated from Moorhead High School in 1960. In high school he distinguished himself in Future Farmers of America, football and wrestling. In 1964, he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Concordia College. Offutt is the founder and chief executive officer of the R.D. Offutt Company. RDO is the nation’s largest producer of potatoes. Additionally RDO operates a farm and dairy operation, three food processing manufacturing plants, and markets its crops through several major processors. Offutt is also the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of RDO Equipment Co., which owns the largest network of John Deere construction and agricultural equipment dealerships in the country.
Roger Pitsenbarger
Roger O. Pitsenbarger
Class of 1939
9/25/2004
Roger Pitsenbarger graduated from Moorhead High School in 1939. While in high school, he participated in music and athletics. He attended Concordia College, University of Minnesota, and in 1943 received a bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University. He earned a Jurist Degree from the University of North Dakota Law School in 1947. Pitsenbarger is owner of Kordel, Inc., and he has been involved in many local business ventures. He has also served on the Trinity Lutheran Church Foundation Board, the board of Bio-Medicus and the Concordia College Board of Regents.
Thomas Setter
Thomas Setter, M.D.
Class of 1953
9/25/2004
Thomas Setter graduated from Moorhead High School in 1953. In high school, Setter was involved in numerous activities including Senior Class President, wrestling, Student Council, and the student newspaper. Setter graduated from the University of North Dakota and completed his medical education at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1960. Setter worked as an orthopedic surgeon at Setter Orthopedics until retiring in 1993. Setter has been active in Rotary International and since 1997 he has been a Rotary volunteer traveling to Tanzania to volunteer his medical services and orthopedic skills to those less fortunate.
Rein Uritam
Rein A. Uritam
Class of 1957
9/25/2004
Rein Uritam graduated from Moorhead High School in 1957. He graduated from Concordia College in 1961, earning his master’s degree from Oxford University and his doctorate from Princeton University in 1968. At Oxford, Uritam was a Marshall Scholar, one of 24 awarded nationally. Uritam is currently a professor of physics at Boston College. From 1991 to 2001, Uritam served as president of the Association of Marshall Scholars. He also served with the British Ambassador on the national selection committee for Marshall Scholars. For his service, he was knighted and awarded membership in the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. The investiture was January 17, 2002.