What a Day!

The Duluth Denfeld High School clock tower

Yesterday. I sat on the stage of Denfeld High School along with 19 other Denfeld High School alumni and former educators (or their proxies) as inductees into the Denfeld Hall of Fame. For me, the last time I was on that stage was in January of 1999 when I insisted upon holding my investiture (swearing in) ceremony as I took on the role of District Court Judge. I insisted upon having a ceremony normally confined to a courtroom in our local courthouse because of the impact the school had on me during my three year stint as a Denfeld student. I was about to write, “as a Denfeld Hunter”, but those of us who graduated from Denfeld know that, “once a Hunter, always a Hunter”: In essence, the impact of the school on our lives doesn’t end on graduation day.

Originally founded in 1966 as a way to honor male athletes from the school’s past, the Hall of Fame has expanded over time to include both male and female alumni and folks who have succeeded in business, art, music, literature, commerce, and a host of other disciplines beyond athletics. In all, 59 folks (at the conclusion of yesterday’s program) have been inducted. I am one of the lucky 59. You might ask, “Who cares? High School was three years of a (hopefully) long, long life. It wasn’t anything special. In fact, I don’t even go to my reunions.” I understand that sentiment. Life is a long road and indeed, high school is a very short rest stop along the way. But, as I said yesterday in my very brief speech (supposed to be a minute but I think I kept it to two), there’s something different about the vibe and history and impact of Duluth’s western high school upon it’s graduates. Many of the industries that existed when I was a student there, including the U.S. Steel Plant, Atlas Cement, Diamond Tool, National Iron, American Hoist and Derrick, and a whole host of others; places that allowed honest working men (and a few women) good wages with which to raise their children and offer those children a chance at a different life through higher education; are long shuttered. But the history of the sons and daughters of railroad men and steel workers and tool cutters and dock workers and plant secretaries achieving the American dream is still what Denfeld is all about. More so than any of the other high schools in the city. There’s a slight edge, a chip on the shoulder of a Denfeld graduate, if you will, that seems to advertise to the world “Get out of the way because I’m coming through.” And despite the fact that my parents were both professionals, because my best friends for those three years of high school generally came from large families whose parents (usually the dad but sometimes the mom) graduated from high school (usually Denfeld!) and then went right into the work force, I couldn’t help but be affected by that history.

I once gave a speech at Denfeld after I’d graduated. I was asked to talk to the entire student body, over 1,000 kids strong, about my life experiences and how even someone like me, a kid who had his fair share of visits with Principal Samskar, could make a difference in the world. During a tour of the newly remodeled school, a Denfeld administrator commented that, “for a trade school (meaning the students were generally fated for blue color jobs and not college), the new computer lab might be overkill.” I bristled at the comment but held my tongue. I knew then, as I know now, that Duluth Denfeld High School’s unique legacy of academic success, close ties to the community, and common roots and values, has and will continue to change the lives of the students who leave its doors with a high school diploma. They say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Here are the folks who were inducted yesterday and brief snapshots of their lives. The thing is: these folks are not the exception, they are the rule. There are tens of thousands more where they came from.

Peace.

Mark

The 2012 Denfeld Hall of Fame Inductees

Greg Anderson (Class of 1979): Professional drag racer. Winner of 73 National Hot Rod races and NHRA World Champion.

Peter Bergman (Class of 1959): Lifelong educator and principal in the Duluth Schools, Peter holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education. He was the principal of the first magnet school in Minnesota.

Tyrone Bujold (Class of 1955): Noted trial lawyer for over 40 years, Ty is a member of four prestigious legal societies that are limited to less than 1% of all practicing trial attorneys. He declined a full scholarship at Harvard to attend Marquette. He holds a B.S. from Marquette and a J.D. from Minnesota.

George Dell Daedo (Denfeld Educator): Principal of Denfeld from 1948-1963. Active community member, sitting on the boards of the United Way, the Red Cross, and Rotary. Bequeathed $40,000 to the Denfeld Scholarship Fund.

M. George Downs (Class of 1946): 38 years on DM&IR RR, working up the ladder from laborer to Assn. Manager of the Ore Docks. Served ten years on the Duluth School Board. Served 12 years on the Duluth City Council.

Edgar “Father” Felton (Denfeld Educator): A professional musician who taught in the Duluth Public Schools from 1930-1966, exclusively at Denfeld and Lincoln Jr. High.

Pat Francisco (Class of 1963): Played all sports at Denfeld and was All City in football and hockey. Attended UMD and played college hockey. Taught at Silver Bay and Duluth Cathedral before founding Patrick Francisco Financial Advisors. On many, many boards and commissions and a driving force behind reclaiming and reusing the old Clyde Iron Words as the Heritage Center (hockey and indoor soccer arenas; Boys and Girls Club; Children’s Museum; and retail facilities).

Scott Gernander (Class of 1965): All City, All Tri-State, and All State as a Denfeld athlete, including selection in basketball to Parade Magazine’s All Prep Team. Obtained a BA and masters from UMD, taught in Tower before moving to Texas where he coached and taught in high schools and at San Jacinto Junior College, where he led the men’s basketball team to 3 national championships.

Marguerite Gilmore (Class of 1924 and Denfeld Educator): Taught English at Denfeld and Lincoln Jr. from 1947-1970. Upon the deaths of her brothers, she established a scholarship fund for Duluth high school graduates that gives out 25 $10,000 scholarships per year.

Roger Grimsby (Class of 1946): Graduate of St. Olaf, a lifelong broadcaster. Was the first television news man to earn more than $1,000,000 salary per year and the anchor of ABC’s weekend news. Winner of 6 Emmys.

Gary Harker (Class of 1962): A stellar athlete at Denfeld, Harker went on to play and coach college hockey at UWS. He achieved a B.S. and a Masters from UWS and was the head hockey coach at UWS from 1977-1986. Currently a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs. 3 time NAIA Coach of the Year.

Dr. Roger Kerin (Class of 1965): Received his BA from UMD, Masters and Ph.D from Minnesota. Presently a college educator at SMU, he is the author of five books in marketing, his field of expertise. Holds the Harold C. Simmons distinguished Professorship of Marketing at SMU.

Joyce Lamont (Class of 1934): Used her BA in English and journalism to become a radio pioneer. First woman on the air for WCCO in 1950. Moved from WCCO to KLBB in 1989 and is a charter inductee into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Doug MacIver (Denfeld Educator): Began his career at Denfeld as a coach and educator in 1970. Head boys’ basketball coach from 1974-1984. Also coached boys and girls cross country. 25 Year Service Award from the Minnesota Coaches Assn. Was Denfeld’s Athletic/Activities Director  and a promoter of Title IX opportunities for female athletes.

Jack McKenna (McNulty) (Class of 1940): Served in the Air Force during WWII after graduation. Became a broadcaster and spent his lifetime as a radio and television personality in the Twin Ports. Can still be heard on KUWS, 91.3 on Fridays after 5:30pm as one of the hosts of “Radio Superior”, an award winning program.

Dick Palmer (Class of 1948): Was the editor and owner of the Duluth Budgeteer, a local newspaper, beginning his career in journalism in 1950. Served on the Proctor Village Council for two terms and served a term in the Minnesota Senate as an Independent. Chair of the Denfeld All Class Reunion in 1976 and the Duluth All Class Reunion in 1986. Retired from the Army and Air Guard with 20 years of service.

Janet Peterson (Denfeld Educator): Mrs. “Pete” began her stay as a teacher and mentor to young women at Denfeld in 1958. Taught phy ed and was the cheerleading advisor and Power Club advisor, retiring from Denfeld in 1976.

Robb Stauber (Class of 1986): Stellar hockey goalie, Stauber led the Hunters to their first ever (single bracket) Minnesota High School Hockey Tournament. Played at the U of M. Hobie Baker Award winner and went on to a ten year professional career, playing for various NHL teams. After retirement, he’s coached and trained hockey goalies, both men and women, and been the goalie coach for teams that won NCAA titles.

Bill Westholm (Class of 1966): Three year letter winner in track and football at Denfeld. Graduated from UMD, received a Masters from Minnesota, and a law degree from William Mitchell. Taught and coached at Duluth East. Was Assistant Principal and Principal of all three Duluth public high schools. Currently serving on the Duluth School Board. Chair of the Greater Denfeld Foundation which administers over $6,500,000 in assets for scholarships given to Denfeld students.

Mark Munger (Class of 1973): You can read the plaque now hanging in the halls of Denfeld!

Mark-circa 1973

PS Thanks to all my family and friends who attended. I love you guys!