Retired
Spouse: Judy
2 Children
1 Grandchild
2 Granddogs
Information update: 06/27/2022

My past 50 years have been a rich mixture of foolishness and growth, work and play, happiness and sorrow, and chaos and serenity. I have been blessed with a good wife, good kids, good friends, good dogs, and many fond memories of departed loved ones and classmates.

I often reflect upon my childhood and how my experiences and relationships in Duluth influenced me for my entire life. It is hard to write about the years after graduation without at least mentioning the early years.

When my dad was in World War II, my mother and I lived with my grandparents. My grandfather, Robert Anderson, was a master carpenter and interior decorator. You know his work if you remember the nudes (of my grandmother) in the Norshor Theater or have ever toured the Glensheen Mansion. Grandpa taught me how to design, build, and finish things; and he also gave me most of the skills that I have used all of my life.

When I was 5 years old, we moved to our house on east 6th street. WHAT LUCK!! Judy Thomas lived downstairs and Jeanie Nichols lived right across the street. Later, Nancy Ness moved in next to Jeanie. If there is anything "nice" about me, it came from these three girls.

At Jefferson Elementary, I met my friends Jim Thomas, Duane Peterson, Terry Swor, and Sammy Ebenstein. Also, I chased Sandra Bradseth and Nancy Treviranus around until I got a "first kiss" from both of them!

At Washington Junior, I met my good friends Gary Hoglund, Jerry Maki, Ed Marsyla, and Dale Whitcomb. And there were so many more lovely ladies to pursue!

High school brought many more friends including Hunter Anderson, Russell Morrison, Bill Lowell, Karen Lundmark, Linda Conradi, and Carolyn Eaton. We had a great class and some great teachers. I especially remember Mr. Jerome V. Benson (who taught us that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line), and Ms. Jewel Polar (who taught us that the most beautiful distance between two points is a Curved Line or "The Road Less Taken").

The first years after graduation were spent attending UMD and thinking about Karen Lundmark's beautiful legs and dating Carolyn Eaton. I was a lifeguard at Park Point during the summers, but "lived" at Grandpa's cabin on Pequaywan Lake.

During the summers of 1961 and 1962 we would use over 100 tanks of gas water skiing with the 14-foot speedboat that I designed in Mr. Olin's drafting class and built in 1960. Skier's and gas buyers and sauna users were Dale Whitcomb, Jerry Maki, Hunter Anderson, Terry Swor, Russell Morrison, Bill Lowell, Bob Kurshoff, and of course, some of our lovely ladies.

The next few years were spent at the main university in Minneapolis. There I roomed with John Thatcher and through John I met my wife Judy. (She found out that I had a boat and wanted to water ski). Our skiing friendship turned into 44 years (and still counting) of marriage.

Together, we have raised children, dogs, grand dogs, and a grandson. We have hiked, skied, swam, hunted in, or just toured most of the lower 48 states and Hawaii, Canada, the Caribbean Islands, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica, France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland.

I am currently a director of the Midwest Tool Collector's Association and have given presentations at our National meetings about important Duluth Corporations including:
-- Marshall Wells Hardware Co.
-- Kelley - How - Thomson Hardware Co.
-- Diamond Calk and Horseshoe (Diamond Tool) Co.

These days, Judy and I travel with our grandson, walk our children's dogs and pursue our hobbies. We still have the family cabin on Pequaywan Lake and spend as much time there as we can. Today, I hunt the same trails that I hunted as a child with my dog Brownie. Only now my grandson and my grand dogs accompany me.

My life has been good, but I often wonder why I am still here and so many others are not.

I think about my first girlfriend - Judy Thomas. She was one of the nicest persons I have ever known. Judy died much too soon; shortly after graduation.

I think about the debt of gratitude that we owe to those who served in the military. Gary Hoglund was the first classmate of ours to die in the service of his country. And I salute the survivors like Ed Marsyla. Ed was shot down several times in Vietnam and went on to become probably the most highly ranked and highly decorated Duluth Marine ever.

Lastly, I would like to thank the entire "Class of 61" for the wonderful memories that enrich my life every day.