After graduating from Macalester, I started a career at St. Paul Book and Stationery Co. that July. It was very satisfying and challenging. At the time, starting with a smaller company was a risk, but it all worked out very well. One early benefit I had was seeing many of our classmates that went into education. Because we displayed at all the education meetings, this was possible. I continued until 1991 when we sold the company.

Then another opportunity occurred and I joined ECM Publishers, a publisher of weekly newspapers. I led the office products division until 1997 and continue today as an advisor to the Community Affairs Council.

It was my good fortune to have had several excellent mentors, including E. E. Engelbert and Elmer L. Andersen, during my business career. These people greatly helped me to develop.

It was also my good fortune to meet my wife the first day of classes in my sophomore year. She was a freshman from southern Minnesota in my Spanish class — the rest is history. Jeanne and I married in October 1958. We have two sons and they each have two sons. They both live in the state of Wyoming, so we do not see our four grandsons as often as we would like. It is always special when they come to Minnesota.

My Macalester education fostered in me the desire to be involved and give back. Over these very fast 50 years, I have volunteered in many various organizations. It just seems that the more you do, the better you feel. Rotary International has been very important to me, serving in many capacities including a member of the International Board of Directors. Our church, leadership roles in national trade associations, housing for independent living for seniors and being a trustee for a business library are also some activities. The values and understanding we gained at Macalester gave me the will and desire to get involved.

Over the years we have been blessed to have seen much of the world through travel. We continue to like travel and enjoy meeting new friends. It is also a way to get a first-hand view of the world and its great needs. It is our feeling that we have been very blessed and fortunate for the life we have had.

We continue to live in St Paul and look forward to the 50th Reunion and seeing everyone.