Here is an update since our Fiftieth Reunion Memory Book. My wife Marcia (Hoff-Central Class of 1967) and I have now been married for 53 years. We had a wonderful 50th wedding anniversary celebration with friends and family two days before the Country was shut down for Covid-19. We were happy that the timing worked out for us.
Our daughters, Stephanie, Heather and Laura, all live in Duluth with the furthest one away from our home about seven minutes by car. What a blessing it has been to be part of their families including their husbands and five terrific grandchildren. The grandson who was not with us at the time of our 50th reunion is now here from Haiti and is a loving joy-giver to all of us and all with whom he comes in contact.
We reflect with gratitude on the experiences we have had teaching and coaching, real estate development, health care work, restaurant and athletic camp owners/operators, and public service including the great honor of being Mayor of Duluth for twelve years. We continue with real estate development and are working on a project in downtown Duluth across the street from the “real Central High”.
Five years ago, we joined with 30 other people to plant a new evangelical church in the Proctor area. We are grateful to see growth to nearly 200 people as our faith family. We are thankful that God has used us in our later adult years to continue to serve Him and help spread the Gospel.
Marcia and I have enjoyed working on this reunion with Marla Preston Yoho, Arlette DeGrio, Jim Christoferson, and Greg Nimmo. Beyond the pleasure of putting the events together, it has allowed us to stay in touch with many of you.
Most recently, Marcia and I are working with a group of Central grads seeking to preserve the original Central artifacts to find a place to display them permanently now that the “real Central” and the “new Central” are permanently closed. Our hope is to be able to establish a scholarship fund in the name of Central High School for deserving students from the area.
As I said in the Fiftieth Memory Book: “We will be forever grateful for the positive impact Central High has had on our lives, our children’s lives, and thousands of others.” Hurrah for the Red and White!
Family: Daughters Stephanie (Keven) Johnson, (Children: Kennedy, Maggie, Samuel); Heather (Greg) Johnson. (Children: Brooks, Chloe) ; Laura (Chris) Jacobson. All in the Duluth area.
Career: Teacher, Coach, MN State Representative, St. Louis County Commissioner, City of Duluth Mayor, Business owner, Real Estate developer.
Military: Thanks to those who served!
College: Bachelor of Science, Health/ Physical Education
Hobbies: Golf, Spectator Sports, Rehabbing houses, Following & supporting UMD athletics, particularly football and men's and women's basketball and women's softball.
Volunteer Work: Church, Memorial Blood Center, Youth For Christ, Lakeview Christian Academy, Northland Youth Basketball Assn, Starks Academy, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Volunteer MN foundation LSS Children & Crisis Center.