| Author Jon Hassler has been
named the recipient of the 2000 Distinguished Minnesotan Award.
Presented annually by Bemidji State University, the award recognizes
the contributions a current or former resident of the state who has
performed exemplary service to the people of Minnesota or the United
States.
The award will be presented during BSU commencement ceremonies
scheduled at 2 p.m. May 12 in the Jon Glas Fieldhouse.
Recently retired after 42 years of teaching in various Minnesota high
schools and colleges, Hassler has published 11 novels, two story
collections and a book of his journals.
The Friends of American Writers chose his first novel, Staggerford,
as the Novel of the Year in 1977 and the Society of Midland Authors
selected "Grand Opening" for its 1987 Best Fiction Award.
A screen version of his work A Green Journey was produced
in 1990 as an NBC movie of the week.
Works published within the past year are two story collections, Keepsakes and Other Stories and
Rufus at the Door and
Other Stories, as well as My Staggerford Journal, an
account of the year during which he wrote his first novel.
All of his books, including his latest novel The Dean's List, are available through Ballantine paperbacks.
Hassler is the recipient of the 2000 Flanagan Prize, an annual award
presented by the Minnesota Humanities Commission for lifelong
contributions to the arts in Minnesota. Since 1993, he has been awarded
four honorary doctor of letters degrees, the most recent from the
University of Notre Dame.
Born in Minneapolis in 1933, he received degrees from St. John's
University in Minnesota, where he is now Regents' Professor Emeritus. He
taught at Bemidji State University from 1965-1968 after teaching high
school English in Fosston and Park Rapids for nine years.
He currently lives in Minneapolis with his wife Gretchen, who is
collaborating with him on an anthology entitled Stories Teachers Tell.
Hassler also just completed a book, Goodness: Sketches from a
Novelist's Life, for Loyola Press of Chicago and is composing
another novel, Agatha at 80.
He is the recipient of and the fourth author honored with the
Distinguished Minnesotan Award since it was first presented to
naturalist and author Sigurd Olson in 1981. Other recipients include:
- 1981 Sigurd Olson, naturalist and author
- 1982 Karl Kassulke, athlete and handicap advocate
- 1983 Janet Dearholt Esty, businesswoman and entrepreneur
- 1984 Frederick F. Manfred, author
- 1985 Dr. John Najarian, transplant surgeon
- 1986 Dr. Harlan Cleveland, political scientist
- 1987 Muriel Buck Humphrey Brown, advocate for the disadvantaged
- 1988 Elmer L. Andersen, businessman and former governor
- 1989 Curtis L. Carlson, businessman and philanthropist
- 1990 William S. Marvin, businessman and community leader
- 1991 Meridel LeSueur, author and social activist
- 1992 Veda Ponikvar, newspaper publisher
- 1993 Nellie Stone Johnson, political and social activist
- 1994 Cheryl Dickson, leader in humanities programming
- 1995 William H. Kling, innovator in public radio
- 1996 Jerry Wilet, businessman and former state senator
- 1997 Ann Bancroft, explorer of the North Pole and South Pole
- 1998 Bob Bergland, congressman and former U.S. secretary of
- 1999 Coya Knutson, congresswoman
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