Austin in Mower County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Bonnie Besse Rietz

— Pillars of the City —

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2023

1. Bonnie Besse Rietz Marker

Inscription. Bonnie Rietz thrives on helping others to be the best they can be. After serving 8 years on the city council, Ms. Rietz became the first female mayor of the City of Austin in 1997. She was instrumental in expanding the airport runways, developing the Cook Farm Industrial Park, working on the de-nitrification project at the wastewater treatment plant, and constructing Packer Arena along with several apartment complexes within the city. As Vice Chair of the Hormel Foundation and a board member of the Riverland Foundation, she worked on developing the Assurance Scholarship Program. Her vision and leadership played an important role in the formation of Apex Austin, Amis Austin, Access Austin, Page Turners, the Austin Area Drug Task Force, the Welcome Center, the Austin Artworks Festival, and the MacPhail Center For Music in Austin.

Erected 2019 by Austin Pillars of the City Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Government & Politics • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1997.

Location. 43° 40.324′ N, 92° 58.476′ W. Marker is in Austin, Minnesota, in Mower County. Marker is on Main Street North just north of 5th Place Northwest, on the right when traveling north. The

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marker is mounted on an Austin flood wall pillar, on the west side of Horace Austin Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 Main Street North, Austin MN 55912, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dr. Ralph T. Holman (here, next to this marker); John O'Rourke (here, next to this marker); Gertrude Ellis Skinner (a few steps from this marker); Gary J. Ray (a few steps from this marker); Esther Mitchell Morse (a few steps from this marker); Ira J. Holton (within shouting distance of this marker); Jon W. Erichson (within shouting distance of this marker); Jay C. Hormel (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Austin Pillars of the City

Also see . . .
1. Austin Pillars of the City: Bonnie Besse Rietz. Excerpt:

Bonnie Rietz became active in the community the moment she moved to Austin, Minnesota in 1979. She taught French at the Austin Community College and she continues to be active with the Riverland Foundation today. In 2015, the college honored her with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Bonnie was a member of the Austin City Council from 1989-1997 and later served as the first female Mayor of Austin for an additional

2. Marker detail: Bonnie Besse Rietz
10 years. During her tenure as Mayor, she began airing City Council meetings on live TV and held bi-monthly radio shows. She also instituted monthly meeting between the City Council and the Mower County Board of Commissioners.

(Submitted on November 5, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Bonnie Besse Reitz. Excerpt:

Bonnie Besse Rietz served 18 years in public service from 1989-2007 as Austin, Minnesota City Council member for eight years, Mayor for 10 years and president of three statewide organizations: League of Minnesota Cities, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities and Minnesota Mayors Association. In these roles, she testified at the State Legislature, traveled the state and worked with city officials throughout Minnesota.

(Submitted on November 5, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Hormel Foundation Board of Directors approve new Executive Committee positions. Excerpt:

(June 25, 2023) The Hormel Foundation’s Board of Directors recently approved new executive committee positions for Bonnie Besse Rietz as Acting Chair and Roland Gentzler as Vice Chair. Rietz, who was the first woman elected as Mayor of the city of Austin, and who was also the first woman appointed as Vice Chair of
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2023

3. Bonnie Besse Rietz Marker
Looking east. Horace Austin Park in background.
the Hormel Foundation will also be the first woman to hold the top position for the Foundation, which was first established in 1941.

(Submitted on November 5, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 5, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.