1 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — George A. Hormel — 1860-1946 — Pillars of the City —

In 1891 here in Austin, George Albert Hormel founded the company that would grow to become Hormel Foods Corporation. Born in New York in 1860, George moved to Minnesota and settled on Austin as the place where he would start his business, stating, . . . — — Map (db m235400) HM

2 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Jay C. Hormel — 1892-1954 — Pillars of the City —

The only son of George A. Hormel, Jay Hormel gained a reputation as an innovator and marketing genius from the very beginning of his involvement in the Hormel business. He was responsible for the development of one of the company's major successes, . . . — — Map (db m235401) HM

3 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Frank W. Bridges — 1926-2017 — Pillars of the City —

Frank W. Bridges moved to Austin in 1955 to teach English, Speech, and Theatre Arts at Austin High School. In 1962 he began teaching at Austin State Junior College (now Riverland) until his retirement in 1989. In 2005, he was named Emeritus Faculty . . . — — Map (db m235398) HM

4 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Miguel Garate — Pillars of the City —

Miguel Garate moved to Austin in 1997 and worked as a supervisor and interpreter for Spanish speaking employees at Quality Pork Processors. In 2000, he began his career at Riverland Community College as Minority-International Student Advisor where . . . — — Map (db m235399) HM

5 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Michael C. Ruzek — Pillars of the City —

Austin native Mike Ruzek, excelled in high school sports and emerged as a leader from the class of 1964. After graduating from Luther College, he returned to Austin to begin his career in financial planning. He established the Austin Health . . . — — Map (db m235412) HM

6 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Dr. Olav H. Hegge — 1872-1963 — Pillars of the City —

Dr. O. H. Hegge, a native of Biri Parish, Norway, enrolled at the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1890, just two days after arriving in the United States. He later graduated from the University of Illinois School of Medicine in Chicago and . . . — — Map (db m235431) HM

7 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Jacob "Jake" Herzog — 1886-1970 — Pillars of the City —

Austin native Jacob "Jake" Herzog was a machinist for the Milwaukee Railroad who ultimately became a prominent Mower County politician. He started his political career in 1912 as Third Ward Alderman on the Austin City Council followed by 12 years on . . . — — Map (db m235434) HM

8 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Susan Grove — Pillars of the City —

Susan Grove, a graduate of St. Cloud State University, moved to Austin in 1975 and immediately immersed herself in the community as an advocate for life-long learning, immigrants, and women's rights. As an educator and expert at networking, Grove . . . — — Map (db m235436) HM

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9 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Larry L. Dolphin — Pillars of the City —

Larry Dolphin moved to Austin in 1988 to become the Director at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. As a self-proclaimed naturalist, he quickly became a leader on local environmental issues and worked with area science teachers to create a dedicated . . . — — Map (db m235437) HM

10 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Patricia K. Piper — 1934-2016 — Pillars of the City —

Pat Piper arrived in Austin in the 1960's as a Franciscan Sister. She taught primary grades at St. Augustine's School and later taught courses at Austin Community College. She eventually left the religious order and founded the Christian Education . . . — — Map (db m235455) HM

11 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Geraldine A. Rasmussen — 1895-1987 — Pillars of the City —

While on vacation, in 1919, Geraldine Rasmussen and her husband purchased the Mower County Transcript-Republican, a weekly newspaper. In 1920, they sold that paper and joined forces with the Daily Herald as partners, with Geraldine soon becoming the . . . — — Map (db m235469) HM

12 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Robert J. Enright — 1919-2018 — Pillars of the City —

A native of Mower County, Robert Enright graduated from St. Augustine High School, served 4 years in the U.S. Air Force, was a founding member of Queen of Angels Catholic Church, and worked at the Hormel Plant for 47 years as proud member of the . . . — — Map (db m235477) HM

13 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Lyman D. Baird — 1857-1921 — Pillars of the City —

One of Austin's most helpful and prominent citizens, Lyman D. Baird served as mayor, city attorney, secretary of the Mower County Old Settlers' Association, an officer of the Mower County Fair Association and President of The Citizens' National Bank . . . — — Map (db m235480) HM

14 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Norman E. Hecimovich — 1934-2018 — Pillars of the City —

Educator, patriot, community leader, and advocate for all veterans, Norm Hecimovich worked as a principal in the Austin School District for 27 years. He has served on the Austin City Council, the Chamber of Commerce Board, and was an active member . . . — — Map (db m235489) HM

15 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Richard L. Knowlton — 1932-2019 — Pillars of the City —

A native Austinian and 1950 graduate of Austin High School, Dick Knowlton served as a member of the Hormel Corporation's management team from 1956 to 1995, culminating in a fourteen-year tenure as Chief Executive Officer during which he steered the . . . — — Map (db m235491) HM

16 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Dr. Richard J. Schindler — 1942-2014 — Pillars of the City —

Dick Schindler served the Austin community as a family physician for nearly forty years. In the course of his medical career, he delivered more than 4,000 babies and was instrumental in creating the Mayo Medical Center's education program for . . . — — Map (db m235492) HM

17 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Jon W. Erichson — Pillars of the City —

Austin native Jon Erichson served the City of Austin as Assistant City Engineer from 1979-1992, and as City Engineer & Public Works Director from 1992-2013. During that time he developed and oversaw the comprehensive flood mitigation program which . . . — — Map (db m235494) HM

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18 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Ira J. Holton — 1919-2012 — Pillars of the City —

I.J. Holton served the Austin community in business, philanthropy, education, and literary programs for nearly 65 years. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served as an infantry officer in the European theatre during the Second World War and was awarded . . . — — Map (db m235495) HM

19 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Esther Mitchell Morse — 1822-1910 — Pillars of the City —

A writer, poet, educator, and seminarian, Esther Morse came to Austin in 1864. She was the driving force behind the formation of the Austin Ladies Floral Club in 1869, a civic group dedicated to beautifying Austin and contributing to the city's . . . — — Map (db m235496) HM

20 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Gary J. Ray — Pillars of the City —

Gary J. Ray was an integral member of the Hormel Foods Corporation for more than forty years. Gary began his career with Hormel as a production supervisor in 1968, arriving in Austin in 1980. He held positions of Director to Vice President of . . . — — Map (db m235497) HM

21 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Gertrude Ellis Skinner — 1865-1960 — Pillars of the City —

After graduating from Austin High School, Gertrude Ellis became a teacher and taught grade school first in Austin, then in California, and one summer in Hawaii. In 1890, Ms. Ellis became the first female superintendent of Mower County schools . . . — — Map (db m235498) HM

22 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Rosalie Seltz — Pillars of the City —

Rosalie Seltz taught English and Journalism at Austin High School starting in 1950, when she was fresh out of teachers' training at Winona State, until 1993, when she retired. As a devoted lifetime educator, she inspired generations of students to . . . — — Map (db m235499) HM

23 ► Minnesota, Mower County, Austin — Belita M. Schindler — Pillars of the City —

Belita Schindler moved to Austin with her husband, Dick, and four children in 1972. She immediately embraced the community as her own. She opened Belita's Residential and Commercial Interiors in 1978. Belita has volunteered with many organizations . . . — — Map (db m235467) HM