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Saturday, October 3, 2009
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Four men honored as BHS hall of fame starts second decade
Editor Sometimes those school aptitude tests and dreams are wrong. Other times high school is a good indicator about career paths.
Take Wayne Little. He wound up as dean of the St. Cloud State University School of Business. At the end of high school, in the old Washington High School, test results said he would be a social service director or band director.
Henry C. Mills II, co-president of the various Mills enterprises, dreamt as a Whittier sixth-grader that he would be a screen actor.
Wrong on both accounts - although Mills probably wished he was an actor when his first job as a fresh college graduate was a roofing job. More on that later.
But the tests might well have pointed to a career in entertainment world for Shawn Stengel, given his active high school days in band, choir and drama. And Michael O'Leary, a public health official in China for the World Health Organization, was a doctor's son who jumped at a chance to spend his junior year in Swaziland.
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Todd Lyscio, director of Brainerd Community Education, talked with Shawn Stengel at the Brainerd High School Distinguished Achievement Hall of Fame reception Friday night.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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The four men were inducted Friday night in the Brainerd High School Distinguished Achievement Hall of Fame as the hall started its second decade honoring BHS graduates who have led distinguished careers.
Wayne Little, the son of the late Ben and Evelyn Little who lived on Laurel Street just west of downtown Brainerd, was a member of the class of 1950. He remembers the experience of working in his parents' downtown grocery store and figured he'd go into the grocery business. Instead, he became an educator. And he was honored by the hall of fame in the field of higher education.
"I've been very fortunate over the years to be at the right place at the right time," said Little, who has moved back to the lakes area after retiring. He has been active in several organizations, including Rotary Club, Camp Confidence and the Central Lakes College Foundation Board.
"These young people were magnificent."
Henry C. Mills II
Co-president of Mills enterprises in Minnesota and Wisconsin
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Dr. Michael O'Leary, the son of Dr. John and Jean O'Leary, who now live in El Paso, Texas, grew up on Cedar Street and was a member of the class of 1969. He was unable to attend the ceremony because he is moving this weekend from Cambodia to Beijing, China, to head the country office of the World Health Organization.
He has spent much of his career in international public health. His brothers, Patrick of Mendota Heights and Tom of Washburn, Wis., represented their brother, noting that Michael left Brainerd 40 years ago and left the United States 23 years ago. He has worked in 70 countries and lived in seven. But Patrick O'Leary said his brother still sees himself as a product of Brainerd.
The O'Leary family traveled extensively. And there often were international visitors staying at their house. At 16, Michael was asked to be a foreign exchange student, the start of his international adventures that now include controlling and preventing a litany of health problems.
Shawn Stengel, class of 1977, recalled his days in music and theater at the high school. His parents, Doris and Casey Stengel, still live on South Seventh Street. He was recognized for his achievements in entertainment. He lives in Chicago where he is a director and arranger.
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Henry C. Mills II was given a corsage at the hall of fame reception by Janet Horn, the superintendent's secretary.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Shawn noted that his father recently was named Brainerd Outstanding Citizen. Shawn started his quips by asking for people to stop clapping, and, turning to his father, said, "Hey, don't rain on my parade."
"It's a big day already because I ate in the teachers' lounge," Shawn said. His remarks turned emotion-filled. "It's weird. It's hard to talk about yourself, and I perform in front of thousands," he said.
He recalled as a youth hearing the high school marching band practicing from the nearby family home, noting it was part of his inspiration for his musical pursuits.
"I'm going to get on my soapbox," he said at the end of his remarks. "A school like this deserves a real auditorium. These students have never had a big senior muscial."
Henry C. Mills II was a member of the class of 1946. His twin brother, Stewart C. Mills Jr., was inducted in the hall of fame in 1999. They both were honored for their achievements in business.
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Wayne Little (left) talked with Kevin Thesing, president of the Brainerd Public Schools Foundation, Friday night in the high school cafeteria.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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"I wish I was back here in high school," Henry Mills said. "These young people were magnificent." Earlier in the day he visited an English class and economics class and attended the students' homecoming pepfest.
The son of Helen and Stewart Mills Sr., Mills grew up on the northside of Brainerd. He now lives in Appleton, Wis., where the Mills enterprises have a major operation, and Brainerd, where Henry Mills recalled working for the Mills' Lively Auto Co. where the company's corporate office is now located.
He recalled that after he and his brother graduated from Hamline University they told their father they were ready for the top of the business.
"Dad said we could start the next day," Mills said. "So we reported in our suits. So he took us to the top of the Laurel Street office. Father told us we had arrived at the top of the business." And Stewart Mills Sr. said his sons could start by re-roofing the building, adding, "I suggest you change your clothes."
The Brainerd High School Hall of Fame is sponsored by Brainerd High, the Brainerd Public Schools Foundation, the Brainerd Rotary Club and the Brainerd Dispatch.
Thirty-six graduates have now been inducted into the hall of fame. The induction ceremony in the high school cafeteria was held in the fall for the first time to be part of the community homecoming celebration. In the past the event was held as part of the seniors' Recognition Night in the spring.
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