I was raised on a farm in western Minnesota where I participated in 4-H, high school sports, and everything that farm kids do for fun after chores. Graduated from Ridgewater Community College with an AA degree and my first taste of newspapering. I worked a summer on the Ortonville Independent as a reporter and photographer.
I then graduated from Minnesota State University, Moorhead. My love of photography was kindled by Allen Carter, photography instructor, Howard Binford, and Roger Hamilton of the Mass Communications Department. After graduation, I spent a stint at the Daily News in Wahpeton-Breckenridge and then headed into the northwoods to Pequot Lakes where I worked on the Country Echo. After missing the daily, I went to New Ulm and worked on the Journal.
After a call from Les Sellnow, editor of the Brainerd Dispatch, I returned to central Minnesota to become the photographer of the Dispatch in 1975. I have remained at Brainerd where photography and newspapering has changed but the part that does not change is that everything is local and your reputation is what matters.
