The Albert Lea Tribune confirmed from local authorities that Roger Bok, 76, died Sunday of a heart attack. Nearly everyone in Albert Lea knew Bok. He was a subject of conversation that almost anyone could discuss, almost like talking about the weather.

He had attended Albert Lea City Council meetings for 18 1/2 years. He became the City Council’s most vocal opponent, gaining a reputation of speaking at the podium during the public forum. He would mosey to the podium, gladly state his name and his address, 1012 Cato Drive, and then launch into verbal attacks of the city officials and city policies.

He attended meetings of the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners for 11 years. He ran for mayor of Albert Lea in the early 1990s. He also was known with being obsessed with the city charter. Though it was updated in 1994, he often referred to a version from the 1960s and said the city had no right to update it in 1994.

“Basically, if everybody on the City Council would take and read the city charter and go by the charter, then you’re going to get rid of a majority of the problems,” he said to the Tribune in an interview in September of 2007.

“Right now we’re back to making too many decisions at a workshop, or preagenda meeting, whatever you want to call it. You can go to these meetings, which are open. The public can attend them but has no say. And now, they don’t even turn the speaker system on so you can hear what they’re saying. That’s complete violation of not only city but state law.”

When asked if he felt the manner in which he brought up concerns was effective, he said: “Yes, a lot of it is working, but they don’t want to admit it. I can take you out and show you a lot of things that are getting done — and a lot of things that should be done.”

The various councils over the years modified the public forum to head off or distance them from his comments. On the subject of the public forum, he said: “Open it up. It’s a public forum. If the meeting’s early and everything, and you’re talking, then who cares. If they think the meeting last two hours, that’s too long. But the meetings used to go until midnight.”

Except for four years in the U.S. armed forces, Bok lived his entire life in Albert Lea.

In the interview he said: “I was married. I’ve been divorced for 40-some years. I have a very nice life — come and go as I please, do whatever I want. Had a whole bunch of kids.”

Look for a story in the Albert Lea Tribune this week reflecting on Bok’s life.