Chamber Annual Meeting

When and where: 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Elks Lodge

Read about winner Steve Leuthold.

Other 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award winners:

Business and Economic Achievement:

O. Dale Larson (class of 1957): Founded Larson Manufacturing Co. in 1954 with only a handful of employees in a small rented space for manufacturing doors and windows. Since, the company has become the largest storm window and door company in North America. It has close to 1,500 employees with nearly 1.5 million square feet of manufacturing and distribution space in 16 locations across the United States.

Humanitarian and Public Service:

Earl S. Thompson, DVM (class of 1945): Practiced veterinary medicine in rural Freeborn County for nearly 30 years. For the past 25 years, he has consulted on 19 different agricultural and medical projects around the world. He established and continues to serve as program director of the Nepal Social Service Fund, which works to identify needs and develop realistic and effective agricultural, medical and educational initiatives in Nepal. Thompson has received many awards for his work, including the Gorka Dakshin Bahu National Award, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Kingdom of Nepal.

Locally Achieved Success:

Virginia “Jinni” Gaasdalen-Olson (class of 1954): Was involved in numerous activities while attending Albert Lea High School. She attended St. Olaf College but returned to Albert Lea in 1955 and began working at First Federal Savings and Loan Association as a teller and a receptionist. By availing herself of educational opportunities presented by her employer, she was able to advance to the position of administrative assistant to the president and vice president of the corporation. Later, she became branch manager and, ultimately, branch manager and senior vice president of Home Federal Savings Bank.

Posthumous Awards:

Mary King: Graduate of the second nursing class at Naeve Hospital, she attended the University of Minnesota, and from 1921 to 1945 served as hospital administrator and superintendent of the nursing school. She served as a nurse anesthetist from 1945 to 1961 when she retired. From 1961 to 1966 she volunteered her services to St. John’s Lutheran Home.

Harold W. “Bill” Atkins (class of 1938): Bill was a three sport athlete at Albert Lea High School and an All Conference end in football. He played for Bernie Bierman’s Golden Gophers. He took flight training in Albert Lea and served as an instructor in World War II. A Northwest pilot, he invented the Atkins Relative Danger Light which placed strobe lights at the tips of aircraft. He also invented the valve that made possible the twist two flavor ice cream cone.

— Information from the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce