Henry N. Somsen, New Ulm attorney, has been selected by the Sertoma Club of New Ulm as its 1975 Service to Mankind Award winner.

His willingness to “contribute unselfishly of his time and talent, and also in a monetary way, to many undertakings of various kinds for the benefit of others,” was cited by the Sertoma Club in announcing the award.

Somsen’s work as a director of Highland Homes, Highland Manor, New Ulm Industries and a non-profit hospital, plus his donations of land for public purposes were mentioned by the club.

As a director of Highland Homes, Inc., Somsen was instrumental in getting a low-rent housing project for New Ulm area residents, according to Bruce Fenske, vice president of Sertoma.

Somsen also was a charter director of a non-profit corporation which built a nursing home in New Ulm. Two further additions have been built and a third is planned for the spring.

Somsen is a director of New Ulm Industries, a group which did considerable work in procuring new industries such as Kraft Foods, 3M and Skyline for New Ulm.

“HE CONTINUES to promote the City of New Ulm to interested businesses and corporations,” Fenske said. “An industrial park has been established to help lure more industry to New Ulm.”

Somsen has served as president of the New Ulm Community Concert Association for many years and is a director of a non-profit hospital in New Ulm.

“Conservation has always been important to Henry Somsen,” Fenske said. “He is an avid outdoorsman and has been active with Ducks Unlimited for many years.Among other contributions he has donated the Somsen Wildlife Area, west of New Ulm, for the preservation of wildlife for future generations.”

Somsen has also served on the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Commission of the State of Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks Foundation, Flandrau State Park (New Ulm) Advisory Committee and recently was president of the Minnesota Council of State Parks.

“All this work is for the benefit of all people and of future generations without any monetary renumeration to him,” Fenske noted.

A CHOICE PIECE of property in central New Ulm was contributed for the mutual benefit of the City of New Ulm, Union Hospital, Independent School District 88 and St.Peter’s Episcopal Church.

The N. Broadway property was later acquired by the city exclusively and today the new city library is just weeks away from opening on that property. Most recent donation of Mr. and Mrs. Somsen has been children’s murals inside the library.

The historically important Kiesling House plus cash for its preservation were donated by Somsen and his wife and three other donors. With the help of federal and state grants a small park was created and the house was restored.

The house is now office of the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce and serves as meeting place for many groups.

Somsen has served on the board of Shattuck School and is active in the work of his church, both in New Ulm and elsewhere.

New Ulm Daily Journal

Jan. 2, 1976