NEW ULM – A diverse group of extraordinary people – each of whom has left a strong and unique footprint on the world around us – comprises the first slate of inductees in the fledgling ISD 88 Hall Of Fame.

“The ISD 88 Foundation, as a part of its mission to enhance the quality of education while creating partnerships between our schools, community, and alumni, is excited to announce the commencement of the ISD 88 Hall Of Fame,” explains Tracie Vranich, one of the leaders of the project.

“With the Hall of Fame, we are looking to honor and recognize outstanding graduates of New Ulm High School, along with retired district staff.

“Not only will the ISD 88 Hall of Fame highlight the inductees’ achievements and accomplishments, we hope the inductees will serve as inspiration and role models for the current students and staff.

“We also want the ISD 88 Hall of Fame to include a cross section of people – individuals who have succeeded above the norm in their chosen field and/or have made a difference in the lives of others and in the communities in which they live or lived,” continues Vranich.

“For our first year, we were quite pleased with the number of nominations submitted, and with the diversity shown in our inaugural inductees…

“The selection committee was also a diverse group – foundation board members, retired ISD 88 staff and ISD 88 alumni – and they had the difficult task of selecting the six inductees, as there were numerous worthy nominees,” recapped Vranich.

“We know there are many more deserving nominees out there, and we hope in the years to come, people take the time to nominate them, so they, too, can be recognized.”

Nominations for the 2015 Hall of Fame will be accepted beginning Jan. 1, 2015. Nomination forms will be available on the ISD 88 Foundation website and at the District 88 offices. Nominations are due by April 1 of each year.

David Benson

Class of 1961

An inspiration. If you were to ask any of David Benson’s classmates from 1961 to describe him, this would be the resounding answer. Other words would be fun-loving, adventurous, funny, up-beat, positive, kind, humble, and generous.

Born in New Ulm in 1943 without hands or feet, his life could have easily been one of hardship, but David had an exceptional can-do spirit. He embraced his limitations and turned them into something positive for himself and others.

Even as a young child, David’s fortitude was evident. He learned to walk with wooden feet and write with a leather strap holding a pencil. He was active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and participated in phy-ed and recess games. David spent much of his time at his grandmother Thornley’s house and her unconditional love and patience is often credited for David’s goodness and inner strength.

In high school David continued to not let his disabilities get in his way. He went to school dances, hung out with friends like any other student, and was on the New Ulm High School newspaper. He also enjoyed participating in water sports at the family’s cabin. After graduation in 1961, David went to college at Mankato State University. There he joined a fraternity and became a regular college student.

He took time off from school, eventually completing his bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology, with emphasis in Special Education, at St. Cloud State University in 1981. After graduation, David spent 24 years with the Robbinsdale School District working with preschool and elementary-aged children with special needs. He also worked part-time for several social service agencies that provided care and treatment for special needs children in their homes.

Joe Harman

Teacher and Coach, 1928-1966

Every student that has gone through New Ulm Public Schools has felt the presence of Joe Harman. Whether you were a student of his, were on one of the teams he coached, played American Legion baseball, participated in Park and Recreation activities, or simply enjoyed time at Harman Park, you have been a part of his legacy.

After graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College, Joe came to New Ulm in 1928 and was an employee of New Ulm Public Schools until his retirement in 1966. Joe coached football, basketball, baseball, and track. He is remembered as a tough, but fair coach that liked to win but also liked to have fun. He also taught almost every subject throughout the years, but ironically, never his college major, English. His guidance as a coach and a teacher helped mold generations of young people in New Ulm.

Joe Harman is considered the Father of New Ulm Parks and Recreation having initiated the program. He was its first director in 1936. Joe also used his own money to start a summer youth baseball program. In 1933 he initiated the American Legion team and was its first coach.

Joe was the Director for the City of New Ulm Civil Defense System and after retiring from the schools, Joe started a real-estate business, sang with the Concord Singers, and had a large rose garden from which he often delivered bouquets to civic offices and friends. If New Ulm ever had a Renaissance Man, Joe Harman was it.

Wanda Gag

Class of 1912

An artist, author, illustrator and translator, Wanda was born in New Ulm in 1893. Her childhood was filled with the influence of art from her talented Bohemian father, Anton Gag. In 1908 when Wanda was 15, her father died leaving her mother and six siblings in financial difficulties. Wanda sent drawings, stories and poems to various periodicals to earn payment when published. After graduating from high school in 1912, Wanda taught country school for a year and continued her drawing, while supporting her family. She received honors, prizes, and favorable press coverage. With scholarships from New Ulm sponsors she was able to attend the St. Paul School of Art for a year and then the Minneapolis School of Arts for three years.

In 1917 Wanda won a scholarship to the prestigious Art Students League in New York. There she began to develop her own artistic style doing lithographs and watercolors. She was noticed by the art world and had her first one person show at the Weyhe Gallery in 1926. Her lithographs became artistically and commercially recognized. For ten years her lithographs were selected by the American Institute of Graphic Artists as one of the Fifty Prints of the Year. Her work is now included in national museums worldwide.

In 1928 she wrote and illustrated “Millions of Cats”. This groundbreaking children’s book was based on her old world culture and was an immediate success for both the story and her artistic illustrations. It received a Newberry Honor Award in 1929. Today, it is the oldest American picture book still in print. Numerous other children’s books appeared over the next 10 years followed by her diary titled “Growing Pains”.

Nancy Noyes Silcox

Class of 1963

Teacher, author, and librarian Nancy Noyes Silcox’s personal interests and career have led her all over the world.

In high school, Nancy achieved early success in music, speech, and the arts. In 1967 she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a major in Speech and Theatre and a minor in Library Science. Her varied career started as a Peace Corps volunteer teacher in Guyana, South America. She has served as a Head Librarian in schools in Egypt, Belgium, and Ukraine.

Nancy and her husband were New Ulm’s first couple to volunteer for the two-year Peace Corps service. Her assignment was to teach first grade geography and creative dramatics in an elementary school. The years she spent as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Guyana taught her many lessons and set a direction for her life. She learned tolerance and respect of other people and cultures, she learned to be curious, and she learned that all people have similar goals and wants for their families.

After nine years in Egypt, Belgium, and Ukraine, Nancy returned to Virginia, where she has remained. She was a finalist for the National Library Media Program of the Year in 2003 and was nominated for the Teacher Historian Award in 1990 where she won first runner-up. In 2013 she published the first and only biography of civil rights lawyer Samuel Wilbert Tucker.

Kirk Gregg

Class of 1977

It was clear that Kirk who distinguished himself in high school as an excellent athlete and student was destined for future success. He graduated from Bemidji State University in 1981 with a degree in experimental psychology and a minor in business administration. Moving on to the University of Minnesota he earned a degree in industrial relations. He obtained his MBA as a Sloan fellow at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1991.

For 11 years Kirk served as the corporate director in key management programs at General Dynamics Corporation. He was responsible for executive compensation and benefits as well as executive development and recruiting. He previously had held positions at the operating unit level in labor relations, salaried compensation, human resource information systems, organizational training and development and informational technology.

Kirk joined Corning in 1993 as director of executive compensation and has risen steadily up their corporate ladder. In 2002 he became Corning’s chief administrative officer and chairman of the Three Rivers Development Corporation. In addition, he became chairman of the New York State Business Council. Currently 3rd in command of an 8 billion dollar company Kirk travels extensively, especially to the Far East.

Kirk is Corning’s community arm for assisting in education, workforce development and economic retention for the Corning area. For 20 years he has been the Corning executive that assists in providing money to and sustaining over 5,000 local Boy Scouts. Since 1994 he has raised more than $6 million for local scouting programs and in 2010 he received the Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizens Award.

Terry Steinbach

Class of 1980

Terry and his brothers grew up playing baseball in their backyard and watching the Brewers and Kaiserhoff teams play at Johnson Field. Terry was an excellent athlete, playing football, hockey, and baseball, and running cross country. At a young age he began to stand out as a baseball player. Terry played baseball for the VFW and the American Legion Baseball team, and was a starter on the New Ulm High School Baseball team as a freshman.

When Steinbach graduated from New Ulm High School in 1980, he had already been drafted by the Cleveland Indians, but decided to follow his brother Tom to the University of Minnesota to play for the Gophers. Terry played ball for three years as a Gopher, eventually becoming MVP of the Big Ten.

He was again drafted by a major league team, the Oakland Athletics, in 1984, and after some time in the minor leagues, he began playing for the Athletics in 1986 and was their starting catcher in 1987.

Terry played for the Athletics for ten years and for the Minnesota Twins for four. He is a World Series Champion (1989), member of the American League All Star Teams (1988, 1989, and 1993), and All-Star Game MVP (1988). Since retirement, Terry has coached high school baseball, been a commentator for the Minnesota Twins, and is currently the Twins’ bench coach.

As impressive as Terry’s on-field success is, he is also recognized for his off-field success. Terry is a local boy who has never let fame, notoriety, and good fortune change him. He has always been, and remains, a solid community person who remembers his roots, his family, and his friends in his home town. He is a devoted family man and father and he gives back to his community.

Terry funds a Steinbach Scholarship for New Ulm athletes, contributes generously to the New Ulm High School Baseball Boosters fund, and donates his time for various other fundraising efforts.