Staff photo by Fritz Busch Gibbon High School Class of 1974 grad and renewable energy company CEO Mauricio Bahr, left, and his son Henrique, stand in front of the Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop (GFW) Elementary School entrance at the Class of 1974 50th reunion Sunday. His son, Henrique Bahr, Finance Director for Cargill’s Animal Nutrition Americas and Global Additives Group, graduated with the GFW Class of 2004. Mauricio and Henrique were foreign exchange students in Gibbon and GFW.

GIBBON — Although it was a half century ago, French energy company executive Mauricio Bahr still well remembers what it was like to travel from the tropical warmth of Rio de Janeiro Brazil to Gibbon as a foreign exchange student in December 1973.

“The winter weather was so rough, my plane got stuck in Detroit. There was snow on the runway as we were taxiing. We had to change planes and flew to Minneapolis. My luggage stayed on the first plane. I got my luggage on a Greyhound bus in Gibbon a week later. It was about 10 degrees below zero when my (exchange student) family picked me up but they quickly got me some warm clothes,” said Bahr.

Admitting the temperature change was a shock, Bahr said there were things to enjoy in Gibbon too.

Mauricio Bahr’s son, Henrique, is a finance director for Cargill’s Animal Nutrition Americas and Global Additives Group. He graduated with the GFW Class of 2004.

Mauricio and Henrique were foreign exchange students at Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop School 30 years apart. They both visited the Class of 1974 reunion last weekend in Gibbon.

“It was so nice to discover so many different things in Gibbon like how the community related to each other. I am immensely grateful for my foreign exchange student experience in Gibbon and my son’s experience at GFW,” he said.

Mauricio Bahr initially lived with the Jaus family near Gibbon.

“Paula, (daughter of Roman and Lois Jaus) was my (foreign exchange) sister. I later lived with the Bullemers and Schlueters. Gary Bullemer and Dave Schlueter were my (foreign exchange) brothers,” he said.

“We had a good time. I cherish many memories from my days in Gibbon — crafting art in Mr. Moen’s industrial arts class and studying algebra with Mr. Kent. He sparked my interest in engineering,” Bahr said.

It wasn’t all work and no fun.

“One of life’s greatest pleasures was savoring hamburgers at Halverson’s (downtown Gibbon restaurant). Watching basketball, particularly the District 10 Tournament, (which Gibbon won in 1974). Parties at the Gibbon Ballroom. Cruising with Dave Schlueter, Gary Bullemer and Brian Podratz,” he said.

Bahr said his foreign exchange experience was transformational.

“I got to see very different things from home at age 16 and 17. I learned about diversity, how to actively listen to people to discover new things and live in a different situation, in a farming community with so many things to be done in a short period of time. It helped make me resilient and better able to deal with things,” he said.

Bahr said Gibbon teacher Floyd Kent taught him to drive, do math and got him interested in studying mechanical engineering, which he studied along with business after high school.

“Coming to Gibbon helped me create bonds that continue today. A number of my former schoolmates have visited me and my family in Brazil,” he added.

Bahr oversees renewable energy operations in Latin America for Engie, a multinational French company with more than 170,000 employees.

His son Henrique is a finance director for Cargill’s Animal Nutrition Americas and Global Additives Group based in the Twin Cities. While at GFW, Henrique stayed at the Tom Rubischko home while going to GFW.

“Living on a farm near Gibbon prompted my interest in agriculture. I saw things here I never would in Rio, where 6 million people live,” Henrique Bahr said.

“We have lots of bonds with people we stayed with in Gibbon. We care a lot about this place. Tom Rubischko visited us in Brazil. We traveled with his family to other states. He was one of my best friends. My son became good friends with sons and daughters of my Gibbon classmates.” Bahr said.