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Unsung Hero awarded to Majerus at banquet |
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Wednesday, 07 March 2007 |
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Page 2 of 2
The county is looking at TSEP funding which has been reactivated and if the bill goes through, it will have a big impact on Brady and Conrad.
Cheryl Curry from the Pondera Regional Port Authority said that since the beginning of the PA, 2-1/2 years go, “We’ve been actively seeking economic development for the county.”
The PA has loaned over $60,000 for local businesses and as it is paid back, the funds go into a revolving fund to be loaned out over and over.
She closed her report saying, “I think we’re about two weeks away from having the BNSF depot donated and we’re actively pursuing wind power.”
Harold Olson from the EDC (Economic Development Corp.) told the diners, “We’re still trying to get a meat processing center for our area.”
A feasibility study was done which said the meat plant was good to go. They are working on getting a grant now for an engineering study.
State House Representative Llew Jones, home from the legislative session, on transmittal break or the halfway point of the session told the crowd, “It’s been busy. One big issue is health care for business,” he said.
He noted that the House had passed over 450 bills to the Senate, which prompted him to note, “Sometimes the best bill is a dead bill.” That got a chuckle from the audience.
Norm Ballantyne, representing the Valier Area Development Council, commented that they are trying to develop different entities and are exposing to people in Valier to folks from outside of Valier. Everyone was invited to come to Valier and enjoy their facilities.
With that, Stockman Bank President Dan Majerus introduced Rasmussen, saying, “What can you say about a guy who makes a living running around in shorts and make-up?”
On any given night of the week, the man who has been named the National Rodeo Cowboy Association Clown of the Year seven times and the Canadian National Finals Rodeo Barrelman four times, may be on the road entertaining, either as a clown or at various types of banquets and at high schools.
He related that the most common question eventually asked of him is, “How do you get into that, being a clown?”
When he was younger he was in every activity he could be and became drawn to the crowds.
His family was involved in rodeo with his dad being an announcer. His first rodeo was in Superior, “Where I did OK,” he said. He did one rodeo, then another and eventually worked rodeos to pay for his education, figuring his life’s profession would be an educator.
Rasmussen touted that values of coming from a small town and in a Jeff Foxworthy fashion offered a few ways to know if you come from a small town.
“If your town has a four-way stop and no one knows how to use it, you may be from a small town,” he said.
“If school recess is cancelled due to grizzly bears being too close to the school, you may be from a small town.” He added, one more, “At the local coffee shop, if conversation revolves around the coach knowing nothing, you’re from a small town.”
He told the people it was cool to be from a small town and whatever you do, it effects somebody and comes back to you.”
After Rasmussen spoke, three special presentations were made, the first being Outstanding Board Member of the Year, which went to D. Hicks and was presented by CofC manager, Shari Richter.
The Business Person of the Year award went out to Fred and Laurie Morris, co-owners of Courtesy Ford. The award was presented by Linda O’Connor.
The major award of the evening, the Unsung Hero, is presented to an individual who volunteers their time and energy toward the betterment of Conrad and deserves special recognition for their efforts.
The coveted award was presented by John McFarland who noted, “Unsung Heroes are individuals who unselfishly give of their time and talents to the betterment of our community. This year’s Unsung Hero is the absolute epitome of this.”
Behind the scenes he has worked at the theatre letting his staff have the accolades at various events. Years after his children were out of the swim team program, our hero spearheaded an effort to raise $10,000 to purchase computerized starting blocks and touch pads for use at division swim meets.
The Conrad Lions Club has been responsible for putting on Whoop-Up and for about the last 25 years, “all eyes have turned to Mr. Whoop-Up for guidance and direction in producing a two-day rodeo.”
He spends countless hours corresponding with the National Rodeo Association on any number of items and organizes all of the arena repairs.
He is also active in church and every Wednesday drives to the Crossroads Correctional Center to hold a Bible study.
“This is truly a man who deserves the recognition he is receiving tonight,” McFarland said.
He went on to add, “The list of accolades could go on and on, but we need to get what we came here to do. The Unsung Hero is our friend, neighbor, boss, husband, father and soon to be a grandfather, let’s give a hand to this year’s Unsung Hero, Dan Majerus!”
With that the room full of people stood and put their hands together for Dan Majerus, Unsung Hero.
A 50-50 drawing was held with Lori Kronebusch holding the winning ticket. An auction followed, with the high point being when Rasmussen got talked into donating the cowboy boots he was wearing to be part of a package to be auctioned off.
The pair of 8-1/2 boots now belong to Mike Brownell. We don’t know if the boots were loaned back to him so he didn’t have to walk through the snow to his vehicle as the evening came to a close.
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