Attorney, businessman and legislator Torrey Westrom has excelled at whatever he's pursued. This year's "Courage Award" winner is an outstanding example of discipline, intelligence, work ethic and achievement. He is proof that a person should not let adversity keep you down. Success can result from finding opportunities inside life's challenges, believing in yourself and having the courage to pursue one's dreams. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota and Minnesota State House of Representatives, Westrom represents district 11A. He is in his eighth term of office-first being elected in 1996 at the age of 23. He graduated from Bemidji State University with B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Business Administration. He continued his education at William Mitchell College of Law, where he received his J.D. in 2003. Westrom owns and operates Westrom Law office, PLLC and TSI Real Estate, LLC in Elbow Lake, MN, where he grew up and their family currently resides. As an elementary school student, Torrey participated in basketball and wrestling programs. Growing up on a dairy farm, Torrey carried feed pails, hay bales and dumping lots of milk buckets. This kept him in shape and strong. In eighth grade Torrey was already 6'1" and could dominate in Junior High basketball, where they finished their season record at 20-2. In the summer of l987, Torrey lost his eyesight in a farm-related car accident. Shortly after his accident, one of his teachers and a wrestling coach, Jay McNamer, encouraged Torrey to come out and try wrestling. Coach McNamer later learned the special rules for a blind wrestlers and kept encouraging Torrey to join the team. In l988 Torrey joined the West Central High School wrestling squad, wrestling between the 171 and 189 weight classes. Torrey's fondest memory in wrestling was winning the "Most Valuable Wrestler" award at the Lake Park Invitational in l989. He pinned the wrestler in the third place wrestle-back match, who had defeated him in the first round, by a score of 14-18 decision. He gives credit to several people who have had an impact on his life, most notably the NDSU head basketball coach Erv Inniger for his hospital visits and inspiration/motivation he displayed through his friendship with Torrey right after his accident. Coach Inniger, whose camp Westrom had attended just a few weeks before his accident, had Westrom continue to come to his basketball camps and run the play clocks, speak to the camp attendees and be able to continue to mingle with basketball players-as he use to do. Coach Inniger arranged for an assistant NDSU wrestling coach to give torrey private lessons during the time he would come to these camps. He also invited Westrom along on a trip to the Bahamas with the NDSU mens basketball team in 1990. He credits coach McNamer for his encouragement to join wrestling, his parents for instilling a strong work ethic, determination and a never let a loss stop him from continuing. In addition, his vision teacher, Mrs. Sally Hazelhoff, for helping in adaptations and accommodations available to him. Finally, his teammates were a great success of encouragement to him-treating him just like any other teammate. In college at Bemidji State, Westrom, in his freshman year, and with few other new freshmen wrestlers are credited for working to start a wrestling club. They attempted to try and bring the sport of wrestling back to the college as a "varsity sport""”a feat that could not overcome the bureaucracy and budget constraints at the university. He has served on several legislative commissions, including the Rural Health Care Advisory Task Force, the Secretary of State's voting equipment Task Force and Minnesota Legislative Audit Commission. In 2002, he was one of two appointees by President George W. Bush to serve a four year term on a federal social security advisory panel called "Ticket to Work". The panel advised congress and the White House on return-to-work programs for people with disabilities. Over his Legislative tenure, Westrom has served on numerous legislative committees. In 2003 he was appointed by the Speaker of the House, Steve Sviggum, to be chair of the Regulated Industries Energy Committee until 2007. In 2011, Speaker Kurt Zellers appointed him Chair of the Civil Law Committee as well as the position of "Speaker Protempor." In 2011, he is believed to have become the first blind person of record throughout the nation to have ever presided over a legislative body and served as a Speaker of the House. Between discussing and analyzing politics Torrey stays involved in their church, enjoys water sports like swimming with his children, jet skiing and fishing. He also enjoys playing cards, scrabble and reading. His wife, Anna, and twin daughters Madelyn, and Whitney, and son Carter bring lots of joy to their lives and keep the Westroms busy. He is currently writing a book about his life's experiences that he hopes to complete in the near future. Today Torrey would advise athletes by saying, "Hard work and determination are the only inner attitudes that you can control." He says, "Be willing to try new things' take challenges, and find the silver linings in unexpected changes in your life!" He also says, "Remember small acts of kindness and patience may greatly help a friend or teammate today, but often pay-back unexpected dividends to you at a future time when you may need it yourself." Torrey Westrom is the first known blind person elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. After 16 years in the House, he has recently decided to run for the Minnesota Senate. He was endorsed this past March to be the Republican candidate for the Senate District 12 seat in 2012. To many outsiders, he is living an incredible life and it all started with a "can do" attitude and the self-determination and courage to overcome obstacles and succeed.