When my wife and I and our 2 children arrived in Staples to set up residence and begin a medical practice Marge was 5 months pregnant with our 3rd child. We were busy buying a house, a clinic in which to set up my practice, and equipment with which to begin that practice as well as furnishings for our very first own house. All that with 2 and 1/2 babies. Our clinic was much better furnished than our house. The house had plywood floors and no curtains. A dyed bed sheet acted as a curtain for our living room picture window. People would drive by and stare trying to see this odd family moving into their community. We were beginning to think this was not a very friendly place to begin our life when after about 2-3 weeks there was a knock on our front door. It was 2 teachers from the high school who wanted to know if Iʼd be interested in some duck hunting. The next morning they picked me up early to go. I noticed a hole in the side door of the vehicle and when I asked what that was about heard the story of a rifle in the back seat that had "accidentally" gone off. What was I getting into?? It turns out that this was the beginning of a life long friendship with those 2 men as well as fodder for many hunting and fishing tales too numerous to count. One of those 2 men was the schools wrestling coach who was just starting to build the program into a mini dynasty---Don Dravis. He immediately got me interested in the sport and I grew to love it almost as much as Don does. Marge and I have 3 boys and all 3 wrestled. Our youngest son Mark had knee problems and had to drop out of wrestling in grade school, only to become a 2 time state swim champion in the 100 free. The other 2, Jim and John, wrestled all through high school as well as college. Our 2 daughters Michelle and Suzanne cheered for wrestling during their high school years. John went on to coach after college and was named Coach of the Year in class A in 1997 as he coached Kimball to State runner up that year. Iʼve never ever, wrestled a match on the mat, but like so many parents and coaches who squirm, twist, kneel and bite their fingernails each time their child or team wrestler is out on the mat I feel like Iʼve wrestled hundreds on the sidelines. I was named the team doctor by the coach. I was always available to help with any injuries that might occur in any of the meets or tournaments I attended, (and I donʼt recall missing but one or two over the 8 yrs. that our sons wrestled). My wife, Marge would accompany me to all these events. I want to recognize her for all the support she gave me and the kids over the years. We needed to support each other when the boys were cutting weight at tournament time. I became the attending physician at district and region tournaments and was there for the team at the State Tourney. I would attend the weight loss certification of the Staples team for many years as well as the Kimball team when my son coached. I was asked to lead the Staples team in prayer prior to their meets. What a privilege that was, especially at the State Tournament. The highlight of this time with wrestlers and coaches was when I received one of the teams gold medals for winning the State Tournament in l990. Not bad for being just a wrestling fan. CALENDAR OF FACTS: Born and raised in Winona, MN (3/21/35) Attended Cotter High School in Winona (ʼ49-53) Attended 3 yrs. pre-med at St. Maryʼs College, Winona (ʼ53-56) Attended 4 yrs. medical school U. on MN (ʼ56-60) Obtained B.S. degree from U. of M. (ʼ58) 1 yr. internship Sacramento County Hosp., Sacramento, CA (ʼ60-61) Married Margaret (Marge) Hable, White Bear Lake, MN, (July ʼ61) Served 2 years in USAF. Stationed San Antonio, TX (Sep.-Dec. 61) Flight Surgeon Forbes AFB, Topeka, KS (Jan. ʼ62-Sep. 63) Internal Medicine Residency, St. Maryʼs Hosp. San Francisco, CA (ʼ63-64) Surgical yr. of Family Practice Residency, Sacramento Co. Hosp. Sacramento, CA (ʼ64-65) Started in solo family practice at Staples, MN (ʼ65-01) Named Jaycees Man of the Year, Staples, MN Received Duane Lund Distinguished Service Award 2008 Retired from medical practice Sept. ʼ01 5 children (John, Michelle, James, Suzanne and Mark) 13 grandchildren and 2 step grandchildren 2 great grand children Enjoy wood working, fishing and hunting and attending grandkids athletics and school functions. Also active in 2 community organizations: CARE Ministry and Staples-Motley Beyond Poverty. Also volunteer with Staples Hospital Hospice and Paliative Care service.