The Education Foundation of Albert Lea, The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce and the Albert Lea Area Schools announced the 2010 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award. The awards were presented as part of the “Pathways to Success” program. The program itself is one of recognition and inspiration.

The awards of recognition are given annually to graduates of Albert Lea High School who have achieved success in one or more of the areas of Business and Economic Achievement, Humanitarian and Public Service Accomplishments, or locally achieved success. In addition, awards will be given posthumously to candidates in any of the above categories. Winners of the awards were recognized at the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting on Thursday, Nov. 11.

The following day, the “inspiration” portion took place when the award winners visited with students at Albert Lea High School.

This year’s award winners are:

Business and Economic Achievement:

Dr. Jerry P. Draayer (Class of 1960):

Draayer graduated as valedictorian of the Albert Lea High School Class of 1960. He is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Louisiana State University as well as president and CEO of Southeastern Universities Research Association, which is a consortium of 60 universities in the southern United States. SURA manages and operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility for the Department of Energy. The nuclear physics research facility provides unique capabilities for a user community of approximately 1,600 researchers from 280 institutions worldwide.

Among his many credentials, Draayer lists a Roy P. Daniels professor of physics (2002) and distinguished research master (2007), Louisiana State University (1975-present); Francis G. Slack Fellow, SEASAPS (2006); APS Fellow (2000); corresponding member of the Mexican National Academy of Sciences (1998); guest professor, U of Tübingen (1993-95) and associate professor, U of Strasbourg (1990-92). Service: Department chairman (1985- 1994); vice president, Faculty Senate (1996-97); director, Office of Federal Programs & LA EPSCoR Program Manger, Louisiana Board of Regents (1995-1998); chairman, APS Forum on International Physics (FIP, 2001-03) and Committee on International Scientific Affairs (CISA 2003-2005).

Draayer and his wife, Lois Van Wyk, have raised three daughters, all with advanced degrees, who are happily married and raising families of their own.

Humanitarian and Public Service:

Dr. Herbert A. Thompson (Class of 1949): Thompson retired in 2006 as chief of the Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases for the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. This division worked on diagnostic and epidemic aspects of rabies, Rocky Mountain Fever, typhus, Q fever and others. In 2000 he was named an adjunct professor and accepted a position at the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. He was to form and lead a new Q fever laboratory at the CDC’s Atlanta site. This was his post on Sept. 11, 2001, and the work at that time included testing on the anthrax letters.

He taught at the University of West Virginia beginning in 1976 and served there as an assistant professor at the WVU School of Medicine from 1976 to 1981. During this period, he taught microbial physiology and pathogenesis to graduate students, medical technology students, nursing students, dental students and medical students. He was honored to receive awards for outstanding teaching including the MacLachlan Award, given for outstanding teaching of second year medical students. He was named a professor and vice chairman of microbiology and immunology in 1997.

Thompson credits Ramona Westland at District 37, Byron Spear, and Robert Entorf at Albert Lea High School as being especially influential in his educational career.

Locally Achieved Success:

Keith Fligge (Class of 1952): After being part of the 1952 State Champion golf team at Albert Lea High School, Keith attended the University of Minnesota and received his degree in journalism. Returning to Albert Lea, Fligge joined ALMCO — Queen Products as a management trainee. In 1959 he was assigned to a position as field engineer/sales and moved to western Michigan where he worked for 13 years. In 1972 his long career (1959-1986) with Queen Products brought him back to his home town where he continued to assume more responsible duties with the ALMCO Division and at the time the ALMCO Division was sold, he was manager of National/International Sales for ALMCO.

In 1968 he helped form an employee team of 13 who purchased the ALMCO division from its then owner, Household International, keeping the firm in Albert Lea. They established ALMCO Inc., an industrial finishing systems designer and manufacturer. Fligge was one of the three individuals who formed the executive management team that led the new company. He had responsibility for company sales. In 1993 he was named as president of the company and accepted responsibility for company administration as well as sales.

In addition to his successful business career, Fligge has been active in community affairs. He served on the board of directors of Greater Jobs Inc. from 1997 to 2003. He was president of the Albert Lea Port Authority for two years and is a member of the board of Albert Lea Economic Development Agency.

In 1960, Fligge married Deloris E. Nelson and they had three sons, Steven, Mark and David, all of whom graduated from Albert Lea High School. He takes pride in that he is a graduate of Albert Lea High School and was able to find success right in his home town.

Posthumous Awards:

Donald R. Wedge (Class of 1931): After graduation, Don attended Macalester College for two years, but left college during the 1933 Depression to help his father with the nursery.

At Wedge Nursery, he first took over the propagation end of the business starting new plants from cuttings. He was an early pioneer in this field, successfully propagating plants that had been difficult to root. He helped developed a technique of successfully propagating lilacs by grafting lilac scion wood onto green ash roots. Wedge led the business into growing lilacs, peonies and ornamental shrubs in large quantities for the wholesale market, selling plants from the east to west coasts. The nursery became known as the largest grower of lilacs in the world, with a reputation as the best source to secure quality lilac varieties and lilacs on their own roots. Wedge became known as one of the most famous and respected among lilac enthusiasts.

Wedge served on the board of the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) and as its chairman in 1961 and 1962. He served as the MNLA delegate to the American Association of Nurserymen for three years. In 2000 the MNLA honored the nursery for being the longest-operating nursery in Minnesota with the same family still owning and operating it.

Wedge started the landscaping department at Wedge Nursery and designed landscapes for well over 5,000 homes. Wedge retired from Wedge Nursery in 1997 after 64 years in the nursery business that was started by his grandfather in 1878.

Wedge was very active in Boy Scouts for more than 40 years. He was a charter member of Presbyterian Church Troop 5, earning his Eagle Scout in 1929, and Silver Beaver Award in 1948. As scoutmaster, he was proud to have led 20 boys to become Eagle Scouts. His dedication to Boy Scouts was the foundation of what made Wedge so respected in the community. He was a member of the Rotary Club for almost 50 years, was on the YMCA board for six years (during the time a new building was being built) and was instrumental in the development of YMCA Camp Moraine.

Wedge married Vera Nielsen on June 3, 1941, and raised their four children, Rita, Gail, Brad and Cleo in Albert Lea. All four children graduated from Albert Lea High School, and went on to graduate from college. Two of Wedge’s granddaughters also graduated from Albert Lea High School.

Herbert C. Anderson (Class of 1949): Anderson attended and graduated from Dana College in Blair, Neb., with a degree in mathematics and biology.

An Albert Lea resident all his life, Anderson worked in banking at the First National Bank (which was to become Norwest Bank) for over 25 years. A co-worker at the bank had this reflection about Anderson:

“Herb was a role model and example for living with dignity, humility, integrity and intelligence. He had the ability to persuade others to achieve their potential. Herb was practical minded and common sensed, yet possessed a wonderful sense of humor and delighted in performing practical jokes.”

He was an active member of the community giving of his time and talents to the United Way, YMCA, Freeborn County Historical Society, St. John’s Foundation, Civic Music and many other boards throughout his life. He enjoyed reading, music, being outdoors and serving his community.

The following testimonial from the director of the Albert Lea Family Y is typical of the respect Anderson received in the community:

“Herb was a very quiet unassuming person. He was a man of great integrity and values. At meetings Herb was usually pretty quiet. If he had a view on something he would usually visit after the meeting. If he asked to visit it meant he had important words of wisdom to express and you better be listening attentively to what he had to say. Through his quiet manner Herb positively impacted many lives of those he had close contact with and many others through the dollars he was able to raise on behalf of the community.

“Herb walked quietly in faith to be of service for everyone. His caring and love for others was evident in every step he took. Herb always looked for the best in everyone. He expected much out of others but he also gave much in return. Albert Lea is lucky to have had such a wonderful individual that cared about this community. Herb definitely made a difference and will be greatly missed. Herb’s spirit lives on through many civic and non-profit groups that have benefited from his wisdom and contributions.”

After his retirement, he continued serving people by helping others as conservator of several estates.

Award winners will further be honored by having plaques placed alongside previous winners at Albert Lea High School.

— Content submitted by The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce.