for existing and future generations of ALHS students

By Geri McShane, Tribune Lifestyles Editor

Lyman K. &uot;Manny&uot; Steil was at church one Sunday morning when his pastor shared a story that particularly captured his attention.

The larger message centered on life-long service, but the specific, compelling story was about “Pecos Pete.”

Filled with enthusiasm and energy, “Pecos Pete” was walking in the desert until he suffered dehydration, disorientation, and possible hallucination. In the desert ahead, he thought he saw a hand pump. Real or imagined? As he drew closer, Pecos Pete discovered the pump was real! In addition, he discovered a bottle of water and a note. The note simply said, &uot;You have a choice. You can drink the water and perhaps survive; or, use the water to prime the pump and possibly drink long and deep. If you choose to prime the pump, leave water for those who follow.”

The story reminded Steil of one man, LeRoy Maas.

Steil said the pump is symbolic as Maas is the water that primed the pumps of thousands for more than 40 years. As a teacher, coach, mentor, and friend, Maas has helped Albert Lea youths

fulfill their optimal promise.

To honor his legacy, and to continue to prime the post-secondary educational pump for existing and future generations of ALHS students, Steil and a group of other individuals began the LeRoy Maas Scholarship Fund.

So in June 1996, they created a 501 (C) 3 tax-exempt charitable trust and a board of advisors. The board then established a minimum goal to raise $100,000 and a criteria for awarding the scholarship to ALHS students.

So far, the scholarship fund has received donations of $84,725, plus a future donation of $10,000 from an insurance policy, from 124 different contributors, Steil said. The contributors include 114 individuals and 10 organizations, including four ALHS classes (1947, 1951, 1952 and 1953), three service clubs (American Legion, Knights of Columbus and Kiwanis) and one booster club (Albert Lea Wrestling). There have also been matching funds from Toro and BP Amoco. Contributions have ranged from $5 to $5,000. The funds are invested and managed by The Minnesota Community Foundation.

Scholarships are funded by up to 90 percent of the interest generated, and to date the fund has provided scholarships to 17 ALHS graduates in the amount of $20,800.

&uot;The total dollars and number of scholarship will continue to grow as we expand the Maas Scholarship Fund,&uot; Steil said. &uot;To that end, we invite contributors who want to perpetuate the teaching and coaching values of LeRoy Maas to provide financial assistance to deserving ALHS athlete scholars.&uot;

The scholarship fund has a Web site, www.lmaasscholarship.org, where information on contributing may be found, or donations may be sent to: The LeRoy Maas Scholarship Fund, 2430 Anthony St., South St. Paul, MN 55075.

The fund’s board of trustees includes: President Pete Veldman, class of 1951; Vice President Manny Steil, class of 1956; Jim McKeown, class of 1949; Kathy (Maas) Raid, class of 1962; Neal Skaar, class of 1964; and LeRoy Maas, ex-officio.

The LeRoy Maas Scholarship fund is just one of a number of scholarships set up to help ALHS graduates further their education, said ALHS Counselor Rod Johnson. Other local scholarships set up in a similar fashion are the John M. Morrison Scholarship Program, the Albert Lea Educational Foundation, the Cliff Cairns (Jobs Inc.) Scholarship, and the Cuppage Foundation Scholarship.

In addition, local service clubs offer scholarships for which they raise money each year, and there are also scholarships which have been created in memory of local people. They include: Stan Breckner, John C. Campbell, Mark Patrick Delgado, Charles G. Heilman, Scott C. Kach, Ethel Larson, Larry Lawrence, Eddie Cochran, Jeanette Wong Ming, Terry Moriarty, Charlie Myers, June Wells (Naeve Health Care Association), Franklin Newell Jr., Tom Speltz, Charles and Beatrice Upin, Charles and Leone Wall, Marv Wangen, Paulette Schwemmler Wasmoen, Russell Wulff and Mark David Paschka.

Johnson said the local scholarships, whoever they are named for, are important to further the education of ALHS students.

&uot;Anytime we can continue someone’s education through someone else’s name, it’s a nice gesture,&uot; he said.

Last year, $72,000 in local scholarships were awarded.

(Contact Geri McShane at lifestyles@albertleatribune.com or 379-3436.)