Duane Lund influenced school and community
I remember visiting with a business consultant many years ago about what it takes for a community to be prosperous. This particular person had the opportunity to work with many communities throughout our region.
He used Staples as an example of a community where the superintendent had a large impact on the success of the community. He stated that not only did the superintendent work to improve the schools in his community, but also to bring economic opportunity to the region.
Of course, he was talking about Dr. Duane Lund, who was the Staples School District Superintendent from 1960-1985.
In 2004, the Staples Community Foundation, in appreciation for Dr. Duane Lund’s years of service and dedication to the City of Staples, created the Dr. Duane Lund Lifetime Achievement Award. The first recipient of the award was Dr. Duane Lund himself.
Story has it that Stanley Edin, Jim Krile, Dr. Ted Lelwica and Ray Gildow - all longtime friends of Lund’s - presented Dr. Lund’s award. According to the Brainerd Dispatch, they good-humoredly poked fun at Lund’s size, his love of food, his bachelorhood and his hunting habits.
But they also honored Dr. Lund, noting his work with children, work to better the schools and to bring economic opportunity to Staples. Stanley Edin noted that they were honoring a living legend that evening. Unfortunately, Dr. Lund passed away last Friday, but his impact on this community will live on for many years.
As superintendent of Staples-Motley School District, I greatly admire the work and dedication of Dr. Lund. I can’t tell you how much I have enjoyed listening to the stories about him and marveled at the influence he had on this community and the region.
When visiting with him, it was amazing to see that even though he struggled physically, his thirst for learning and curiosity were still very much a part of his everyday life. I will forever be thankful for the opportunity to meet Dr. Duane Lund and will work to live out his lasting legacy of dedication to the students and communities of Staples and Motley.
