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Former St. Olaf President Sidney Rand honored for lifetime achievements

By Amy Gage
May 20, 2003

Sidney Rand
Rand
Dr. Sidney A. Rand of Northfield, a former president of St. Olaf College, has been named the 2003 Distinguished Alumni recipient by the Fergus Falls 544 Education Foundation.

Rand was inducted into the Fergus Falls High School Hall of Fame and received the 544 Foundation's first Distinguished Alumni award during a senior recognition banquet in Fergus Falls on May 19.

Rand graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1933.

"He has achieved so much in his life and demonstrated a commitment to both education and service," said 544 Foundation Board President Brian Draxten. "We feel he is a tremendous example to our high school students, showing what can be done with the education received from Fergus Falls Public Schools."

Following graduation from Fergus Falls, Rand attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul and the University of Chicago. He has remained active in education, serving as president of three colleges founded by Norwegian immigrants: Waldorf College in Iowa, Augustana College in South Dakota and St. Olaf College in Northfield, where he served as the institution's sixth president from 1963 to 1980.

He and his wife, Lois, still live in Northfield.

In 1984, Rand received the Minnesota Private Colleges' Edgar Carlson Award, given for distinguished service in higher education, joining other award recipients such as Walter and Joan Mondale, and the late Rudy Perpich, a two-time governor of Minnesota.

In the early 1980s, Rand was honored as United States ambassador to Norway. He and Lois, who served with the Norwegian American Historical Association, have made hundreds of presentations about Norway to civic, educational and religious groups.

In recognition of their contributions in fostering Norwegian-American relations, Sidney and Lois Rand were decorated by Norway's King Olav V in the mid-1980s.

Rand has served on a number of boards in the areas of education, health care, insurance and finance, and has worked with Rotary Club, United Way and Community Centennials. Since 1988, he has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, in cooperation with the Nobel Insitute.

He has helped shape public policy, having served as a member of the Governor's Commission on Tax Reform, Minnesota Judicial Planning Committee and the Minnesota Business Coalition Task Force on Health Costs and Ethics.

Rand has written numerous articles for religious and educational publications, and in 1988, he and Lois co-authored a photographic book on Norway. In 1996, Rand wrote a memoir, In Pleasant Places.

The Fergus Falls 544 Education foundation helps improve and strengthen the education programs of the school district. For more information, go to the 544 Foundation web site, or call 218-998-0544, x2621.

Contact amygage at 507-786-3315 or amygage@stolaf.edu.