Tony Sailer Retiring After 21 Years with Brainerd Parks and Recreation After graduating from St. Cloud State University with a Mass Communications degree, Tony’s first job was as an assistant editor at the Wadena PioneerJournal. Three years later he took a job as a sportswriter and outdoors editor at the Brainerd Daily Dispatch where he was employed for 16 years.
It is not a stretch to say that recreation and outdoor activities are in Tony Sailer’s genes. “I grew up on a family resort near Vergas (12 miles east of Detroit Lakes) so we did a lot of fishing and hunting and had plenty of time to invent outdoor adventures,” says Sailer, who is retiring in December after 21 years with the Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department. “And my dad was a high school basketball and baseball coach for nearly 40 years, so all eight of his children were three-sport athletes. We spent countless hours in the gym or at the ballfields.” “My dad actually started the summer recreation program in Frazee shortly after returning from World War II,” he adds. “Back then, summer recreation consisted of baseball.” Tony’s journey to a Parks and Recreation career did not take the normal path.
didn’t study recreation in college, the breakout sessions were pretty much my college courses,” says Sailer. “I absorbed the information at the breakout sessions like a sponge.
“A person I used to write about as a Brainerd High School athlete was later the recreation specialist at Brainerd Parks and Recreation,” recalls Sailer. “She stopped in to see me one day and said she was taking a job elsewhere and thought I should apply for her job. Even though I didn’t have a background or degree in recreation I surprisingly got hired.” In 2010, Sailer was named the interim director following the director’s resignation. A year later the “interim” was dropped. “Every job I’ve had since graduating from college, was a ‘right place at the right time’ sort of thing,” says Sailer. “It shows me that God has a plan for our lives and leads us to where we are supposed to be. I’ve been lucky to work in two fields that I really enjoy. I love sports, the outdoors and working with kids. I’ve been blessed.” He says attending MRPA state conferences was incredibly beneficial to his parks and recreation career. “Since I
“Being from an outstate agency, I didn’t know anybody when I first began attending the state conferences and, frankly, was a bit intimidated. But everyone was so welcoming that I soon started making valuable connections. There were so many people that patiently answered questions I had, gave me guidance and support, and helped steer me in the right direction. The MRPA is truly one big family.” “The one thing that will forever astound me, however, is how the heck does Michelle Snider remember everyone’s names,” says Sailer. “That utterly amazes me.” He plans to return to his roots after his retirement. “My parents bought the family resort the year I was born,” he says. “After dad died and mom moved into assisted living, I bought their house on the lake. I am going to test the theory that says you can’t go home again. I guess you can say my life has come full circle. I’m looking forward to fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreational events where I get to be a participant and someone else is running the show.”
This photo was taken during the social at Anoka County Parks at the 2009 Annual Conference and Exhibit Hall. MRPA members (left to right, front row): Jared Flewellen, Michelle Okada (left to right, back row): Roxann Maxey, Aimee Peterson, Chris Esser, Todd Muroski, Nate Monahan.
MRPA FLASHBACK
Flashback: 2009
Fall 2020 • MINNESOTA Recreation and Parks 9
