4 minute read
Clifton E. French Service Award
By Bethani Gerhard, Minnesota Recreation and Park Association
Tom Schmitz’s family (left to right): Jerry Stamps (family’s great friend), Lilo Schmitz (Tom’s mother), Tom Schmitz, and Kim Hemphill-Schmitz (Tom’s wife)
The Clifton E. French Distinguished Service Award recipient for 2021 is Tom Schmitz, park and recreation department director for the City of New Ulm. This award is the highest distinction presented to a person who has provided long and outstanding service to MRPA and the parks and recreation profession. “I am extremely grateful, honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award, named after the fi rst superintendent of the biggest and best park district in all of Minnesota,” states Schmitz. “I view this award as a team award. I’ve been a part of many amazing park and recreation teams over the past 40-plus years.” Schmitz states, “I started in Saint Peter as a summer lifeguard and grounds crew foreman. After completing my degree from Mankato State University in recreation, parks and leisure services, I worked as a park supervisor for Salt Lake County for two years. After that, I worked as a ranger for the National Park Service in Colorado for one year, and three years as a district scout executive for Twin Valley Boy Scout Council.” Schmitz was an assistant park manager for two Minnesota state parks for 14 years until he was hired as the park and recreation department director for the City of New Ulm in 2005. As director, he has led the largest per capita, park and recreation system in Minnesota. Schmitz initiated two rounds of local sales tax-funded major initiatives. He led the $14,800,000 fi rst authorization of New Ulm’s local 0.5-percent sales tax for seven major projects, including the 2016 November general election passage with 70-percent of local voters choosing yes. Schmitz also led the largest public capital development investment in the history of New Ulm with $20 million-plus from 2017-2021. After working for 10 years to help to establish the Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Commission, Schmitz was appointed in 2013 by Governor Mark Dayton to serve on the Minnesota Commission until 2020. He assisted the department to receive the Minnesota Governors Fit City, Tree City USA and Bicycle Friendly Community certifi cations, as well as eight MRPA Awards of Excellence for projects and programs. “Thank you to the City of New Ulm staff team that I am so privileged to be a part of,” he says. “Thank you to Chris Dalton, Shawna Boomgarden, Cheryl Kormann, Ryan Weier, and Liz Malloy.” Continues on page 14…
- TOM SCHMITZ REGARDING CLIFTON E. FRENCH
Scmitz has also volunteered for many organizations such as: Junior Pioneers of New Ulm Area, Izaak Walton League, New Ulm Club, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee, New Ulm’s Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and multiple boy scout troops. “I feel the most important part of my career has been mentoring students and young adults to pursue their dreams, professionally and personally,” says Schmitz. “A rewarding life and career can be obtained in the park and recreation fi eld while benefi ting the public, family, friends and self. Healthy and sustainable communities need employers, employers need employees, and employees need good quality of life.” Schmitz served on the MRPA Board Directors from 2018 through 2020, including as Board President in 2019. He also served on the annual conference committee in 2015 and 2018. He has held many committee chair positions throughout the years for the Southern Minnesota Recreation and Park Association, including president in 2010. Schmitz thanks the MRPA staff, awards committee, and Board of Directors for this Clifton E. French Distinguished Service Award. He says, “I also would like to thank my almost 93-yearold mother Lilo Schmitz, my father Bob Schmitz, who passed away 15 years ago, our family’s great friend Jerry Stamps, and my in-laws, Clell and Mary Hemphill.” “Thank you also to my four siblings who are now scattered around the country: Dieter, Heidi, Monica and Susan,” says Schmitz. “Thank you to my sons Dylan in Brainerd, and Kelton in Winter Park, Colorado. And fi nally, since our wedding day in the summer of 1986 at Nicollet County’s Seven Mile Creek Park, my wife Kim Hemphill-Schmitz.” Congratulations to Tom Schmitz for receiving this distinguished award, and for all his years of service to MRPA and the parks and recreation profession.
Tom Schmitz and Chuck Stifter, past MRPA president
City of New Ulm staff (left to right): Ryan Weier, Liz Malloy, Cheryl Kormann, Tom Schmitz, Chris Dalton, and Shawna Boomgarden
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