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From: Jim Eddy
Winona
With the passing of Stanley Peter Prosen, the Winona community is reminded once again of the contributions made to enhance economic development by enterprising local business developers.
Thanks to Stan Prosen and many others, including Ben and Rudy Miller, Winona has been at the cutting edge of the composite industry. This industry has greatly enhanced the educational opportunities at the Technical College, Winona State University and beyond. In the case of Winona State University, the institution was transformed in image and substance from a teacher’s college to a comprehensive university with academic offerings attracting students from throughout the United States and beyond.
Of course the initiatives of Mr. Prosen, the Miller family and others were aided by a very receptive President Jim Johnson of the Technical College working in cooperation with a Winona State University team of the late President Tom Stark, President Darrell Krueger and presidential assistant Gary Evans. In addition, Winona was most fortunate to have an excellent bipartisan delegation at the State Legislature that included Senator Steve Morse, and Representatives Virgil Johnson and Gene Pelowski Jr. Finally, Winona State University’s faculty led by Rod Henry, Wayne Dunbar, Wayne Erickson, Paul Grawe and many others were in full agreement to support and assist Mr. Stanley Prosen and the Miller family in translating their cutting edge composite research and industrial development into a composite engineering and other related programs that have enhanced Winona’s reputation as a very special community for quality higher education and employment.
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