The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1940-02-01
Minnesota's New Com
missioner of Conser-
walton Assumes Duties
DIR. VIM. L. Strunk, Named BY
Governor Stassen, Well
Qualified For Position
By Herman Roe, Publisher,
Mortified News


BY Herman Roe, Publisher,
Mortified News
Possessing exceptional qualifica-
tons by education and experience
to direct a comprehensive conser-
walton program for the state of
Minnesota, DR.. William L. Strunk,
director of the health service of St.
Olaf college, Mortified, assumed
the duties of commissioner of con-
servation Thursday by appointment
of Governor Harold E. Stassen.
Announcement of DR.. Strunk's
appointment was as much a sur
prise to his colleagues on the St.
Olaf college faculty and his North
field neighbors as to the state at
large but in Mortified, where he
is known, the selection of DR..
Strunk for the highly important
assignment of formulating and di-
recting constructive conservation
program for Minnesota is hailed
as an excellent choice. In fact,
Gov. Stassen could have searched
the country over and not found a
man better qualified for the posi-
ton.
In addition to keen interest for
and a comprehensive educational
background in all phases of con-
servation DR. Strunk will bring to
his new position tireless capacity
for aggressive effort in accomplish
ing any assignment he tackles, un-
bounded energy and enthusiasm,
executive ability and a cooperative
temperament which encourages
teamwork on the part of those as
ISOLATED with him. These are the
qualities he has demonstrated in
the few months he has been a resi-
dent of Mortified.
A native of Minnesota, DR..
Strunk, thirty-seven years old, mar
ried and with one son, was born
in New Ulm, where his father was
blacksmith. He attended grade
schools there, South high school in
Minneapolis, and received his bach
elor and master of science degrees
from the University of Minnesota,
He received the degree of doctor
of science from the University of
Wisconsin and did further gradu-
ate work at the University of Mich
igan.
DR.. Strunk specialized in geology,
zoology, natural history, chemistry,
botany and economic geology.
While attending the university he
spent two summers on the Min
nesota Geological survey in St.
Louis and Cook counties, doing
work on magnetic deposits. He
did research in natural history at
Michigan university under the
Hinsdale Research fellowship.
He was chief chemist and assist
ant superintendent of the Ford
Motor Co. glass plant in st. Paul
for two years, and headed the
chemistry department at the North
Dakota State School at Wahpeton
for year. He headed the depart
ment of biology and health at
Luther college, DEBORAH, Iowa, for
twelve years before coming to st.
Olaf college last fall.
While at Luther College DIR
Strunk did field work for the Iowa
Conservation Commission on game
conservation areas on ruffed grouse
and muskrats in the Mississippi
river bottoms and on preparation
of Iowa's twenty-five-year conser-
walton program. J. N. Ding"
Darling, nationally known conser-
vationist, was a member of the
Iowa commission at the time. DR..
Strunk also is a member of the
board and a lecturer for the Amer
lean School of Wild Life Protec-
ton and has lectured and written
extensively on conservation.
The impressive summary of DR..
Strunk's education and experience
eminently justified Governor Stas-
sens statement in announcing his
appointment: II believe that DIR.
Strunk's whole background fits
perfectly into the kind of program
that will result in an outstanding
development in conservation in
Minnesota"
One field in which DR.. Strunk
appears to be woefully lacking is
in that Of partisan politics-which
thousands Of Minnesotans who are
keenly interested in the states con-
servation program will hail with
delight.
DIR. Strunk has mapped out in
cooperation with the governor six
teen important detectives. Among
them are development of a long
range conservation program, with
definite detectives to be achieved
in certain periods; enlistment of
game wardens, forest rangers, park
employees and other employees in
the general conservation program
in addition to special duties; pro-
motion of forest farming in north
ern areas and a strong educational
program, with Minnesota Conser-
walton Volunteers" made up Of
citizens pledged to assist in con-
serving and improving the states
resources.