Posted: 6/14/06
NB native to lead Midsummer parade Sunday
 Jim Tell |
By MaryHelen Swanson
Raised in North Branch by his grandparents, Jim Tell has made many trips up and down Main Street in his lifetime.
But the 77-year-old Korean War veteran will be making the trip for the first time as the grand marshal of the 2006 Midsummer parade Sunday, June 18.
His grandfather, Frank Youngberg was the depot agent for 40 years in North Branch and 5 years in Stacy. Tell came to live with his grandparents when he was two.
He has seen the changes in the community for over seven decades, lived through the Great Depression and shared some good times with fellow veterans at the American Legion.
Tell graduated from North Branch High School in 1947, then went to the University of Minnesota. The population of North Branch at the time of his graduation was 647, he said. Mid-way in his studies at the University, he was called up with the 817th, a large unit from North Branch which was being sent to Korea. His unit, he said, actually ended up in Japan where he worked in a Mitsubishi plant where they rebuilt military vehicles and established the first assembly line.
When he got back stateside, he finished his bachelorís degree with the help of the G.I. Bill, a very valuable program, he said. He noted how fellow veteran Norton Johnson, now deceased, also took advantage of the G.I. Bill to go to college. Being able to go to college, he said, ìthat made the best generation.î
Tell became an insurance agent and retired in 1995. Except for 10 years living in the Cities, he has lived in NB all his life. He has been in the Masons 30-40 years and did a lot of cooking -they called him ìthe cookî - at meals to help raise money to pay for the Legion hall addition.
He could also be found on the North Branch golf course over the years.
Tell has four grown children.
Look for Tell at the head of the parade Sunday, it starts at 2 p.m. and heíll be waving his best parade wave from a convertible.
Midsummer events get underway with a Chamber Block Party Thursday. There will be the annual Midsummer royalty coronation Friday at 7 p.m. The carnival will be in town at Central Park and thereís lots of fun activities planned for the weekend.
Check out the full-page schedule on page 13 for complete details of the 2006 Midsummer celebration.
Comment from Marie B, 6/16/06
Congratulations to Jim I graduated with him, almost 60 years ago. He still has that same grin.
Comment from Marie B, 6/16/06
Congratulations to Jim I graduated with him, almost 60 years ago. He still has that same grin.
Comment from Marie B, 6/16/06
Congratulations to Jim I graduated with him, almost 60 years ago. He still has that same grin.
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