The New York Mills Hall of Fame Ceremony is on Friday, September 25th. They are hoping for a good turnout and want anyone that is interested to be able to attend.
Let’s meet the 2026 Inductees:
New York Mills Hall of Fame
John Karvonen
Class of 1976
· 4-sport athlete for New York Mills in track, cross country, basketball, and baseball · 3x letter winner in track participating in the 400, 800, mile run, and many team relays. In junior year, as a team captain and MVP, set a school record in the mile run eventually placing 3rd in state. · 4x letter winner in basketball, being named All-Conference MVP both his junior and senior years. Was a team captain, voted team MVP, and the first player in school history to score 1,000 career points (before the 3-point line), finishing with 1,038 points. · 3x letter winner in cross country. As a senior captain, set 7 course records, became a member of the “Clyde Gimbel 500 Mile Club,” and became the only Mills CC runner to make it to state, placing 8th. · 3x letter winner in marching, concert, and jazz bands as 1st trumpet in all three, Eagle Award winner, named to Prep Parade All-State · Was a National Honor Student, Boy Scout, “M” club member, as well as being named a 1975 HS All-American and listed in the “Who’s Who Among American High School Students” list · After graduation from New York Mills in 1976, went on to attend MSUM and played for their basketball team. · Inducted into MSUM Hall of Fame as member of 1980 team that finished 21-9 and was NIC champs and first team to advance to NAIA National Championships. · Graduated from MSUM in 1980 going on to own/operate Karvonen and Son’s Inc. · Has been involved in community organizations such as the Perham Jaycees, Perham Rotary Club, and Paul Harris Fellowship.
New York Mills Hall of Fame
Mary Lee Legried
Class of 1984
· 2-Sport Standout for New York Mills HS in tennis and basketball. · 4x letter winner in tennis, going to state 3 times: as a freshman playing doubles with Janeen (Keskitalo) Weller, as a sophomore playing doubles with Caroline (Perna) Januszewski, and as a senior playing in singles competition. · 3x tennis captain, tennis team MVP both her junior and senior years. · Achieved a career 60-18 record in tennis · 4x letter winner in basketball helping the team to state in 1981 and 1982. · Named to the All-Conference team in 1983 and 1984, (Team Captain and MVP in 1983) · In her career, tallied 871 points, 600 assists, and 259 steals. Her 600 career assists as well as assist per game (10.1) in the 83-84 season are both school records · Active in FFA, Student Council, and Band. · In 1978, as an 11-year-old, won the Elks National Hoop Shoot Contest in Kansas City becoming the first person from MN to do so (only 5 MN athletes have done it since 1972) · After HS, went to Concordia College in Moorhead and played on both their basketball and tennis teams. · Helped lead the Concordia basketball team to a Division 3 runner up finish in 1987 and Championship in 1988. · MIAC All-Conference team in 1987 and 1988, MIAC Academic All-Conference team, and holds MIAC game, season, and career assists records · Division 3 Season Assist Record (328) and second in Career Assists (926) · Was named to the Concordia College Hall of Fame as an individual in 1998 as well as a team member in 2008. · After graduating from Concordia with a BA in 1988, earned her Doctorate of Medicine from the University of MN and has since served as a family physician to the local communities of NYM, Ottertail, Wadena, and Sebeka the past 30 years.
New York Mills Hall of Fame
Dana Patsie Rutten
Class of 1984
· 2-sport standout for New York Mills HS in basketball and volleyball. · 4x letter winner in basketball finishing with 1,436 career points (7th best in school history), 1,202 career rebounds (5th in school history), and 284 career blocks (2nd in school history) · 3x GBB State Tournament Team Participant (1980, 1981, 1982) · Named All-State in 1982 by the Associated Press and MN State GBB Coaches Association · In 1984, was an All-American Honorable Mention as well as a MN Out-State All-Star team member · Park Region Conference MVP both junior and senior years, co-captain her senior year · 4x letter winner in volleyball, 2x Park Region Conference selection, a co-captaincy both her junior and senior year · Won multiple team awards for best spike accuracy, ace accuracy, blocks, and tips · During volleyball career, helped teams to 3 Park Region Conference Championships, 2 District 24 runner-up finishes, and a State Tournament appearance in 1981, her final three years the team’s accumulative record was 50-15. · Strong academic student, school Salutatorian with 3.9 GPA, Senior Class Officer, active participant in NHS and Choir · Went on to play college basketball for NDSU where she helped guide the team to a 97-24 record and advance to 3 NCAA tournaments during her career, including a pair of NCAA Division 2 Final Four appearances and two North Central Conference Titles. · Was named a Kodak All-American first team and All-North Central Conference first team in 1988. · 3x Academic All-NCC selection and 3x NCC player of week winner · Finished her college career with 1,142 points and 809 rebounds in 99 career games, · Was a Co-Captain her senior year as well as inducted into the NDSU Hall of Fame.
New York Mills Hall of Fame
Clyde Gimbel
· NYM Educator for 29 years from 1971 to 2000. · NYM Head Track Coach for 30+ years · 4x Park Region Conference Champs (1978, 1980, 1982, 2004) · 3x District 24 3rd Place (1979, 1982, 1984) · District 24 and Region 6A Runner Up (1980) · 2005 State A Team 3rd Place · 1985 State A Team 6th Place · Coached 76 Individual and Relay Team Conference Champions · Coached 23 Regional/Section Individual/Relay Team Champions · Coached 32 State Entries as well as 23 State Place Winners · Coached State Champ Todd Ericksrud (800m run) and 3x State champ Ted Rud (2x Triple Jump, Long Jump) · District 24 Coach of the Year in 1982 and Conference Coach of the Year in 2004 · Coached 26 out of 27 school track record holders · NYM Head Cross Country Coach as well as coach for basketball at various levels · Taught driver’s education in NYM district for 36 years from 1973-2009 · Before coming to NYM, attended and graduated from MSUM, also ran track there for two years qualifying for nations in the mile relay · Served in the Air Force for 4 years with stints in San Antonio, Denver, Idaho, Thailand, and England.