Former Star Tribune Publisher Roger Parkinson on WednesÂday reÂceived one of the University of Minnesota's highÂest honors, the Award of DisÂtincÂtion.
University PresÂiÂdent Eric Kaler said Parkinson "has been an extraÂordiÂnary citÂiÂzen and a role modÂel of civÂic enÂgageÂment."
Parkinson, 73, has served 15 years on the Humphrey School Dean's AdÂviÂsoÂry Council. The Humphrey School of Public Affairs preÂpares stuÂdents for caÂreers in public servÂice.
In acÂceptÂing the aÂward WednesÂday, Parkinson, known for his fireÂbrand work ethÂic, said he hoped to see the day when the Humphrey School is conÂsidÂered aÂmong the best in the counÂtry. It is curÂrentÂly rankÂed third by US News and World Report's surÂvey of nonprofit manÂageÂment programs.
Parkinson has lived in ToÂronÂto for the past 20 years. DurÂing his years in Minnesota, he orÂganÂized Mikhail Gorbachev's visÂit in 1990, chaired the 1990 OlymÂpic Festival and helped creÂate the HoÂmer Hanky used in the 1987 and 1991 World Series.
His caÂreer in jourÂnalÂism beÂgan in 1969 at NewsÂweek; he also worked at the Washington Post. He was pubÂlishÂer of the Star Tribune from 1983 to 1992 and the ToÂronÂto Globe and Mail from 1994 to 1999.
He earned a Bronze Star for servÂice in the Green Berets, reÂceived an unÂderÂgradÂuÂate deÂgree in phiÂlosÂoÂphy from DartÂmouth, an MBA from HarÂvard Business School and, in reÂtireÂment, a masÂters of arts in inÂterÂnaÂtionÂal reÂlaÂtions from the University of ToÂronÂto.
Parkinson said reÂceivÂing the aÂward was a speÂcial honor. "When you've lived othÂer places, you truÂly reÂalÂize what a speÂcial place Minnesota is."
John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633