Three individuals will be inducted to the Athletic Hall of Fame at the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Friday, September 30, 2011. The inductees include: Nathan Pitt ’97, Morden, Manitoba, Canada; Luther Huggins ex. ’84, Frisco, Texas; and Ed Odland, Crookston, Minn. The recognition will be held in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center, and will also honor the 2011 Outstanding Alumni.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a social followed by a banquet and program to honor the inductees and outstanding alumni. The cost for the evening is $20 per individual and the reservation deadline is September 23. For reservations, contact Rose Ulseth in the Office of Development & Alumni Relations at 218-281-8439.
The achievements of the 2011 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees include:
Nathan Pitt ’97 played hockey for the Golden Eagles and was named an All-American in 1994 and most valuable player the following year. From 1995-97, he was a member of the All-Academic Team and in 1997, he was the Defensive Player of the Year and a nominee for Student-Athlete of the Year. Pitt is the manager of finance and administration for RANA Respiratory Care Group in Morden where he is responsible for overseeing accounting functions for the healthcare company as well as quality control and regulatory programs. He graduated from the U of M, Crookston with a degree in health management and is currently completing his Certified Management Accountant designation. Pitt is also a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders. He and his wife, Deana, are parents of a son.
Luther Huggins ex. ’84 played on the Trojan football team for the University of Minnesota, Crookston Technical College when the campus was a part of the National Junior College Athletic Association. He was named All-Conference, All-Region, and Offensive Player of the Year in 1984 when the Trojans finished their season 7-1 and ended the year second in the conference. He ran for more than 1,000 rushing yards as a freshman. He currently serves as a YMCA Youth Counselor for teens and is the owner of L & L Huggins Real Estate Investments, Inc, in Frisco, Texas, where he resides with his wife, Lucy. They are the parents of two children.
Ed Odland is an avid supporter of Golden Eagle athletics. In 1993, he began serving on the board of directors for UMC Teambackers, an athletic promotion and fundraising organization for the campus. He was the organization’s president for more than a decade. In 1977, he received the Torch & Shield award, the highest honor awarded by the campus for his leadership in the development of the U of M, Crookston. He was named Teambacker of the Year in 1997 for his support of Golden Eagle student-athletes. Odland is a past chair of the UMC-Chamber College Liaison Committee, past chair and director of the Northwest Education Improvement Association, and member of the University of Minnesota President’s Club. He is a partner in the law firm of Odland, Fitzgerald , Reynolds, and Harbott in Crookston. He earned both his juris doctor and bachelor of science in business administration from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He and his wife, Mary Ann, have two children.
Homecoming weekend is September 30 – October 1 on the Crookston campus. The campus is looking forward to hosting alumni for a number of events over the weekend. This year’s outstanding alumni honorees include Ann Bailey ’79, Larimore, N.D.; Kevin Fee ’80, Grand Forks, N.D.; and Eric Klindt ex. ’99, Campbell, Minn. For more information on homecoming events, visit www.umcrookston.edu/homecoming.
