Almost 50 years after being named Fargo's Outstanding Young Man, John Q. Paulsen is now considered a legacy leader.
Paulsen, active community leader and former MeritCare Medical Group executive vice president, is the 2010 recipient of the Fargo Moorhead Chamber of Commerce Legacy Leader Award.
Paulsen, a Fargo native and North Dakota State University graduate, will receive the award at the chamber's annual meeting Sept. 9.
The award recognizes the contributions of longtime local leaders in shaping and serving the chamber, community and region, a news release stated.
"I'm honored, but surprised and I hope I'm worthy," Paulsen said.
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Paulsen has been active in Fargo area civic and cultural activities, including serving on the Fargo Board of Education, Plains Art Museum board, FM Symphony Orchestra board, Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc., board, Fargo Public Schools Foundation, and Fargo Planning Commission. He has chaired many of those boards and has had strong involvement with the Fargo Public Library.
"He's one of those leaders who seems to have a pivital role in almost everything," said Linda Coates, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra executive director and former city commissioner. "Every thriving community tends to have a small handful of those people. If they weren't there, our community wouldn't be as strong."
Dr. Robert Montgomery, a Sanford pediatrician who worked with Paulsen for about 40 years, said Paulsen was a dynamic leader responsible for a large part of the growth in the Fargo Clinic, which became MeritCare and now Sanford Medical Center.
In 1995, the American College of Medical Practices named Paulsen a distinguished fellow and the American Group Practice Association named him Group Practice Administrator of the Year.
"John's contributions to health care in the region would be sufficient to warrant this recognition," said Dr. Bruce Pitts, Sanford Clinic Fargo president. "But when you add his contributions to economic development, urban development, and education, the case for recognition becomes overwhelming."
Paulsen has also been active in higher education, serving on the State Board of Higher Education, NDSU Alumni Association, and NDSU Development Foundation.
"I love education," Paulsen said. "I think it's the foundation for everything else that occurs and represents future opportunities more than anything else. For me, the chance to work in education was the highlight of my career in public service."
Tracy Frank is a reporter for the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.
