Hurley Education Foundation to honor alumni

HURLEY — The Hurley Education Foundation is hosting the 12th annual Distinguished Alumni and Friends Award Ceremony on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Hurley K-12 School.

This year, the foundation is honoring five individuals, including Robert Peltonen, Donald Baldovin, John Sturgul, Lt. Col. Larry Brunello and Jean Endrizzi.

Robert Peltonen

Peltonen, formerly of Upson, Wis., graduated from Hurley High School in 1964. He is the CEO, founder and owner of The World Class Manufacturing Group, Inc., out of Weyauwega, Wis. It is one of the largest precision computer numerical control manufacturing facilities in the Midwest.

He currently resides in Bayfield, Wis., and Weyauwega with his wife Vicki.

Donald Baldovin

Baldovin, formerly of Hurley, graduated from HHS in 1953 and retired from Standard Oil Company (later named Amoco Corporation) in 1998 from its worldwide exploration business group as vice president of finance and business support.

Baldovin joined the company in 1957 as an assistant chemical engineer, and has worked in or visited nearly 120 countries.

He currently resides in Denver, Colo., and Austin, Texas.

Dr. John Sturgul

Sturgul, formerly of Hurley, graduated from HHS in 1957, and went on to earn a Ph.D. in mining engineering from the University of Illinois.

He is internationally recognized as the world’s leading authority on mine design using computer simulated models. He is on the planning committee for nearly all international mining conferences, and has authored or co-authored more than 300 scientific and technical papers.

Sturgul is a professor of mining engineering at the University of Adelaide, Australia, and is working on major mine design projects in Peru, Venezuela and Nevada.

Lt. Col. Larry Brunello,

Brunello, formerly of Kimball, Wis., graduated from HHS in 1960, and was selected for Air Force pilot training after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry.

After graduating from pilot training in 1964, he was commissioned an officer and served 22 years in the Air Force, before retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 1986.

He later was a pilot for American Airlines for 16 years and retired in 2002.

He currently resides in Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife, Sandra.

Jean Endrizzi

Endrizzi, formerly of Hurley, graduated in 1948 and went on to become a teacher. She taught English and speech at Park Falls High School for five years, before teaching at Denfeld High School in Duluth, Minn.

She taught at Denfeld for 31 and a half years, and still resides in the Duluth area.

For more information about about the Hurley Education Foundation or the ceremony, to nominate someone or to make a donation, call 715-561-4900 ext. 202 or write an email to hurleyedfoundation@yahoo.com.