Perhaps it was predestined, since his family name
in Greek means “wise law giver.”
For more than three decades, Sam Solon of Duluth has served in the Minnesota
Legislature - 29 of those years in the Senate.
During those years, the senator has been wise in the ways of getting funding
for his northern district … so much so that rumor has it a powerful state
senator recently claimed that cities in his district were trying to change
their names to “Duluth” to benefit from Solon’s successes.
“Many of the facilities we enjoy in Duluth today are here largely because
of Senator Solon’s efforts,” says Duluth Mayor Gary Doty.
“His fingerprints are on every major project in the last 30 years.… But
the neat thing is that to Duluthians, Senator Solon is really Sam, the
fellow who will talk to anyone who stops him on the street and asks questions
or wants to talk a while.”
Sam won re-election to the Senate - for the ninth time - in 2000.
Senator Sam Solon and his wife, Yvonne Prettner Solon, enjoy the celebration
of Solon’s accomplishments during a recent ceremony. PHOTO
BY JOHN BRAY
Economic accomplishments the area earned from the senator’s contributions
include the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), Spirit Mountain
development, the Duluth Technology Village, the Great Lakes Aquarium at
Lake Superior Center and major capital expenditures for the University
of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD).
The senator’s legislative agenda over the years also has focused on education
and senior citizens issues.
This spring, the senator’s work got particular recognition when part of
a new addition at the DECC was named “the Senator Sam Solon Board Room.”
He had been a DECC board member from 1985 to 1991.
“Our board room is one of the busiest areas at the DECC - so busy that
our own board sometimes has to meet elsewhere,” says Dan Russell, DECC
executive director. “So it’s an especially appropriate way to honor Senator
Solon’s longtime support.”
The room dedication provided an opportunity to recognize Solon’s lifetime
of service to Northeastern Minnesota - from his days as a student at Central
High School (Class of 1949) and UMD to his 30-year career and 1990 retirement
as a Duluth public educator, as well his 31 years as an elected official.
The senator’s voice takes on a note of pride when he reflects on the room’s
recent dedication. “Duluth is a great place to live and the DECC is one
of the most beautiful convention centers in the country, so it’s an honor
to have my name in a place where my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren
can see it and know that I helped make Duluth and the DECC what they are.”
His five children, grandchildren and wife, Yvonne, might find, like others,
that the modest word “helped” is not strong enough.
Fellow Northeastern Minnesota Senator Doug Johnson says of his colleague:
“Sam is a tireless worker for this region and he’s truly a state
senator, working for a wide variety of positive programs not only for Duluth,
but for the Iron Range and the state as a whole.”
As the senator approaches his 70th birthday, he takes on the added challenges
of a recent diagnosis of cancer and the rigors of chemotherapy. But he
presses on with his advocacy and support for the people of Minnesota, fulfilling
his namesake role as Lake Superior’s own “wise law giver.”
Editor's Note: Senator Sam Solon passed away on December 28, 2001, the
result of liver cancer, and was laid to rest in Forest Hill Cemetery (Duluth)
on January 5, 2002.
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