Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Minn. poet Bill Holm wins McKnight Foundation award
ST. PAUL — Bill Holm is a musician, poet and essayist. Now he can add McKnight Foundation Distinguised Artist winner to his varied resume.
He is the 2008 winner of the annual award, which is given to people who could work elsewhere but choose to stay in Minnesota and contribute to the state’s cultural life.
The award comes with a $50,000 cash prize.
Holm has written 15 books and has lived in other parts of the world, but he always returns to the southwestern prairie town of Minneota where he grew up.
The 64-year-old Holm says he’s just been lucky when it comes to honors. He’s also been a Bush Arts Fellow, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow and a Fulbright lecturer.
Last year, he retired from the faculty at Southwest Minnesota State University at Marshall. His most recent book is, “The Windows of Brimnes,” which takes it name from a small town in Iceland where he’s lived on-and-off for 10 years.
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