Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Monday, September 29, 2008
Larry Olson: Today is Harold’s day; he is in control
La Crosse Mayor Mark Johnsrud has proclaimed today Harold Ristow Day. At 2:30 p.m. he’ll visit Harold at The Villas, an independent assisted-living facility on the South Side. He’ll read a proclamation, present it to Harold and shake his hand for a life well spent.
I have no idea how the mayor has shaped his proclamation. I offer my own in honor of
La Crosse’s former postmaster (Oct. 27, 1967 to Dec. 26, 1980). He’ll be 91 on Oct. 16. I have skipped the familiar “whereas” in lieu of a more contemporary format.
Born in 1917 in Goosetown, a section of La Crosse with a mixture of race and religion, Harold learned to appreciate that all men and women are created equal. Case in point: In fourth grade, Harold and classmates witnessed a fight between sixth-graders Bob “Snowball” Thomas, who was black, and Jim “Pebbles” Stone, who was white. No one cheered; no one stopped the fight. Blood spilled all over each of them. It was impossible to tell whose blood was whose. Hmm-mm-m … we may look different, but we’re the same.
Harold’s folks earned sixth-grade educations and were voracious readers. Dad was a streetcar moneychanger, a frugally honest man. Mom was a proud homemaker who said, “I don’t believe I’m better than anyone else, but I’m just as good.” Dad went to work in the afternoon, so noon meals were special for the family of 11. Meals included any subject being laid out on the table for discussion; no one was too young to participate. Harold learned the art of conversation and to respect and tolerate others. He graduated from Central High in 1935.
Prior to World War II, Harold was in Huron working for South Dakota’s Department of Agriculture; also, he and partner Jay Larsen began a wholesale candy business. In the early 1950s they were much a part of the state’s political scene when they bought a shack from which to make sales during the state fair. The structure looked so sad that they called it the “Sad Sad Snack Shack.” They offered free eats to anyone who could name a person the pair didn’t know. Politically in touch with everyone, the proprietors were never stumped; business boomed.
With help from Minneapolis Mayor Hubert H. Humphrey, a U.S. Senate candidate and a member of the prominent Humphrey drug store family in Huron, Harold was elected state senator and served a term. His re-election effort failed. During this bid he fulfilled his wife’s birthday wish that he become a Catholic. South Dakota did not have many Catholics. In Huron, Harold was asked to join the Elks, but refused after he read membership rules restricting the organization to white Americans.
Harold and his growing family returned to Wisconsin, settling in Madison before returning to his hometown. His interest in politics and helping mankind never left. He became county and district chairman of the La Crosse Democratic Party, a candidate for Third District congressman (endorsed by friend HHH), a member of the governor’s health planning task force, and president of the Western Wisconsin Health Planning. He accepted an appointment to the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare to help formulate a national health planning policy.
At age 50, Harold began a new career as La Crosse’s postmaster, a job he loved, and at the drop of a hat will relate its history, including the squabbles of locating and constructing the current building. U.S. Sen. William Proxmire supported Harold for the postmaster appointment. He was sworn in by friend Jay Larsen.
The father of nine (seven daughters), Harold believes more women are needed in public offices because “they think differently than men do, and this is just fine.” He has always supported women for postmaster jobs “because I believe they could do the best job.” He is proud of sending all his children through Aquinas Catholic schools, never letting the tuition get to him. “The combined years of doing this is 138,” he calculates.
Today, a very progressive-thinking Harold craves creativity through reading, writing and closed-caption TV (he is hearing-impaired). His reading includes the investigative Mother Jones and The Progressive magazines, which sharpen his liberal views in the political and social arenas. His favorite TV program is “The Colbert Report,” which critiques politics and the media with humor. “Only thing, I’m afraid there are too many people who believe what Stephen says. They don’t understand the irony, the sarcasm.”
Harold is the author of “The Postmaster’s Blog” and is truly fascinated by being able to communicate with the world quickly. A couple of intriguing topics in his voluminous, still growing blog library are thoughts on the Constitution, e.g. the rights to express oneself and disagree with others without being bullied, and on formal wills, e.g. last, living and ethical ones. Perhaps the most important is the ethical will (writing one’s life story so you are not short-changing family and future generations).
Today Harold is content reading and pondering ideas in hopes of making a difference before he leaves this world.
Yes, today is Harold Ristow Day, most fitting for the man who has joined a hospice program. He has outlived two pacemakers. When this one goes, so will Harold. He is in control.
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