by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
A moment of sadness descended on the Sauk Rapids Government Center April 27 when the name of Rollie Doroff was announced as one of the six nominees for Sauk Rapids Citizen of the Year.
Doroff, who had been nominated for the award earlier this spring, died April 5, Easter Sunday, at the age of 81. Doroff and four others were honored as nominees, along with Sauk Rapids Citizen of the Year Robyn Paul (See related story.)
Program emcee Lisa Braun said Doroff would have been “humbled and honored to receive this award.” Doroff’s widow, Winnie, accepted the award for her late husband.
Doroff was owner/publisher of the Sauk Rapids Herald for 45 years. He began working at the newspaper in 1953.
Other nominees honored at the honors ceremony at the Government Center were the following:
Sandy Grosland, who was the Sauk Rapids-Rice Community Education director for 21 years and will retire this June. She was praised for her involvement with Sauk Rapids Community Youth Connection, Stars of the Storm and the Sauk Rapids Riverside and St. Cloud Southsiders Lions Club. Grosland was not able to be present at the awards ceremony.
Chris Gully has been a Big Brother for seven years with his Little Brother, fourth-grader Arion, who is now a senior in high school. Even though the match will officially end when Arion graduates this spring, the two buddies have pledged to be lifelong friends and strong advocates for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
Bonnie Skillrud, who served for 10 years with the Sauk Rapids Community Youth Connection Eggstravaganza. She is an expert egg dyer for that event. She also makes baptismal banners for each child baptized at Salem Lutheran Church since 1985. Skillrud worked for many years for the Sauk Rapids Police Department.
Arvis Stubbs and her assistants put together and give almost 900 “Socks from the Soul” every year. The socks are delivered to clients in the area’s chemical-dependency treatment facilities and to others in need. The socks come with a message of hope for every recipient.
Winnie Doroff accepted an award on behalf of her husband, Rollie Doroff, the long-time owner of the Sauk Rapids Herald who died suddenly April 5 at the age of 81. Doroff was one of five people nominated for Sauk Rapids Citizen of the Year. The four nominees, along with the winner, were all honored at a ceremony at the Sauk Rapids Government Center.
Christopher Gully
Arvis Stubbs
Bonnie Skillrud
