Ofstedal, Soliah share memories of Fergus High

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Forty years ago, in 1968, Dick Ofstedal and Glen Soliah were well on their way, one year after graduating from Fergus Falls High School, toward careers in which they distinguished themselves as members of the FFHS Class of 1967.

Both were in Fergus Falls last week for the memorial service for their mother-in-law, Doris Maxwell, wife of the late YMCA Director Cliff Maxwell. Ofstedal is married to the Maxwells’ daughter, Kathy, and Soliah is married to the former Barb Maxwell.

Ofstedal is a retired school administrator and Soliah is president of a business in Florida.

“Fergus Falls always will be special to Kathy and me,” said Ofstedal, who became a science teacher before landing school administration positions. “Glen and I were part of a great class that went its separate ways in 1967.”

Ofstedal worked in the Villard, Minnewaska and Annandale school districts. He ended his career as principal at Annandale High School. Soliah heads Transflo Terminal Services, Inc., in Jacksonville, Fla. He’s president of a company owned by CSX Railroad.

Long-time Otter sports fans remember Ofstedal and Soliah from their high school days. Ofstedal took part in football and wrestling while Soliah participated in basketball and track.

“Glen was a star player in basketball and did extremely well in track,” said Ofstedal. “I felt fortunate, as well, to take part in Fergus high school athletics. Both of us had good teammates who also became close friends.”

Ofstedal played football for R.J. Koepsell and also enjoyed wrestling for coaches Dick Green and Loren Woolson. Soliah played basketball for both Ken Naffziger and Dennis Anderson. He ran in track for Koepsell and took third in the 220-yard dash in the 1967 state track meet.

“It was a rainy day during the state meet at Macalester College in St. Paul,” Soliah said. “Those were the days before track events shifted to the meters system.”

Soliah was the leading Otter basketball scorer his junior and senior years and was an all-Resort Region Conference selection. During his senior year he was co-captain of the basketball team with Les Anderson whose twin brother, Lloyd, also was a member of the squad.

He lettered in track his sophomore, junior and senior years.

Last week both Ofstedal and Soliah spoke fondly about their late in-laws, Cliff and Doris Maxwell. The memorial service for Doris Maxwell was held Saturday at First Lutheran Church and the reception was held at Mill Street Residence where both Cliff and Doris resided before their deaths.

Doris Maxwell, in addition to helping her husband at the YMCA, also was a teacher and leaves a legacy at Claire Ann Shover preschool in Fergus Falls. She established the first child care center at the YMCA.