Mikkelson, Gordon

Gordon Mikkelson was born August 14, 1914 in Minneapolis (Minn.), attended Macalester College, and graduated from the University of Minnesota. He wrote for newspapers while in school and in 1939 was hired as bureau chief for the Associated Press in Pierre (S.D.). During World War II Mikkelson served with U.S. Army Intelligence in Germany. He was hired by the Minneapolis Star Journal as a feature writer in 1946. In 1951, after a brief period with the U.S. Office of Price Stabilization, Mikkelson became director of publicity and publications for Midland Cooperatives, Inc. He joined WCCO Radio in 1957 and became its director of public relations and special projects in 1971. He retired from WCCO in 1984, but was retained as a consultant.

Mikkelson was elected to the Minneapolis School Board in 1959, was active in promoting Minneapolis as a site for Metropolitan State Junior College, and served as chairman of the Citizens Parkway Committee in Minneapolis.

Mikkelson was involved in the establishment of the Voyageurs National Park and the creation of the Deep Portage Conservation Reserve. He served as director of the State Izaak Walton League, director of the Minnesota Environmental Sciences Foundation, founding director of Turn In Poachers, Inc. (TIP), and director of the Minnesota Para-Rescue Team. He also worked with the 1967 and 1968 Plaisted polar expeditions.

Gordon and Ruth Mikkelson were married in 1939 and had three children: Helen, Ann, and Robert. Gordon Mikkelson died on January 12, 1990.

Biographical data was taken from the collection.

From the guide to the Gordon Mikkelson papers., 1929-1990., (Minnesota Historical Society)