Outstanding Alumni - 1980
Dr. Carl Knutson
Bemidji State University Graduate 1947
Played football and basketball at Bemidji State University. He lettered three times in football, playing the fullback position during the Beavers' only undefeated season in 1947. As a high school coach in Fertile, Knutson led his basketball team to sub-district and district championships in 1948-1951. His football team was unbeaten in 1949-1951 and under his direction the track team captured district championships in 1950 and 1951. Knutson spent 28 years with the State Department of Education as supervisor of health, physical education and safety. In this capacity he supervised the writing of guidelines on physical education and health for elementary and secondary schools in Minnesota as well as coordinating committees to plan annual conferences for school health personnel. After his retirement in 1984 the MAHPERD established the Carl Knutson Health Education Award in his honor.