top of page

KTD FEATURED SPEAKERS

2025 SPEAKER - Dan Harrington

Dan Harrington has dedicated his life to service - both to his country and his community. A Marine Corps veteran, he joined in 1987 and spent five years in Japan working in communications before transitioning into a successful career in information technology.

 

In 2006, encouraged by his local Veterans Affairs office, Dan returned to school at Augustana University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. Today, he serves as a computers and technology teacher in District 518, combining his passion for learning with his love of mentoring young people.

 

Beyond the classroom, Dan has been a driving force in the Marine Corps League, Toys for Tots, and the Young Marines - playing a key role in the organization’s westward expansion and the creation of the Midwest Regiment. His outstanding contributions have been recognized nationally, earning him the Distinguished Volunteer Award, the Division 3 Adult Volunteer of the Year, and the National Adult Volunteer of the Year award.

 

A proud father of five adult children, Dan continues to enjoy inspiring and supporting the next generation through education and community service.

Dan.JPG

FEATURED SPEAKERS 1939-2025

  •                1939      No Speaker

  •                1940      Gov. Harold Stassen

  •                1941      No Speaker – first Evening Torchlight Parade held

  •                1942      No Speaker – During WWII, the 40-voice Navy Choir performed.

  •                1943      No Speaker – Military Unity was featured and eight Civil Air Patrol plans flew overhead

  •                1944      Cancelled due to the war

  •                1945      Cancelled due to the war

  •                1946      Secretary of Agriculture Clinton Anderson, introduced by Minneapolis Mayor Hubert H. Humphrey

  •                1947      Gov. Luther Youngdahl

  •                1948      Miss America Bebe Shopp of Hopkins, MN, was honored guest, Senate candidate Joe Ball cancelled

  •                1949      Forty Sioux City businessmen were special guests

  •                1950      Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey

  •                1951      Sen. Edward Thye

  •                1952      Sen. John Sparkman, Alabama, DFL candidate for Vice President

  •                1953      Rep. Charles Hoeven, Iowa, cancelled two days prior to the event; Rep. Ralph Harvey, Indiana, took his place

  •                1954      Vice President Richard M. Nixon

  •                1955      Gov.  Orville Freeman

  •                1956      Sen. Estes Kefauver, Tennessee, DFL candidate for Vice President

  •                1957      Council Member Dr. Hans Theusner, Crailsheim, Germany

  •                1958      Secretary of the Interior Fred Seaton

  •                1959      Sen. Hubert Humphrey

  •                1960      Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson, DFL Vice Presidential Candidate

  •                1961      Major General Frank H. Britton

  •                1962      Howard Bertsch, Administrator of the Farmers Home Administration

  •                1963      No Speaker – Navy’s Blue Angels Jet Team performed, dignitaries from Armour and Co. were special guests

  •                1964      Ambassador W. Averell Harriman of New York

  •                1965      Hubert H. Humphrey, Vice President

  •                1966      Sen. Robert Kennedy – brought 80,000 people to Worthington

  •                1967      Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller, Arkansas

  •                1968      Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, New York

  •                1969      Elmer T. Klassen, Postmaster General

  •                1970      Sen. Charles Percy, Illinois

  •                1971      Sergeant Shriver, Director of the Peace Corps

  •                1972      Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey

  •                1973      In place of featured speaker, the city was host to Rebecca An King of Iowa, the newly crowned Miss America

  •                1974      Attorney General Elliott Richardson

  •                1975      Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey

  •                1976      No speaker – Hubert H. Humphrey was present

  •                1977      Gov. Rudy Perpich

  •                1978      Rep. John Anderson, Illinois

  •                1979      Gov. Al Quie

  •                1980      Sen. John Tower, Texas

  •                1981       Minnesota Attorney General, Hubert H. (Skip) Humphrey III

  •                1982      Sen. Rudy Boschwitz

  •                1983      Sen. David Durenberger

  •                1984      Sen. Rudy Boschwitz

  •                1985      Rep. Map Sweeney, Texas

  •                1986      The Rev. Jesse Jackson

  •                1987      Sen. David Durenberger

  •                1988      Minnesota Lt. Gov. Marlene Johnson

  •                1989      State Auditor Arne Carlson

  •                1990      Rep. Fred Grandy, Iowa

  •                1991      Brigadier General David H. Adamson

  •                1992      Sen. Paul Wellstone

  •                1993      Rep. Rod Grams

  •                1994      Rep. David Minge

  •                1995      Minnesota Lt. Gov. Joanne Benson

  •                1996      “National Teacher of the Year” Mary Beth Blegen & Minnesota Attorney General Skip Humphrey

  •                1997      Sen. Rod Grams

  •                1998      Jesse Ventura, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota

  •                1999      Sec. of Agriculture, Gene Hugoson

  •                2000      Mrs. Minnesota, Susan Nelson

  •                2001      Tony Olivia – MN Twins

  •                2002      No Speaker

  •                2003      St. Paul Police Chief William Finney

  •                2004      Gov. Tim Pawlenty         

  •                2005      Lew Hudson & Jim Wychor - Original Race Teams '72,'73

  •                2006      Andre Kirkwood - Navy Officer Wgtn Alumni

  •                2007      Babe Winkelman - Sportsman & Producer

  •                2008      Republican Candidate Brian Davis and Congressman Tim Walz

  •                2009      Major General Larry Shellito (Adjutant General of MN National Guard)

  •                2010      Earl Morse - Co-Chair of Honor Flight

  •                2011      Liz Collin - WCCO TV, Worthington Alumni

  •                2012      Michael Patrick - Author, Inspirational Speaker, Wgtn Alum

  •                2013      Holly Hoffmann - Survivor Contestant – Nicaragua

  •                2014      Lew Hudson & Jim Wychor - Original Race Teams '72,'73

  •                2015      Dan Gable - Wrestling Olympic Gold Medalist

  •                2016      Amy Klobuchar - US Senator

  •                2017      Paul Ten Haken - Candidate Sioux Falls Mayor, Worthington Alum

  •                2018      Duane Drost - Disaster Relief - Bless You founder, Worthington Alum

  •                2019      Paul Summers LaRouche -  Founder & Producer Award Winning Brulé, Worthington Alum

  •                2021      Gordon Moore - MN State Supreme Court​​

  •                2022      Chuck Foreman - MN Vikings

  •                2023      Rick Brandl -  Trojan Legacy Wall, Medtronics VP, Worthington Alum

  • ​               2024​      Dave McCauley - Author, Worthington Alum

  • ​               2025      Dan Harrington

bottom of page