Krueger grew up on a family farm near Cedar City, Utah, not far from both Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument.

"My father was a National Park Ranger," Krueger said, "and he taught me to love the land and the beauty of nature."

Now, he and Nancy will return to the homestead on the family farm, which they bought from an uncle a couple years ago, and which they have been remodeling since then.

"Family is very important to Nancy and I," Krueger said. "We'll be closer to my brothers, uncles and cousins, and also closer to Nancy's family in Arizona."

The Winona State University community has also become a family to the Kruegers since Darrell became WSU's 13th president in July 1989.  That's one thing Krueger says he'll miss most about Winona State.

"The people of this institution are so wonderful," Krueger said. "When I announced my retirement last fall, some cried, some congratulated me; everyone was kind and thoughtful."

Krueger fondly recalled his 60th birthday in February 2003 when the campus community threw a surprise party for him attended by more than 250 people, including faculty and staff, student leaders, and Winona community leaders.

"I've been the envy of many university presidents," Krueger said. "It's rare to have the tremendous cooperation we see here in Winona, between the administration and the faculty, and between the university and the community."

Dr. Doug Sweetland, who was Dean of the WSU College of Business and WSU Vice President for Academic Affairs before serving as president of Southwest Minnesota State University, said he thought Darrell Krueger was the best administrator the Minnesota State College and University System had ever seen.

"Darrell's sense of passion and commitment to students is quite unique among college presidents today," Sweetland said. "I hope students realize just how fortunate they are to have had a man of his caliber in a position of leadership looking out for their best interests and making decisions designed to give students the best education possible."

Gene Pelowski, a Minnesota legislator from Winona who earned a bachelor's degree ('75) and master's degree ('98) from WSU, had high praise for Krueger and all he has accomplished.

"I recently spoke with a professor who retired after a long career at WSU," Pelowski said, "This professor told me that during his 30 years he had worked for many good presidents, and one great one ... Darrell Krueger.  As we look at Winona State today, we can truly see that the transformation has been remarkable."

Reluctant to create a list of his own accomplishments while at Winona State, Krueger prefers instead to share the credit for the university's successes.

"I've had many ideas about how to run an institution, and some of them were good," Krueger said. "But most of the really great ideas have come from the people of this great institution. My role is to help people dream and then to find ways to bring the best of those dreams to reality.

"When I first came to Winona, I asked people to share their hopes for the institution with me. It was hard for them to do," Krueger said. "The culture of the institution has changed. People have the capacity to dream, and their dreams are fulfilled. I'm most effective when I can help diagnose bottlenecks and open them so the right things can happen."

The ability to break bottlenecks and move the university forward resulted in a long list of Winona State University achievements under Krueger's leadership. During his tenure, WSU completed several building projects including a new state-of-the-art Library and a modern Science Laboratory Center. In addition, Krueger led efforts to acquire Lourdes Hall on the former College of St. Teresa campus to create the first public Residential College in Minnesota.

Since Krueger came to WSU, the university has received national acclaim as one of America's 100 Best College Buys. The WSU laptop computer program is recognized as the very best in the nation. Other colleges and universities have used WSU as a model in a variety of areas, especially as a leader in applying new technology to higher education curriculum.

The beauty of the WSU campus is a source of pride for Krueger. Through his vision, many streets that bisected campus were closed and turned into green space, with gardens, fountains, trees and shrubs, and benches which invite people to sit and converse or reflect.

"I am personally amazed at the beauty of this campus," Krueger said. "I don't think you can walk across this campus and not have a better feeling about the world."

Krueger vows to stay interested and involved in the university after he retires, but not meddle.

"I can stay in touch with the university through the Internet," he said. "I may come back for a game, or help in some other way. I hope I can continue to be of some good to the university."

When Darrell and Nancy Krueger leave Winona in July, they will leave a university well-positioned for success into the future.

"I'm very proud of the way people work together for the greater good of Minnesota and society in general," Krueger said. "We've opened the doors of the campus to the community and area leaders have joined with our faculty, staff, students and alumni, to help make this a better university.  There's not another campus that's positioned as well as we are to give this state what it wants and needs."

Dr. Robert Carothers, former chancellor of the Minnesota State University System and current president of the University of Rhode Island, said Krueger's impact on Minnesota will be long-lasting.

"When I look back on my years in Minnesota, I think the most important thing I accomplished was bringing Darrell Krueger to Winona State University," Carothers said. "It is the thing I am most proud of, and the thing I believe will have the longest and most positive effect on public higher education in Minnesota."

Krueger also remains optimistic about the future of higher education in Minnesota and specifically in Winona.

"Winona is truly a great place, and Winona State University has a great future," Krueger said, "with tremendous potential to become even more valuable and more remarkable."

This fall, as the leaves on the trees in the hills of Zion National Park turn bright colors, it's a safe bet that Darrell Krueger will be dreaming again ... of the bluffs of the Mississippi River and of a college campus filled with bright students eager to learn and to help make the world a better place.

Honoring Krueger’s Leadership

"Their works have impacted the lives of the students, and certainly their efforts have made WSU a quality place to live and grow and learn. The Kruegers will leave a legacy to the university of which we are all very proud and appreciative." — Speltz

A new Winona State University scholarship honors WSU President Darrell Krueger and his wife, Nancy.  The $25,000 Darrell and Nancy Krueger Scholarship was presented to the Kruegers during the 21st Annual Scholarship Recognition Program in October 2004.  

Hundreds of scholarship recipients, family members and WSU Foundation donors were present as the scholarship was presented to the Kruegers. The scholarship money was quietly raised by members of the WSU Foundation as a surprise, said James Schmidt, vice president of university advancement.

WSU Foundation President Mike Speltz said the foundation elected to recognize the Kruegers with this scholarship because they have been instrumental in shaping the character of WSU.

"Their works have impacted the lives of the students, and certainly their efforts have made WSU a quality place to live and grow and learn," said Speltz.  "The Kruegers will leave a legacy to the university of which we are all very proud and appreciative."

The award will endow a single $1,000 annual scholarship.  Community members in Winona and the surrounding area are welcome to donate money to the scholarship.  If more funds are raised, additional scholarships can be awarded.

WSU Searches for its 14th President

Almost immediately after Dr. Darrell W. Krueger announced his planned retirement from Winona State University, the search for his successor began.

The Chancellor of Minnesota's State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), James McCormick, asked Dr. Roland Barden, president of Minnesota State University Moorhead to chair the search committee. Barden quickly organized a committee which includes representation from all campus constituency groups (faculty, staff students, alumni, and community), and an executive search firm was hired to help locate candidates.

The search committee began reviewing applications and nominations in December. Preliminary interviews occurred during January and early February, and two-day on-campus interviews occurred in mid-February.

It is expected that the new president would be named by mid-March and begin work on July 1.

Krueger believes that many well-qualified candidates would be a part of the search process.

"This is such a great university," Krueger said, "with so many positive things happening. I'm sure there will be a number of excellent candidates."

Krueger said that he'll meet with the new president and help make the transition as smooth as possible.

"I have an obligation to meet with the new president and answer questions," Krueger said, "and to share my understanding of what makes Winona State University truly distinct."

Last Modified: Thursday, March 24, 2005 9:25 by Rhone Richard