MARSHALL — As he stood in front of 400 Boys Staters to talk about the importance of public service, Gov. Tim Pawlenty asked them if they were awake and alert and ready to roll.
Pawlenty made a quick stop at the 60th annual Boys State convention at Southwest Minnesota State University on Wednesday morning as he was in Marshall to make a new judge appointment.
The governor took a few photos with the 14 mayors of Boys State and several of the area Boys State attendees as he entered the SMSU conference center.
Travis Nordgaard of Canby said he appreciated Pawlenty taking time out of his busy schedule.
“For him to make a commitment like that and keep it is very important,” Nordgaard said. “He inspired all of us.”
Charles Hulsizer of Marshall said the governor did a good job addressing Boys State.
“He was a good speaker,” Hulsizer said.
Pawlenty told the boys he grew up in South St. Paul, a meatpacking town. He would look at his dentist’s parking spot and see his dentist’s car, a Buick Riviera.
That would be like today’s Lexus, Pawlenty said.
“I thought, wow, that’s my ticket (to have a fancy car),” Pawlenty said. “I tell you, I was looking at the wrong thing for the wrong reasons. That is not what life is about.”
As governor, Pawlenty said he’s been to a lot of funerals. He never hears that “Nate was a great guy because he had a cool car,” or “Jill had a wonderful house.”
Pawlenty told the boys to use a chunk of their lives to make their city or state better.
Everyone in the world has some sort of skill to offer, Pawlenty said.
“For some people, it’s money,” Pawlenty said. “For some people it’s talent of another type. Everybody has some resources, some gifts you have been given.”
“You wouldn’t be here (at Boys State) if you didn’t care about larger issues,” Pawlenty added.
There are lots of other ways to serve, including being a great friend, Pawlenty said.
Say there’s a new kid at school feeling out of place, Pawlenty said.
“The extra work to get to meet him or her is an act of generosity,” Pawlenty said.
Serving in politics, Pawlenty said, is not for everybody.
“The answer is, it depends,” Pawlenty said.
And there are still other ways to serve your country, Pawlenty said.
“You can serve by being in the military, that can be your calling,” Pawlenty said. “That’s an incredible act of service.”
We owe so much to the veterans, Pawlenty said. The governor advised the boys to acknowledge and honor the Legion members who are working at Boys State this week.
“Go shake their hand, look them in the eye and say ‘thank you,’” Pawlenty said.
“It’s incredible, valuable and meaningful to serve your city, your state, your country,” Pawlenty said.
Pawlenty said that hundreds of boys who have attended Boys State in the past have gone on to serve in a number of capacities, whether it’s as cabinet members, governors or on a city council.
And Boys State is not about whether you’re the best debater or can get everyone on your side, but about working together and serving your community, Pawlenty said.
“Stay awake, caffeinate and don’t get in each other’s grill, and I gotta bounce,” Pawlenty said as he left the podium.
