Botzek, Gary

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:6822#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Gary Botzek was born in 1950 in Benton County, Minnesota. His ancestors came from Poland, Germany, and Prussia. He attended elementary and middle school in Sauk Rapids, until consolidation forced him to finish out his high school career in Foley, Minnesota. Botzek chose to attend St. Cloud State University, where he majored in Political Science with a double minor in Economics and Journalism. After graduation in 1972, Botzek received an internship in Washington D.C. working with Congressman John Zwach, which led to his first paying job as Zwach's campaign manager. He spent two years in Washington, working as Zwach's legislative assistant. In 1979, he became Special Assistant to Governor Quie of Minnesota, where he did work with the Environmental Quality Board, among other duties.

Transcript Summary: Botzek provided information on his Polish and German ancestors, who came to Benton County to farm. He also discussed the consolidation process that his local school in Sauk Rapids underwent, forcing him to finish high school in Foley and separating him and some of his friends. He also talked about choosing St. Cloud State University. He admitted that he was not prepared to make a leap to a city, since he grew up in such a small rural area.

Botzek's chronicled his time at St. Cloud State University in great detail. He spoke about the process he chose a major and career path, as well as influential professors that guided him into certain classes and student government. Botzek also chronicled the explosive reaction of St. Cloud State students to the U.S. invasion of Cambodia and Laos, as well as the Kent State riots. Botzek discussed his feelings on the situation as someone involved in student government, and how it was handled by the University. He explained the relationship between the St. Cloud community and the university, claiming that they are both parts of the same structure, and thus worked well together.

Botzek's post-collegiate career was discussed, going into great detail about his internship with Congressman John Zwach, as well as how St. Cloud State professors with whom he had formed good relationships assisted him in obtaining such a prestigious internship. The internship opened several doors for him and allowed him to work in government for ten straight years. Botzek gave much credit to his St. Cloud State academic and extracurricular activities for providing him with the necessary tools to forge such a successful career.