We were dealing with very difficult and complex issues…but it was fun.” It wasn’t easy, but I loved the challenge. “I could not have found anything that I would have loved more. “It was the most fun and exciting thing in my entire life…to serve people in Minnesota with fairness and justice,” said Page. Note the book cover, with Page wearing a bow tie-which was his signiture when he served in the Minn. Page “loved playing football,” one of the best-known Vikings of all time, and later a Chicago Bear.īut he unhesitatingly said his time on the Minnesota Supreme Court was “the best job I ever had.”Īlan Page read the book “Alan and his “Perfectly Pointy Impossibly Perpendicular Pinky,” which his daughter wrote, to students at Viking Elementary School Nov. “ What you do in the classroom today will help you be successful….It can be difficult to see a connection from now to the future, but what you do will determine your course.” “Some of you might even be leaders on the world stage,” said Page. “You are our future leaders,” said Page, who spoke with a simple and sincere delivery to the young students. Page’s interactions with the Pelican students were sincere and fatherly, patiently answering questions and encouraging kids-some of whom said they wanted to be a psychiatrist, a professional surfer and, of course, as pro football player. It is there, as a third and fourth grade student at Market Elementary School, where his educational foundation was forged. Page was elected to the National Football League Hall of Fame which, also coincidentally, is located in his hometown of Canton, Ohio. The number was retired in honor of Page, coincidentally, in 1988. “What was your uniform number?” asked one Pelican school youngster, during one of his three classroom readings. “Besides, then I would lose my left turn signal!” “The doctors tell me that something could be done about the finger…But the doctors also said it would really hurt,” said Page, who despite his roughhouse career, isn’t fond of pain. Looking for the bright side, Alan’s deformed digit forms a hard-angled “left turn signal,” which is the upbeat conclusion in the kids book. Ultimately, the ligaments in his little finger were totally tattered and torn and disfigured. “It was dislocated…again …again…and again,” too many times to count,” Page told the students. His injury inspired his daughter to write the book “Alan and his “Perfectly Pointy Impossibly Perpendicular Pinky,” which he read in Pelican classrooms. His finger was permanently disfigured after repeated injuries during his football days, which included the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears. Look closely at his crooked little finger, on the book pages. The damage to his left little finger in simple, nutshell terms started when his hand went one way-and the guy he was tackling went the other way, explained Page.Īlan Page, foreground, reading to students in Heidi Isaman’s class last week, at Viking Elementary School. In his previous life, Page was one of the famed Minnesota Viking “Purple People Eaters” front defensive line. Recognizing the tentative nature of pro sports, Page earned law degree at the University of Minnesota, and eventually became a chief justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.Īnd-the rest is history, which continues today with Page’s advocacy for public education. In 1976 alone, his career high was 21½ sacks and 23 fumble recoveries. In his 15 years of professional football, Alan Page blocked 28 kicks and had 173 quarterback sacks. The subject of the book is Page’s peculiar pinky finger-injured during his football career all twisted, crooked and disjointed. The book was a project spearheaded by Page’s daughter, herself an elementary school teacher. Page’s second claim to fame? A menacing Minnesota Viking, who struck record-setting terror in opposing football carriers.Įven the children’s book, about the “Perpendicular Pinky” was inspirational-in a subtle way. In the process, Page delivered inspirational messages about the importance of education, and urging the kids to be the best student they can be. The kids of Pelican Pete’s hometown perch were preoccupied by the Purple Person’s pinky finger.Īlan Page, best known-perhaps-as a 21-year Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, read one of his favorite books for nearly 100 Pelican Rapids 3-4 grade students. On the agenda: Education, opportunity, economics, civil rights, and other important matters-plus “Alan and his Perfectly Pointy Impossibly Perpendicular Pinky.” When a “Purple People Eater” and entourage toured northwestern Minnesota Nov. including these in teacher Ryan Syverson’s room. He read in several classrooms, and also enjoyed fielding questions from students. Retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and former Minnesota Viking Alan Page engaged with students at Pelican Rapids Viking Elementary School last week.
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