Julie Larson Bond, daughter of Esther Larson McBeth and the late Lawrence Larson, was named the 2004 Honorary Swede at the Swedish Festival Friday evening. On the sixth day of March 1943, Esther Larson called to her husband, Lawrence, to advise him he should take her to the hospital as she thought she was about to have a baby. After a few hours, a nurse called to Lawrence to say Esther wanted to see him. She showed him a baby girl, their first child. Esther told Lawrence she wanted to call the little girl Julie. And, she added, I predict that some day she will be named the Honorary Swede at the Swedish Festival. Esther didn't realize at the time what a great prophet she was as I am privileged to announce this evening Julie Larson Bond is our 2004 Honorary Swede. Now you know I am just spoofing about the Esther and Lawrence Larson story just told. However, I would like to introduce to you, Julie Larson Bond of Casa Grande, Arizona. Let me tell you about Julie Larson Bond. Julie graduated from Stromsburg High School in 1960. She then went to Nebraska Wesleyan where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. Following that came a Masters of Arts in Education from Northern Arizona University. She became a Certified National Professional Secretary and National Registered Parliamentarian. At this time she continues to enroll in college courses, taking Spanish 116, farm management, and hiking. Last year Julie hiked the Grand Canyon, from rim to rim, a distance of twenty-five miles. She did it in two days. Julie and Phil Bond were married in 1968. They met at Coolidge High School where both had begun teaching in 1964. He was the vo ag teacher and Julie taught business. When the county community college opened, they asked Julie to be one of the business professors. She taught there for thirty years. She taught human relations, shorthand, office administration, records management, business communication, machine dictation and transcription, all levels of typewriting, computer applications, legal and medical terminology, and parliamentarian procedure. After retiring from CAC, she continues to teach one college course each year. According to sources coming to me, we learn Julie is widely known in Casa Grande as a leader in school, city, and church activities. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Julie has served in a variety of teaching and leadership positions, including Youth Sunday School, Young Women, Adult Sunday School, and Family Relations. She is often called upon to conduct music or play the piano for church services. For nearly ten years, Julie has been active in the Business and Professional Women's Club and National Secretary Association. She has served positions from secretary to president in these groups. She was president for two years of the District BPW. When she and Mike adopted Susan, she left the organization. For thirty-three years Julie served as advisor for the local chapters of Future Business Leaders of America (high school students) and Phi Beta Lambda (college business students). Her students always performed well in state and national competition. The CAC Phi Beta Lambda Chapter often won the Arizona Sweepstakes Award and her parliamentary procedure team almost always placed in the top five nationally. She has also had students place first in national competition in public speaking, business law, community service projects, and business communications. Julie continues to serve as a judge at state events in public speaking, job interviews, and parliamentary procedures. She remains busy spending time with daughter, Susan, also in 4-H, FFA, gymnastics, school sports, and family plant nursery business. She and Phil have three grandchildren. Esther McBeth, you have a distinct right to be extremely proud of your daughter. Julie's father, Laurence, died in 1991. Her brother Mike and twin sisters, Jeanette and Lynette, are also congratulating her. Ladies and gentlemen, meet our 2004 Honorary Swede, Julie Larson Bond.

Brought to you by The City of Stromsburg and the Stromsburg Chamber of Commerce

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