Austin High School students were encouraged to work hard, learn their trade and find their inner happiness Thursday during the ceremony to honor two returning Austin alumni.

As part of homecoming week, an annual ceremony was held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday AHS’s Knowlton Auditorium to honor two 2015 distinguished alumni: Dr. Dale Anderson, class of 1952, and Col. John Lund, class of 1947.

AHS Principal Katie Baskin said the two show what AHS grads can achieve.

“All of our previous recipients, as well as the two we will honor today, have taken the education they received here at Austin High and used it as an opportunity to not only become successful in their chosen field or area of interest, but to make this world truly a better place,” Baskin said.

Anderson

Anderson, who lives in St. Paul, was honored to be a part of the ceremony and receive the distinguished alumni award. He encouraged the students to be happy and find happiness inside themselves and in the people around them.

“Is happiness infectious? Can happiness be caught by someone? If you’re around someone who’s laughing and being outgoing, do you feel better? Of course,” Anderson said. “We catch the chemistry of other people.”

Anderson practiced medicine for about 50 years as a family doctor and board-certified surgeon and emergency physician. He also served as medical director of three hospital emergency departments in the Twin Cities and created the Urgent Care Department at Park Nicollet Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Now retired, Anderson travels the country prescribing acting techniques and happiness as good medicines, giving lectures on how humor and positive attitudes promote health and well being.

“If you get into the act of happiness, you get into your own central pharmacy, your own pharmacy, a pharmacy that each of us have, that’s open 24 hours a day,” he said. “There’s no copay to get into this pharmacy. And I can get into it by wearing certain colors or walking a certain way.”

He has been part of the National Speakers Association for more than 25 years, and his book “Never Act Your Age” was awarded a National Senior Media Award. Anderson, a certified instructor of laughter yoga, coordinates the “Act Now” project, a coalition of dramatic artists and medical artists who promote health and happiness.

According to Anderson, emotions are linked closely to chemical changes in the body, and certain emotions seem to promote health.

“Get into that upbeat chemistry, you’re going to be healthier if you do,” Anderson said. “Are happy people healthier people? No question about that.”

Lund

Lund of Tucson, Arizona, started a military career of more than 34 years in 1947. He served as an enlisted man and commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, spending time in several U.S. locations as well as in Germany, Korea, Peru, Cyprus, and Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He commanded units at the levels of squad, platoon, company, battalion and brigade, and his last 10 years of service were at the joint staff level before retiring in 1982.

“Only one percent of the population has fought our wars,” Lund said. “I am proud to be a member of that group.”

“One percent of the people have 99 percent of the wealth,” he added. “I am not a member of that 1 percent, and I am not ashamed that I am not.”

Lund explained his father was a barrel maker from Norway and said he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, yet he made a difference in the world and was able to be proud of his accomplishments. He graduated from Austin High as the highest-ranking male student in his class, was promoted to full colonel in 1972 prior to returning to the United States from Korea, where he provided help toward improving and developing the mapping in that country.

That year, Lund also became executive officer to a high-ranking civilian official, or major general equivalency, in the Plans, Programs & Operations Directorate. He worked with presidents of two countries over his years, helped build roads to help people raise food to feed their communities, and more. For 26 years in retirement, he also volunteered as a math tutor and helped thousands of students learn a trade skill, get a high school diploma or pass a General Education Development test.

“I would hope some of you out there, men and women, think about the military,” he said. “Because it has opened doors for me I would never have dreamed possible.”

Lund added he was truly humbled and honored to be with the students at the ceremony and receive the distinguished alumni award.

“I want all of you to set your goals high,” he advised students. “Don’t do what you have to to just get by, that’s the wrong attitude. Have some gumption and guts and study your subject and become a master. Know your craft.”