Donnelly receives Human Rights award

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Attorney Thomas P. Donnelly is the latest recipient of the City of New Ulm Human Rights Award that is given each year to a person demonstrating a dedication to supporting human rights in New Ulm.

In a ceremony at the Lind House Monday night, Donnelly received a plaque from the New Ulm Human Rights Commission's new chair, Diane Eid. About 40 people turned out for the presentation.

Donnelly, 61, retired as chairman of the Human Rights Commission at the end of 2001 after serving nine years on the commission.

"There are a lot of people who are a part of this award including my wife Mary," Donnelly told the group in accepting the award.

The award is made annually on the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., the slain civil rights leader who led the fight for equality in the 1960s.

"One of the things Martin Luther King taught us was that mean words and names can hurt us," Donnelly said. "His death didn't silence his words; the irony is his death made his words stronger."

Donnelly said that "here in New Ulm we've always had respect for different ideas."

He noted the city's commission was the first in Minnesota, predating the creation of a state organization by two years.

"Everybody is welcome in the city of New Ulm."

Donnelly moved to New Ulm with his family in 1945 when he was 4 years old. In 1960, he went off to college to become a lawyer when Martin Luther King Jr. was just beginning to rise to national prominence as a civil rights leader.

After receiving his law degree, Donnelly returned to New Ulm to begin what has been a "very private" practice consisting of only himself.

He's held local, district and council-level offices in the Boy Scouts of America, and in addition to the human rights panel, he has served on the Library and United Way boards.

He's currently diabetes chair for the Lions Club of New Ulm.