Retzlaff retires from Telecom board

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Mark Retzlaff, third-generation operator of Retzlaff Hardware, is winding up 44 years of service as a member of the board of NU-Telecom, Inc., Thursday.

After setting what appears to be a record for years on the telephone-cable television company's board, Retzlaff, 74, has reached the board's mandatory retirement age. His contributions will be recognized at the company's board meeting with a resolution and a plaque, President Bill Otis said.

"It's a sad day," Otis said. "He's the last board member who was here when I was hired over 20 years ago. He truly has been a crusader not just for the company but for the community as well. Most of all, he's been a good friend over the years."

"One thing about Mark, he brought so much balance to the board," Board Chairman Jim Jensen said. "He always had a good grasp on what had happened and was receptive to new ideas. He was very much a progressive thinker, a good businessman, very charming and pleasant and very definitely a team player. A real valuable asset to the company."

When Retzlaff joined the board in 1957, customers used phones without dials and told the operator what number to call.

"We've come a long way since then," Retzlaff said with a smile. "Now it's a company that owns telephone and cable television systems in seven other communities, including Springfield, Courtland and Aurelia, Iowa."

In a cooperative venture with seven other firms, NU-Telecom, Inc. even provides business-oriented phone service to Sioux City, Iowa, Retzlaff said.

It soon will be providing service to Redwood Falls, including a retail outlet similar to the one opened recently in New Ulm.

"But I feel the biggest achievement has been getting into the cellular phone business," Retzlaff said. NU-Telecom, Inc. is a part-owner and authorized agent of Midwest Wireless, based in Mankato and serving areas of Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

His face lights up when he thinks of the opportunities in cellular phones.

"It's not here yet, but it won't be long before cell phone users, if they're not able to answer their cell phone, can have the same call ring in on their home phone, car phone and their business phone all at the same time."

It's that kind of forward-vision that made Retzlaff a valuable asset to the board, Jensen said.

It's the kind of thinking that has driven Retzlaff since he was a teen-ager.

"When I was 16, I bought a building," Retzlaff laughed. "My dad thought I was nuts, but I got a bank loan on my own -- imagine that at 16 years old -- and I paid $100 a month on it. I sometimes missed a payment, but I got it paid off. I was lucky to have good renters so that covered my payments."

He still has the building, and it's still in use as a part of the Retzlaff Hardware system.

Along with technology changes, there have been other changes, particularly on the board.

"We used to meet at 7 o'clock in the evening, and when the meeting ended, we had a big supper," Retzlaff recalled. "But that ended a long time ago. Now most of the meetings are held at 7 a.m., and there's no food. Occasionally, we would meet at noon, and then we would have Subways brought in."

Most of all, however, Retzlaff, who served both as president and vice president of the board during his tenure, said he enjoyed being in on the decision-making process of earlier boards.

"It's not that way so much anymore. Now, it's more about investing money and long-range planning. I really enjoyed being on the board, and I'm a little disappointed in having to leave it because of my age."

He also is concerned about the reduction in the size of the board. The board, which operated all those years with nine members, will shrink to seven, because the last two board members, including Retzlaff, to retire aren't being replaced.

"It always seemed to operate well at nine members, and I don't see a need to change," Retzlaff said.