Moorhead High School graduates Douglas Eckheart, Doug Hamilton, Scott Hornbacher, Greg Siekaniec and Arlan Stangeland along with former employee Russ Henegar will be inducted into the Moorhead High School Hall of Honor for 2023. The Inductees join 85 members previously inducted into the Hall of Honor. The Moorhead High School Hall of Honor recognizes alumni, faculty, staff and other community members who have demonstrated notable accomplishments or provided significant contributions to their school, community or society.
The MHS Hall of Honor Inductee Luncheon will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 12:00 p.m. at MAPS Operations Center, 1313 30th Ave. S. Tickets can be purchased online at www.moorheadschools.org/tix or by calling 218-284-2345.
“As we celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Moorhead Area Public Schools and focus on our rich history, being able to honor individuals whose outstanding careers, accomplishments and service were shaped by their time at MHS is especially significant. These six individuals were chosen because they embody our mission and our Spud pride.” said Dave Lawrence, Hall of Honor coordinator and MHS administrator.
2023 Inductees
Douglas Eckheart
Douglas A. Eckheart graduated from Moorhead High School in 1961. In his years at MHS he was involved in football, basketball, baseball and track. Following graduation, he attended Concordia College in Moorhead where he received a scholarship for both basketball and football—and was part of the Cobbers’ 1964 NAIA football championship team. Eckheart also earned a Masters in Fine Arts from Bowling Green State University. In 1968 he was commissioned to paint a mural for the new Moorhead High School. Between 1968 and 2008, Eckheart taught at both Waldorf College and Luther College. After retirement he opened Eckheart Gallery in Decorah, IA. He has presented over 75 one-person exhibits and 40 group shows in New York City, Chicago, Des Moines, Malta and Norway. Eckheart has served as an artist-in-residence, keynote speaker, juror for regional and national competitions, department chair, gallery director and curator. He has been featured in American Artist magazine and the Iowa Public Television”s series, Living in Iowa. He now has a studio in his home where he continues to paint and to fulfill his life long dreams. His motto is, “Surround yourself with what you love, for you will become at one with them.”
Doug Hamilton
Doug Hamilton graduated from Moorhead High School in 1967. He went on to receive degrees from MSU in 1971, and U of M in 1974. In 1975 Hamilton began a radio and television career that lasted for decades, spending time as an anchor, reporter, executive producer and program host. He was an on-air fixture at numerous media outlets in the Red River Valley, including KTHI-TV (now known as Valley News Live), KFGO radio and Prairie Public Radio. In the community Hamilton was a favorite event emcee, debate monitor and he frequently lent his voice to organizations in the area. In 2006, Hamilton served as the campaign chair for United Way Cass-Clay and President of the Moorhead Rotary. Hamilton was a recipient of the Edward R. Murrow and Peabody Awards for his reporting. Beginning in 2012, Hamilton was also a host on “Main Street” on Prairie Public Radio. Doug Hamilton passed away on August 5, 2022.
Russ Henegar
Russ Henegar began working at Moorhead Area Public Schools in 1985. He wore many different hats in his many years at Moorhead High School including as a Counselor, Assistant Principal, Principal, Football Coach and Track Coach. When Henegar and his family settled in Moorhead following multiple jobs in education around the Upper Midwest, his wife Peggy, a graduate of MHS, suggested they stay until all their kids graduate. As a coach, he helped lead the Spuds to become State Football Champions in 1987 and State Track and Field Champions in 1987 and 1993. He was named Minnesota Track Coach of the Year in 1994. Five years before his retirement in 2013, Henegar was honored as the 2008 State Assistant Principal of the Year.
Scott Hornbacher
Scott Hornbacher graduated from Moorhead High School in 1982. Following his graduation, Scott moved to Minneapolis to work for Uptown Theatre. While in the Twin Cities, Hornbacher began growing his professional career with freelance work while taking classes part-time at Inver Hills Community College in St. Paul. After over a decade in the entertainment industry, Hornbacher secured a job as Assistant Manager for HBO drama The Sopranos in 2000, before becoming Associate Producer on the show. In 2007, Hornbacher was hired as a Producer and the Unit Production Manager for the new AMC drama series, Mad Men. In the third season, he was promoted to Executive Producer for the show. Throughout the series, he directed nine episodes of the show. Hornbacher won over a dozen awards for his work on Mad Men, including four Emmy Awards, three Producer Guild Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. Hornbacher is currently the Executive Producer on the Netflix show The Corps based on Greg Cope White’s memoir “The Pink Marine.”
Greg Siekaniec
Greg Siekaniec graduated from Moorhead High School in 1974. He attended the University of Montana, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology. The focus of Siekaniec’s career was conservation. He spent 30 years working for Ducks Unlimited Canada as their CEO, and for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as the Alaska Regional Director. Known for his work ethic and passion behind nature and the people that volunteer/work for the cause, Siekeniec has worked to support conservation across North America. He volunteers for conservation events and supports Habitat for Humanity. Siekaniec also served on a presidential appointment as the “Polar Bear Commissioner” to help implement the U.S. / Russia Polar Bear Treaty. Greg retired in 2021 and is enjoying more time with his wife, Janelle, and their family.
Arlan Stangeland
Arlan Stangeland graduated from Moorhead High School in 1948. After high school, Stangeland became a farmer and he and his wife Virginia spent the next twenty-five years growing everything from wheat to soybeans and raising livestock. In 1966 he won a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives. After 11 years in the State house, Stangeland captured the US Congressional seat for Minnesota’s seventh district in a special election. During his time in congress, Stangeland served four different committees, was a Co-Founder of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and represented the United States in an International Bridge Competition against Great Britain - Congress vs Parliament. He served as the seventh district’s representative until 1991. Throughout his lifetime of service, Stangeland met with his classmates from MHS every month that had five Wednesdays—meeting many times each year. Arlan Stangeland passed away on July 2, 2013.
The nominations committee is now considering candidates for 2024. Nomination forms are available at www.moorheadschools.org/honor or Moorhead High School. Nominations may be submitted online by January 19, 2024.