Editor:

I was very pleased to learn that Tony Preite has decided to bring his considerable talents back to his hometown community of Havre by joining "the MSU-Northern family," as he referred to in the Oct. 29 Havre Daily News front page story. His abilities will be a great asset to the university in the area of outreach and economic development.

Although I returned to Montana State University-Northern as a faculty member a few years after Tony had already graduated, his reputation as a major and teacher in the government and social studies area — and a very talented coach — lingered at Northern long after his graduation. When he returned to Havre at Bear Paw Development Corp., his skills at economic development and community outreach became virtually legendary.

Now, after his auspicious career at Montana's state level — during which he always kept the welfare of his hometown of Havre uppermost in his mind — he is returning once again to serve Northern in a extremely important capacity during this period of economic stagnation for the country as a whole, but great economic, social and cultural expansion for the development of educational and career opportunities provided at MSU-Northern.

  Congratulations, Tony. I know you will do your darndest for the future benefit of the university that is such a great asset to our community and to the whole north Montana region.

William Thackeray

Senior Professor Emeritus, MSU-Northern

Havre