Fargo Moorhead Alumni Profile: Fargo South

Bruce Harmon

Faculty

For nearly 30 years, Bruce Harmon has inspired Fargo South students in the fields of marketing, management and entrepreneurship. Simply put, he has developed many of today's business leaders.

Former Fargo South principal and Hall of Famer Richard Warner describes Mr. Harmon as one of the finest marketing teachers and DECA club advisers in the country. "More than anything, Bruce showed, both in word and deed that he cared about the students. If you ask the alumni who had a significant, positive impact on them while at South High, Bruce Harmon's name is one that is always mentioned,” Dr. Warner said.

Kevin Reisenauer, the state DECA adviser, says Mr. Harmon was instrumental in curriculum development, marketing standards, and the development of performance indicators for marketing education courses. Reisenauer says mentor is the one word that best describes Mr. Harmon. "Mr. Harmon was a role model and father for many students during his tenure at Fargo South," Reisenauer said. "He always saw the good in every student and worked to develop and instill a sense of leadership, hope and opportunity."

Among his many awards, Mr. Harmon has been recognized by North Dakota DECA with the Exemplary Adviser Award, the Adviser of the Year Award, and the Honorary Life Membership Award. Bruce remains active in church, service clubs and neighborhood associations.

Mr. Harmon retired from the Fargo Public Schools in 2004 and now serves as supervisor in education field experience at Minnesota State University Moorhead. "Fargo South was fortunate to have Mr. Harmon as a teacher for many years," Reisenauer says.

Mark Larson

Class of 1974

If the Fargo South Hall of Fame truly measures its candidates by their success both in and out of high school, Mark Larson is the ideal inductee. Or as Hall of Famer Gelaine Orvik says, "Mark is a true Bruin."

Mark has been a certified public accountant for 26 years, currently working as one of five partners and shareholders in one of the largest firms in the area. He has been honored as the U.S. Small Business North Dakota Accountant Advocate of the Year, among other notable accomplishments.

"He has handled our professional relationship impeccably, demonstrating over and over his expertise in his chosen profession," said Jay Matthews, a longtime client of Mark's. "He has been a trusted counselor and confidant for our business, and he has exhibited the leadership skills necessary to help our business grow."

His business success comes as no surprise to Mr. Orvik, Mark's former English teacher and coach, who says his former student "has always been the epitome of an ordinary person accomplishing extraordinary tasks."

A 1974 graduate of Fargo South, Mark was a three-sport athlete. He was an all-conference lineman in football, a three-year letterman in wrestling, and team captain as a thrower in track.

"He was one of the hardest workers I remember in my 30 years of coaching," says Myron Wagner, also a Hall of Fame inductee. "He more than made the most of his abilities." There's also the "caring and supportive" side of Mark, says Mr. Wagner, who says his former athlete and student has helped him in his battle with cancer. Along with preparing taxes for his family, Mr. Wagner says Mark lifts their spirits with his sense of humor. "Who else would have come up with the good-natured comment, “Don't you have to have a brain to have a brain tumor?”