Hall of Fame Class of 2012

Robert (Bob) D. Mix

A 28 year choral music instructor at Duluth East, Mix taught over 7,000 young singers in his career. Upon arrival in 1960, Mix bolstered the Duluth East choir program from one choir to four and also added two chamber groups. He served as the director for Duluth East's two most prestig- ious singing groups, the A'Cappella Choir and the Chora- laires. Both of these elite groups were selected to perform regionally, nationally, and worldwide throughout his tenure. Mix also directed several musicals and produced the spring talent show, "East Side Swing," a show whose tra- dition continues today. Mix has been a member of MMEA (Minnesota Music Educators’ Association) for over 50 years, and he received the F. Melius Christiansen Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Choral Directors’ Association in 2004. Mix is also a member of the Music Hall of Fame at Austin High School (MN), where he graduated in 1949.

Betty Marciniak-Ahrendt

Having recently celebrated her 90th birthday, Marciniak-Ahrendt is best known for writing the lyrics to the traditional Duluth East fight song-The Birchen. Marciniak-Ahrendt wrote the famous lyrics while attending East as a junior high school student. Betty’s lyrics literally span the decades with every Greyhound, past and into the future, united by her refrain. There is no better legacy than being responsible for "East High Rah, Rah, Rah!”

Joseph (Joe) R. Berini

A Guidance Counselor at Duluth East from 1965-1983, Berini co-founded the Lennon-Berini Scholar- ship and was also a founding board member on the Mitchell Scholarship Committee. He was a member of the Northeast Counselors’ Association as well as the Minnesota Counselors’ Association for over 20 years. Berini served an assistant coach for Boys’ Basketball at Duluth East from 1968-1975. He also coached the inaugural bowling team at East in 1975, and is a member of the Duluth Area Bowling Hall of Fame. A graduate of Duluth Central, Berini was heavily involved in the Duluth community through his church and his collegiate alma mater of UMD. Berini volunteered as a scoreboard official for UMD football for 50 years and UMD basketball for 30 years. He received the Bruce Bennett Volunteer Award for UMD Athletics in 2004. Berini passed away on January 23, 2010.

Joseph (Joe) W. Mrkonich

A teacher of History, Economics, and Government at Duluth East for 24 years, Joe was a legendary Boys’ Basketball Head Coach from 1963-1970, Girls’ Basketball Head Coach from 1978-1987, and Head Football Coach from 1965-1976. Mrkonich led Duluth East to a combined 336 wins in the three sports, and led the Girls’ Basketball team to four state tournaments. Mrkonich retired from East in 1987, but continued to serve as a timekeeper and announcer for basketball games from 1987-1999. Mrkonich has a scholarship named for him at Duluth East. He passed away on April 14, 2011.

Denise (Holm) Olson

A 1985 Duluth East graduate, Olson was a three-year letter winner in basketball and volleyball. She was named Minnesota's Miss Basketball in 1985 and was a member of the state runner-up Duluth East Girls’ Bas-ketball team that same season. Olson was also a state runner-up at the 1984 Minnesota State Volleyball tourna-ment, and held a 3.5 GPA at Duluth East. She later went on to play basketball for UMD, led the nation in assists at the NAIA level in 1989, and is a 2004 inductee to the UMD Hall of Fame. Olson has also coached Girls’ Basketball at both Duluth Central and Duluth East, and has her jersey #22 retired at Duluth East.

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