MONTICELLO - Norm Crouch was a regular farm boy growing up near Monticello, graduating from the village's high school in 1958.
"He was no different than any other kid," said his sister, Sharon Peterson, Menominee. "Until about half way through high school, he assumed he would stay on the farm."
He didn't stay on the farm, however. In fact, he stayed in school until earning a doctorate and on June 7, Dr. Norman A. Crouch was presented with the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award. Norm, as he still calls himself with family, even took all the farm courses in high school. Then he realized some of his friends and his girlfriend were making plans to attend college.
"He starting thinking, why can't I do that?" Peterson said.
There was no stopping Norm after that, she said.
The unassuming middle son of Florence and Albert Crouch, Norm eventually became the assistant commissioner of the Health Protection Bureau for the Minnesota Department of Public Health and in 2003, was elected president of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, headquartered in Washington, D.C.
APHL's Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those who have established a history of distinguished service to APHL, made significant contributions to the advancement of public health laboratory science or practice, exhibited leadership in the field of public health, and positively influenced public health policy on a national or global level.
Crouch received the award during APHL's 2011 Annual Meeting and 5th State Environmental Laboratory Conference in Omaha, Nebraska.
"I think this news is of interest to young people in Monticello, Monroe and all of the area because it points out that coming from a small town in a rural area does not limit you from becoming and doing whatever you want," said Peterson.
APHL recognized Crouch for his 16-year career at the Minnesota Department of Public Health. He progressed from supervisor of the state public health laboratory's virology and immunology unit to manager of its clinical laboratory section and then to director of the entire public health laboratory division.
"We are honored to present this award to Dr. Crouch, a modest man of great stature, who has contributed so much to APHL and to the fields of public health and public health laboratory science," said Scott Becker, APHL executive director.
Until he retired about two years ago, Crouch was assistant commissioner of the Health Protection Bureau, which encompasses the divisions of Environmental Health; Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control; the Public Health Laboratory; and the Office of Emergency Preparedness.
Crouch was also a member of APHL Board of Directors, with tenures as president and secretary/treasurer. He chaired, and served on, multiple APHL committees and other committees at the American Public Health Association, National Environmental Health Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Crouch taught microbiology to medical, graduate and health sciences students at both the University of Illinois and the University of Iowa, and authored numerous publications.
Growing up with his two brothers, Eugene and Dennis, and his sister, Sharon, four miles west of Monticello, Norm learned early about the hard work and responsibility that comes with farming, said Peterson.
He attended the one-room Marty School, where only two other students were in his class. He went on to Monticello High School, known to him and others as "town school."
"He was no different than any other kid," said his sister, Sharon Peterson, Menominee. "Until about half way through high school, he assumed he would stay on the farm."
He didn't stay on the farm, however. In fact, he stayed in school until earning a doctorate and on June 7, Dr. Norman A. Crouch was presented with the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award. Norm, as he still calls himself with family, even took all the farm courses in high school. Then he realized some of his friends and his girlfriend were making plans to attend college.
"He starting thinking, why can't I do that?" Peterson said.
There was no stopping Norm after that, she said.
The unassuming middle son of Florence and Albert Crouch, Norm eventually became the assistant commissioner of the Health Protection Bureau for the Minnesota Department of Public Health and in 2003, was elected president of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, headquartered in Washington, D.C.
APHL's Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those who have established a history of distinguished service to APHL, made significant contributions to the advancement of public health laboratory science or practice, exhibited leadership in the field of public health, and positively influenced public health policy on a national or global level.
Crouch received the award during APHL's 2011 Annual Meeting and 5th State Environmental Laboratory Conference in Omaha, Nebraska.
"I think this news is of interest to young people in Monticello, Monroe and all of the area because it points out that coming from a small town in a rural area does not limit you from becoming and doing whatever you want," said Peterson.
APHL recognized Crouch for his 16-year career at the Minnesota Department of Public Health. He progressed from supervisor of the state public health laboratory's virology and immunology unit to manager of its clinical laboratory section and then to director of the entire public health laboratory division.
"We are honored to present this award to Dr. Crouch, a modest man of great stature, who has contributed so much to APHL and to the fields of public health and public health laboratory science," said Scott Becker, APHL executive director.
Until he retired about two years ago, Crouch was assistant commissioner of the Health Protection Bureau, which encompasses the divisions of Environmental Health; Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control; the Public Health Laboratory; and the Office of Emergency Preparedness.
Crouch was also a member of APHL Board of Directors, with tenures as president and secretary/treasurer. He chaired, and served on, multiple APHL committees and other committees at the American Public Health Association, National Environmental Health Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Crouch taught microbiology to medical, graduate and health sciences students at both the University of Illinois and the University of Iowa, and authored numerous publications.
Growing up with his two brothers, Eugene and Dennis, and his sister, Sharon, four miles west of Monticello, Norm learned early about the hard work and responsibility that comes with farming, said Peterson.
He attended the one-room Marty School, where only two other students were in his class. He went on to Monticello High School, known to him and others as "town school."