Dr. Ted Will received the Charlie Naylor Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce’s Awards of Excellence luncheon.
During the presentation, Chamber Director Abby Randall highlighted Dr. Will’s dedication to both his medical profession and his community.
Dr. Will worked at the Red Lake IHS Hospital after medical school, and later returned to northern Minnesota as a general surgeon for the predecessor of Sanford Bemidji, North Country Hospital.
Dr. Will was involved with a number of humanitarian projects through the Rotary Club, locally in the Ridgeway neighborhood and he completed 20 humanitarian trips to Honduras over 19 years.
Dr. Will also operated a Christmas tree farm.
Out of several peer nominations, a number of local businesses were also recognized at the luncheon.
Blue Ox Moving Company was named the New Business of the Year, Choice Therapy won the Healthy Workplace Award, the United Way of the Bemidji Area was awarded the Community Impact Award, and Business of the Year went to Dondelinger GM.
Daryl Lundberg of Northwoods Lumber was named Bemidji’s Entrepreneur of the Year.
