Columbia Heights High School Alumni
Columbia Heights, Minnesota (MN)
Recent Members
| Karen Markow | 1971 |
| Marie Smith Marie Smith | 2021 |
| Randall Lind Lind | 1978 |
| Randy Valtinson | 1982 |
| Scott Elkerton Scott Elkerton | 1964 |
| Sebastian Butler | 2000 |
| Sharmake Dirir | 2023 |
| Trenyce Mock | 2021 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Columbia Heights High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Hylanders lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Bruce Adamski
Class of 1975
Marine Corps, 20 Years
Served as Personnel Administrator for various support activities.
Class of 1975
Marine Corps, 20 Years
Served as Personnel Administrator for various support activities.
Chris Polzin
Class of 1979
Air Force, 20+ Years
Retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in 2008 after serving more than 26 years as an Senior Aircraft Mechanic, Instructor of Technology, and finally, served 8 years as a First Sergeant.
Class of 1979
Air Force, 20+ Years
Retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in 2008 after serving more than 26 years as an Senior Aircraft Mechanic, Instructor of Technology, and finally, served 8 years as a First Sergeant.
Dutch (Hugh) VanHatten
Class of 1971
Air Force, 21 Years
Rank: Captain; Security Police
K9 Dog Handler in Thailand
Class of 1971
Air Force, 21 Years
Rank: Captain; Security Police
K9 Dog Handler in Thailand
Gary Bishop
Class of 1971
Army, 20+ Years
Lieutenant Colonel
Armor and Aviation
US, Germany, Korea
Class of 1971
Army, 20+ Years
Lieutenant Colonel
Armor and Aviation
US, Germany, Korea
Gordon Rogers
Class of 1963
Army, 30 Years
Six years active w/ 1970 Vietnam tour as aviator. Twenty four years active reservist, mostly aviation. Retired as Lieutenant Colonel from Ft Lewis, WA 1996.
Class of 1963
Army, 30 Years
Six years active w/ 1970 Vietnam tour as aviator. Twenty four years active reservist, mostly aviation. Retired as Lieutenant Colonel from Ft Lewis, WA 1996.
Greg Hagen
Class of 1974
Navy, 8 Years
Two years electronics training and six years in Hawaii. Tough duty but somebody's gotta do it!
Class of 1974
Navy, 8 Years
Two years electronics training and six years in Hawaii. Tough duty but somebody's gotta do it!
jeff ritzko
Class of 1972
Marine Corps, 5 Years
structural repair / crew chief C117 D Aircraft M C reserve M P usar reserves 17 yrs hueys oh 58s cobras attack helicopter batt retired 1st sgt 22 years total
Class of 1972
Marine Corps, 5 Years
structural repair / crew chief C117 D Aircraft M C reserve M P usar reserves 17 yrs hueys oh 58s cobras attack helicopter batt retired 1st sgt 22 years total
Mark Kantorowicz
Class of 1975
Air Force, 20 Years
Retired in 1995 after 20 years. Was a loadmaster on C141's and a Safety Manager.
Class of 1975
Air Force, 20 Years
Retired in 1995 after 20 years. Was a loadmaster on C141's and a Safety Manager.
Myron Dragsten
Class of 1964
Army, 3 Years
Aircraft Electrician. Worked on Chinook helicopters in Vietnam spring of 1968 to spring of 1969. 6 months at Ft. Stewart Ga.and last 9 months in Germany.
Class of 1964
Army, 3 Years
Aircraft Electrician. Worked on Chinook helicopters in Vietnam spring of 1968 to spring of 1969. 6 months at Ft. Stewart Ga.and last 9 months in Germany.
Pat Wagamon
Class of 1980
Air Force, 4 Years
Air Force,Stationed at Luke AFB Phx,AZ. F-15 Fighter jet crew chief with the 426 AMU
Class of 1980
Air Force, 4 Years
Air Force,Stationed at Luke AFB Phx,AZ. F-15 Fighter jet crew chief with the 426 AMU
Patrick J. Branco
Class of 1972
Navy, 20+ Years
Served 4 years in U.S. Coat Guard and 17 years in U.S. Navy. Ten years enlisted as a Hospital Corpsman and then 11 years commissioned as a Medical Service Corps officer.
Class of 1972
Navy, 20+ Years
Served 4 years in U.S. Coat Guard and 17 years in U.S. Navy. Ten years enlisted as a Hospital Corpsman and then 11 years commissioned as a Medical Service Corps officer.
Rob Erickson
Class of 1975
Marine Corps, 13 Years
Served as forward Observer 11th and 5th Marines.Tank Commander in the Gulf War with 2nd Tanks. Drill Instructor at Parris Island S.C. and Company Gunny with 3rd Marines Okinawa Japan.
Class of 1975
Marine Corps, 13 Years
Served as forward Observer 11th and 5th Marines.Tank Commander in the Gulf War with 2nd Tanks. Drill Instructor at Parris Island S.C. and Company Gunny with 3rd Marines Okinawa Japan.
Steven Green
Class of 1981
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Attached to HMM-261 Avionics.
Served in Grenada liberation 1983, Beirut 1983, 1984
Class of 1981
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Attached to HMM-261 Avionics.
Served in Grenada liberation 1983, Beirut 1983, 1984
Tony Rendle
Class of 1988
Navy, 4 Years
While in the Navy, he was deployed in the gulf War on a special forces support team. Work with the Navy Seals and Navy EOD
Class of 1988
Navy, 4 Years
While in the Navy, he was deployed in the gulf War on a special forces support team. Work with the Navy Seals and Navy EOD
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Columbia Heights High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Hylanders.
School News
Do you have any news to share? Keep our classmates informed on news and current events! Please post all reunion information in the reunion area.
Our Columbia Heights High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Columbia Heights High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Columbia Heights are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!