Even though Art Poll didn’t graduate from Cleveland, when it came time to find a home for his US flag, his children knew it should be donated to Cleveland school.
The flag acknowledged Poll’s military service and was awarded posthumously after he passed away last January 6 at age 94.
“As a family, we thought it would be best served being used instead of in a memorial box, and dad would have approved with having it in Cleveland,” said daughter Patty (Poll) Nimtz (CHS 1980). “The high school seemed like a viable option, especially with the addition to the school.”
The son of a Church of Christ pastor, Poll first moved to Cleveland in 1930 and briefly attended grade school here. Later, after a pit stop in Fargo, ND, the family headed to Rolla, MO, where he graduated from high school.
After a stint in the army that included time in Korea just before the outbreak of the Korean war, Poll, honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant, returned to his birthplace of Minneapolis. There, he attended Dunwoody Institute and the University of Minnesota, where he studied drafting, plumbing, heating and air conditioning.
In 1956, Poll returned to Cleveland with his wife Amy. He operated a plumbing and heating business. Later he became the Le Sueur County Planning & Zoning administrator. In his “retirement,” he was a real-estate agent, designed and inspected septic systems and was a certified building inspector.
Poll also tirelessly served the community. He was a deacon at the Church of Christ, was a member of the Cleveland Fire Department and volunteered with the Cleveland Historical Society. He held a City Council seat for 11 years and was the town’s mayor for two years.
Growing up just a block up the street from the school, all three of his children graduated from CHS: son Donn Poll and daughters Cindy Poll and Patty.
After Amy passed away, Poll returned to Minneapolis in 2017 so he could be closer to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, but Cleveland was always his home.
“I heard the folks referencing on several occasions the school being the hub of the community,” said Patty. “Dad enjoyed the community life in Cleveland, and my parents supported the school’s growth.”
Poll touched the lives of many. He adored the community, and the community adored him. After he passed away, he was fondly remembered by many during a service at the Church of Christ. An article about his colorful and productive life was printed in the local papers.
Son Donn contacted the VA to obtain the flag. The family received it a month or so later. His daughters presented the flag to superintendent Brian Phillips a few weeks ago.
“Dad would have been humbled by all the love being shown for his contributions,” said Patty. “He was not a limelight type of guy. He was good at doing his thing and moving on to the next thing. He enjoyed the journey of learning.”
Above: Art Poll and daughter Patty in 2015 (photo courtesy of Patty (Poll) Nimtz).