John Muller, a Mankato High School graduate now of Tyler, Texas, found out Friday afternoon his entry for the redesign of Minnesota’s state flag was eliminated.
The winning flag (F1953) was chosen about 4 p.m. Friday. It carries an abstract shape of the state of Minnesota with a star and lines. The commission was in the process of modifying the design, somewhat.
“I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of this,” Muller said.
“In the end, the decision was in the hands of the commission.
“When I submitted my entry back in October, I never imagined it would have made it to this point.”
Earlier this week, when the competition had been narrowed down to three designs, Muller had accepted the Minnesota Historical Society’s invitation to an event in St. Paul, where he and the two other finalists described their artistic thought processes.
“They asked me to come up and speak to the commission,” said Muller, recalling how he advocated for his submission — F2100 — as the logical choice.
Muller’s design is fairly simple and its color fields symbolize Minnesota’s iconic green fields, blue lakes and white snow. His representation of an eight-pointed, white celestial body stands for the North Star State.
Muller’s design vied against those of a young creative from Luverne and a St. Paul graphic designer. Inspiration made up for the 83-year-old retired financial advisor’s lack of arts training.
While working out his idea for a flag to represent the state where he was born, Muller kept in mind Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes, green forests, abundant outdoor winter activities and productive farm land.
Although he’s lived in Texas since 1963 (“the Air Force sent me there”) Muller refers to himself as a Minnesota native.
“I was born, raised and educated in Minnesota.”
A career and family ties has kept Muller residing in Texas; however, he stayed in touch regularly with fellow members of Mankato High School’s Class of 1958.
When he expressed hesitancy about making a long trip north in December to meet with the redesign commission, Muller’s Minnesota friends joined with Muller’s family members in offering strong advice.
Fred Lutz, of North Mankato, and Roger Sinclair, who now lives in the metro area, accompanied their former classmate to Tuesday’s meeting.
“They were my moral support….and we got to renew our friendship,” Muller said, adding that people at the commission meeting referred to the trio as “the three school buddies.”
“It was fun to listen to the other people talk about how they got their ideas and designs,” Lutz said in an email message Friday.
“The commission members were very focused on coming to a decision on both the new state seal and flag by the end of the year. It was an honor to watch and listen to Minnesotans hard at work.
“The Mankato area should be proud to have one of their own be a finalist,” Lutz stated.
Although his design was not picked to represent Minnesota, Muller wants the new flag to become popular and as recognizable to the state’s residents as The Lone Star State’s flag is to Texans.
“The flag should be flown in front of every courthouse and business and in every school in the state.”