Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has designated Dean Urdahl as Minnesota’s official state representative to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

Urdahl, of Grove City, retired in 2006 as an American History teacher with the New London-Spicer School district, where he taught since 1971. He is serving his third term as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from House District 18B, which includes much of Meeker County and part of Wright County. Urdahl holds a bachelor of science degree from St. Cloud State University in Social Studies.

An avid reader, writer, and U.S. Civil War buff, Urdahl wrote Uprising, a historical fiction about the U.S. – Dakota conflict set in Minnesota in 1862, during which time Lincoln was President. Urdahl replaces David Sturrock as Minnesota’s official representative on the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission was created by the U.S. Congress to plan observances and events to celebrate the 200th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth on February 12, 2009. The Commission will emphasize the contributions of Abraham Lincoln’s thoughts, ideas, and actions throughout the period leading up to the bicentennial of his birth. Each state has the opportunity to designate a resident of that state to serve as the official state representative to the Commission.