Dr. Edward E. Novak
Few people have had more impact on the community and school district than Dr. Edward E. Novak. In 1895, he moved to New Prague and began a distinguished medical career, completing 70 years of service to the community as a doctor. However, Novak's influence reached beyond medicine. He encouraged local farmers to raise purebred livestock and eventually began the Southern Minnesota Livestock Show. His active political career reached its peak in 1936 when he was nominated for governor by the Democratic Party. For over forty years, Novak served on the local school board and was president of the board from 1920 to 1951. Novak's impact in education went beyond New Prague; his interest in education and knowledge of medicine merged when he became a leading advocate for immunizing the state's children for diphtheria and tuberculosis through the school system. Minnesotans took note; Novak was elected president of the Minnesota State School Board Association and served on the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents from 1937 to 1955. Despite the statewide respect he had earned, The Minneapolis Star summed him up best in an article entitled "Country Doctor." The article stated "the people of New Prague revere him most as a country doctor- the man who has come at many calls to deliver babies and see oldsters out of this world."

Inducted 2006