The new face at the Courthouse – Attorney Al Rogalla

 

Two pictures of Abraham Lincoln grace the walls of Attorney Al Rogalla's office in the Clearwater County Courthouse, along with his Law Degree and a tribute to his years spent as a Marine. 

“The Honorable Dennis J. Murphy, a Pennington County Judge gave me one, and a friend the other one about 15 years ago,” he said proudly. “I have studied a lot about Abe Lincoln and the hardships he faced.” 

Attorney Rogalla is the new Clearwater County Attorney, coming here after nearly three decades serving Pennington County in Thief River Falls. 

He started there in 1990 and did a lot of civil work. He was elected as the County Prosecuting Attorney in 2006 and was nearing the end of his third term before coming here. 

“It's a long story of how I got here,” he begins. “I have a sister, Mary who worked for Dentist Todd Sandwick in Bagley, and married Bob Jones. They lived in a cottage on Lone Lake, and when their family out grew it, my wife Kelly and I bought it. We love Lone Lake, and we'd come often to visit here.”

“Then our next door neighbor on Lone Lake asked if I wanted to buy his house. I asked my wife what she thought. Since I had made our earlier big decision to work in Pennington County, what did she want to do? Live on their farm in Thief River, or live on the lake?” 

“On the Lake!” was Kelly's response. “It was because of her decision that we are here in Clearwater County, because she really wanted to live on the Lake. We have three children, all grown, and with the larger house, we figured they would be more likely to come to visit us when we retire. 

“So we sold the farm and started packing to move. I was going to rent an apartment in Thief River Falls, and continue working there for a time, and then had planned to retire, when I heard about the position for Clearwater County Attorney opening up last November.” 

The decision to move to Clearwater County, the job opportunity as County Attorney here, and being hired for the position – it all just fell into place. 

“It was like this was meant to be,” as he sees it. 

“Clearwater County needed leadership, and the experience that I have. The office in Pennington could take a change, and the office here could also take a change,” Attorney Rogalla stated. “I try to learn everyday.” 

In November, the position will come up for public election. 

Alan Rogalla was a farm kid in Goodridge, driving combines and tractors growing up. Higher education wasn't on his mind in those days. He served in the Marine Corp from 1976 – 1980. 

“I grew up in the Marines,” he says. “I was a cop and in the artillery, and am hearing impaired as a result. I didn't see the importance of an education until after the Marines. I used the GI bill to get through college. 

“So even a kid from Good-ridge can get a college education!”

“I like deer hunting, ice fishing, and acting,” he says. And seeing there are opportunities for all three of those things in this community, he is looking forward to his time here. 

“It will be a privilege to serve the people in Clearwater County, just as it was in Pennington County, and I will work just as hard. I have an open door policy, and if someone has an issue they want to talk about or understand, except for ongoing cases, I will be glad to sit down and talk with them.”