MANKATO, Minn. — The halls of West Mankato High School have seen many firsts in nearly 75 years. Now this includes their first former teacher becoming a vice-presidential candidate.
"I remember him coming to speak to students and say if you see something that isn't right, step up and do something about it," Sherri Blasing, West Mankato High School principal said.
Blasing didn't know Walz just in the classrooms, but also in her neighborhood. They lived next door to one another for 22 years.
"When they first moved in there were these big, tall bushes. Gwen (Walz' wife) took them out and then we started planting flowers," Blasing said. "We solved a lot of the worlds' problems in that garden over the years."
When Blasing heard Walz was on the shortlist for Kamala Harris' running mate, she was excited but not shocked. After living next door to one another for two decades and continuing their friendship, she knew he was cut out for the job. But, it's still has been a whirlwind to process.
"It is so surreal. Who would think your neighbor would become governor let alone vice president nominee!" Blasing said.
Walz coached the 1999 football team to their first state title. It was also the same year he became an advisor for the school's first Gay Straight Alliance. Former students of his say he motivated students but always made them feel heard and respected. One referring to him as a "this big gorilla that's actually a teddy bear."
Blasing said when her family was struggling with getting their four children cars in high school to drive themselves to sports, Walz offered them one of their old cars for free.
"Him and Gwen knew a family in the neighborhood had fallen on hard times, so they threw their daughter a graduation party to lessen the burden," Blasing said.
As Walz attracts national attention, his small-town roots will be cheering him on along the way.