CEO of Polaris Tom Tiller with original owner John Killbery

Polaris Honors History Makers with Induction into New Polaris Hall of Fame Founders, Past Executive, Employees, Dealers & Suppliers Honored

MEDINA, MN (Aug. 4, 2004) – Individuals and business partners who have played significant roles in the founding and growth of Polaris Industries were honored with induction into the new Polaris Hall of Fame on Friday, July 23, 2004. The induction of the charter honorees took place as part of the Polaris 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.“These are the people and partners who helped launch Polaris and who are responsible for its growth over the years,” said Polaris President and CEO Tom Tiller. “They’re a big part of why we’re here to celebrate 50 great years of Polaris.”The charter inductees into the Polaris Hall of Fame are:

Original partners Edgar Hetteen, David Johnson and the late Allan Hetteen. Edgar Hetteen founded Hetteen Hoist & Derrick in Roseau, Minnesota, and in 1954 the company was incorporated as Polaris Industries Inc. David Johnson oversaw manufacturing for the better part of his 42 years with Polaris before retiring in 1988. Allan Hetteen in 1960 succeeded his brother Edgar as company president and directed Polaris through the 1960s. Allan left the company in the early 1970s and passed away as a result of a farm accident in 1973.

W. Hall Wendel, Jr., who joined Polaris in the late 1970s, when it was a division of Textron. He helped form a group of investors who purchased Polaris from Textron in 1981, and he led Polaris for more than two decades.

Orlen Johnson, one of the first employees hired by Edgar Hetteen, this 37-year employee was a critical participant in the creation of the first Polaris snowmobile in 1956. Raynold Monsrud, a 36-year Polaris employee who raced snowmobiles, directed the snowmobile racing program and currently leads the ATV Way Out Training Tour, a dealer training program.

Mies Outland, a leading Polaris dealer in Watkins, Minnesota, since 1965 and now is in its third generation of family ownership.

Headingley Sport Shop, a Headingley, Manitoba, Canada, Polaris dealership since 1967 that plays a leading role in its local riding and racing scene.

Fuji Heavy Industries, a Polaris engine supplier since the late-1960s, when it began supplying Polaris with engines designed specifically for use in snowmobiles. Fuji remains a Polaris engine supplier and partner today.

TEAM Industries, a Bagley, Minnesota-based manufacturer of precision-machined components, many of which are used in Polaris clutches and transmissions.