The sun was covered by grey clouds and the afternoon air smelled of rain. “It’s a good day for a funeral,” Dr. Mike Garrett joked about his own retirement party.

Since 1979, Garrett worked with the geography and political science departments at Bemidji State University. His retirement party was held at the David Park House on Wednesday, April 23.

Garrett grew up in Oklahoma and Tennessee. He first became attracted to maps and their uses in outdoor settings with boy scouts and with explorer scouts. While attending college in Tennessee, he spent numerous weekends exploring limestone caves and frequently used topographic maps to chart directions beneath the earth’s surface.

Garrett studied geography at Austin Peay College and Oklahoma State University. Later, he earned his master’s and doctorate degrees at Oklahoma State. His major academic interests include land use analysis, historical geography and studies of ordinary landscapes.

For a few years following college Garrett taught mostly science and some social studies courses at both the junior high and senior high school levels. While completing his doctorate, he taught as an instructor at Oklahoma State before accepting the position at BSU.

Dr. Garrett said that he believes it is very important to try and travel selectively, whether at home or abroad, to become and remain informed about the areas that he teaches. He was active in the EuroSpring program at BSU.

Garrett plans to continue with the reconstruction of his house, barn and garage.  He also said that he hopes to stay involved with International Studies and speak with students about the opportunities of travel. 

Garrett said he has enjoyed meeting hundreds of people and working with many great students in the past years. He referred to his students as being an extended family and he will miss having interaction with them.