Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Gene Sullivan to the Board of Directors of the Minnesota State High School League.

Sullivan is a retired general manager at Stearns Electric Association in Melrose. He is a former high school referee and coach of youth football, baseball, and wrestling. Sullivan received a B.S. degree from St. John's University in Collegeville. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Army. Sullivan is the parent of four adult children and lives in Grey Eagle with his wife Irene. He is appointed to a four-year term expiring July 31, 2007. Sullivan replaces Tim Hermann on the Board.

The Minnesota State High School League is a voluntary, nonprofit association of over 400 public and private schools. Member schools provide opportunities for more than 200,000 Minnesota high school students to participate in athletics and fine arts competitions each year. The League administers the state tournaments for athletics, speech, music and dramatics. The League provides support for member schools with programs that address sportsmanship, chemical health, and scholarship recognition. The League also oversees more than 4,500 registered contest officials and judges. The Board of Directors for the League consists of 20 members, including four appointed by the Governor.