Fargo Theatre Honoring Former Professor

The Fargo Theatre is hosting a special screening of “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans,” a silent 1927 movie with music track, in honor of Dr. Tony McRae, a longtime Fargo Theatre board member and former French professor at Concordia. The event is April 25 from 5 to 7 p.m.

McRae left a lasting impact on the Concordia French Program, as he did everywhere he went. He started his teaching career at Iona Grammar School in New York and then went on to help open Brother Rice High School in Chicago. After deciding to continue his studies, Tony received a master’s degree in French from Notre Dame and his doctorate at Colombia University.

McRae came to Concordia where he chaired the then French and Russian department. While here, he helped develop more opportunities for students, including helping found the new film studies program, leading study away programs, and directing the Principia curriculum.

He advised Le Ciné Club, a French movie club that showed a series of French language films for students throughout the year. Tony said that he wanted to bring French films to the Concordia campus and to this area and hoped it would help people “expand their horizons” and realize American films aren’t the only films in the world.

McRae chaired the Symposium committee for the 1992 Symposium “A Gathering of Spirit: Gifts of the Native Americans.” The Symposium opened and closed with a traditional drum ceremony and featured art and craft demonstrations, along with featuring speakers representing different nations. McRae said the goal was “to make the Concordia community... aware of Native Americans, of their diversity, of their gifts.”

McRae researched language and culture in Namibia and, in 1995 along with his wife Michelle, helped to launch a radio outreach program in Windhoek at the University of Namibia. McRae’s work with the university also helped to facilitate study abroad and exchanges for students at the university.

Along with his wife Michelle, who was also a faculty member at Concordia, McRae worked with the Elderhostel program, offering classes and experiences for people over 60. McRae’s class studied films of the 1930s and included a tour of the Fargo Theatre.

Outside of Concordia, McRae was an active member in other education spheres. In 1987 he was elected chairperson of the Valley and Lakes Education District. He served on the Barnesville school board later in his life. Pursuing his passion for film, he also taught film classes at MSUM. He retired from Concordia in 1999 but continued working in the community.

 

Written by Emma Skuza ’22, World Languages & Cultures and Graduate & Continuing Studies Administrative Assistant