James Oberstar: “I rise with a very heavy heart to join fellow cyclists throughout Minnesota in mourning the untimely loss of Terry…”

“I rise with a very heavy heart to join fellow cyclists throughout Minnesota in mourning the untimely loss of Terry McGhauhey, father, founder, godfather, midwife, impresario of the Paul Bunyan Bicycle Trail. It was Terry McGhauhey who, 22 years ago, saw the notice of termination of rail service along central Minnesota's area from Baxter, Minnesota, up to Hackensack, and rode out like a modern day town crier to alert communities along the trail to join together, save the right-of-way, to build the Paul Bunyan trail, which now has 650,000 users a year. Every year Terry McGhauhey mobilized group rides, engaged the business communities all along the trail to see not only the physical and outdoors enjoyment and health benefits of a bike/ped, in-line skating trail, but also to see the business opportunities that have benefited all the communities along. We didn't expect Terry's loss. He had suffered from Parkinson's, but he was there at the helm of this year's ride, and he was already planning for next year's ride. I shall miss him greatly as a friend, a treasured participant in bicycling. All of bicycling in Minnesota will miss Terry McGhauhey.”