It will be 50 years this June 13 that an F5 tornado ripped through the town of Tracy and left a path of destruction several blocks wide.

Tracy to commemorate Tornado of 50 years ago

It will be 50 years this June 13 that an F5 tornado ripped through the town of Tracy and left a path of destruction several blocks wide.

To commemorate one of the most powerful tornadoes in Minnesota history, which had a wind speed in excess of 300 miles per hour, an all-day event will be held on Saturday, June 9 throughout Tracy.

Included in the “Never Forget” themed event will be live music, a comedy/dinner show, silent auction, bake sale, a noon lunch at Tracy Lutheran Church, pizza and popcorn sale, commemorative tornado quilt raffle, medallion hunt, guest speakers, storm-chasing vehicle and demonstration, commemorative t-shirt sale, and a memorial walk in honor of those killed by the tornado.

All proceeds from the 50th Anniversary of the Tracy Tornado event will go for scholarships to Tracy Area High School students in the names of the nine people killed in the tornado.

Each scholarship awarded will also include a framed biography and photo of the person the scholarship was named after. Scott Thoma, who wrote the book “Out of the Blue” about the Tracy tornado, is coordinating the event. He was born and raised in Tracy.

“I want the younger generation to learn about the nine people that were killed by the tornado,” said Thoma. “I think it's important to keep them in our memories.” Charlie Callens of Guza Machine Inc. of Ivanhoe is making the commemorative medallions for the hunt. He also made the medallions for the Boxelder Bug Days hunt last September.

“I think it’s important to not only honor those people that were killed, but also those many people that worked feverishly to help in the aftermath of the tornado,” said Thoma.

“I watched my father assist in the removal of two of the deceased from the rubble across the street from our house and I will never forget the horror of that night.”

The three-story Tracy Elementary School was also destroyed by the tornado, as well as one-quarter of the homes and several businesses.

Over 125 people were injured. With the help of surrounding communities, the cleanup went quickly and the town began to rebuild soon after.

“I remember seeing trucks and emergency vehicles from every town in the area the next day,” said Thoma.

“That always impressed me so much that all these people came to help our town in a time of need.”

If anyone would like to make a donation for the silent auction, contact Thoma via email at scott@thomabooks.com.

Contact Us

The Minneota Mascot
Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492