Two community leaders spent the most time with him during Thursday's visit to Marquette
MARQUETTE -- UPDATE - 4:15 p.m.
It was a historic day for the Upper Peninsula.
That's how everyone seems to be describing President Obama's trip to Marquette Thursday. And Friday, although it was back to business as usual, there was still time for a little reflection.
We all watched live as Marquette Mayor John Kivela shook hands with the President of the United States, welcoming him to Upper Michigan. What we all didn't know is that the mayor found out he would be greeting the President solo just before Air Force One landed at Sawyer International Airport.
"They said, you're going to be the one greeting the President at the bottom of the stairs and so I said, just me? And they said yep, just you. So yeah, it was a great opportunity."
Mayor Kivela said he enjoyed riding in the motorcade from Sawyer to downtown Marquette...until they got in front of Doncker's, when he was grabbed by two Secret Service agents. No, they weren't trying to arrest him, they actually had a message from Mr. Obama.
"'Mr. Mayor', they said, 'the President would like to buy you lunch', so they ushered me out and President Obama was holding the door for me. We ordered lunch and he pulled out his billfold and threw the twenty down and bought our lunch."
President Obama then asked the mayor if he'd like to ride to N.M.U. with him.
"It was incredible, you know, the conversation varied; we spent some time talking about economic development in a small town, and I reiterated how important it is, and having the Internet in a community like ours, we can really compete on a global front."
"And suddenly for the President of the United States to recognize that and to say hold it, this little place up on Lake Superior with all those Yoopers, as he says, they're doing it right, and if you want to learn how to do it right, pay attention," adds Dr. Les Wong, president of N.M.U.
Although it was brief, it's clear that President Obama's visit to both the community and the university, made a lasting impression.
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UPDATE - 2:45 p.m.
Mayor John Kivela of the City of Marquette, and NMU President Les Wong, both had the distinct honor of spending the most time with President Barack Obama during his visit Thursday.
Today I spoke with both of them, getting their reactions about the President's visit.
Dr. Wong told me this morning that everyone is saying how great of a day it was for not just the university and the community, but for the Upper Peninsula as well.
"I'm getting congratulations from across the country; everyone's just simply saying what a great day to be a Wildcat. The alums are just filled with pride right now."
You can see my interviews with both Dr. Wong and Mayor Kivela tonight on your TV6 Early News at 6 p.m./5 p.m. CST.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC