Steve Myhra

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

In the late 1960s many sailboat racing fans would gather at Highway Park on the southeast side of Otter Tail Lake. It was exciting to see the sailboats advance to the finish line. There also was the opportunity to get a glimpse of one of the finishing line judges in one of the boats, namely former pro football star Steve Myhra.

Myhra, a kicker for the Baltimore Colts, was retired and living in his hometown of Wahpeton, running a sporting goods store. He was the kicker for the Colts in the 1958 NFL championship game against the New York Giants, best remembered for kicking a game-tying field goal late in the game. Baltimore won in overtime.

Contributed photos
The finish line for many sailboat races on Otter Tail Lake, through the late 1960s, took place at Highway Park. This site was on the southeast side of the lake, not far from the town of Ottertail.

Previously, Myhra played football and was the kicker for Wahpeton High School and the University of North Dakota. His NFL career ended in the early 1960s.  His star teammates in Baltimore included quarterback Johnny Unitas, running back Alan Ameche, wide receiver Raymond Berry and defensive lineman Gene (Big Daddy) Lipscomb.

Sailboat races on Otter Tail Lake began in the 1930s and became more popular as more people purchased sailboats for enjoyment on area lakes. Over the years races became more prevalent at the parks around Otter Tail Lake, Amor Park on the north and Highway Park on the south.

Victor George Lundeen, founder of Victor Lundeen Company in Fergus Falls, spent time on Fish Lake and then Otter Tail Lake during the 1920s. He purchased a cabin on 300 feet of shoreline at Otter Tail Lake in 1942 and began a love for sailing.  

The lake was ideal for sailing, stretching 10 miles from east to west and 3-1/2 miles from north to south.  Lundeen was a good friend of Cyrus Field, another avid sailor.

Victor’s sons Ed, David and Buzz all learned to sail on “the Old Lightning,” an orange 19-foot-long monohull sailboat. The Lightning sailboat was first built in 1938, one of the most popular one-design sailing vessels in the United States.

Races were more organized starting in the 1970s with the development of the Otter Tail Lake Yacht Club. The races were held Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. Hobie Cats became the dominant class and competitors came from different lakes to race. 

There are no longer sailboat races on Otter Tail Lake, most likely ending in the 1980s.