H. P. Skoglund

Howell Pomeroy Skoglund (July 5, 1903 – November 5, 1977) was an American businessman who was the president of the North American Life and Casualty Company and a founding owner of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.

Early life Skoglund was born July 5, 1903, in Starbuck, Minnesota. He graduated from St. Olaf College in 1925 and turned down the opportunity to work for his family’s lumber business to move to Minneapolis, where he found a job as a clerk for the C.J. Hoigaard Company. In 1929 he was named secretary of the company.

North American Life and Casualty In 1933, Skoglund became the president of the North American Life and Casualty Company. The thirty-year-old Skoglund was the youngest president in the life insurance industry.

Minnesota Vikings An avid sports fan, Skoglund owned 20% of the Minnesota Vikings and was the team's longtime chairman. He also played in role in the construction of Metropolitan Stadium through NALAC's purchase of bonds.

Other activities Skoglund served as chairman of the St. Olaf College board of regents, was president of the Fairview Hospital board of trustees, and was a director of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway and North Central Airlines. He also owned a cattle ranch outside Cody, Wyoming, a livestock farm in Starbuck, Minnesota, was part-owner of a residential community outside Palm Springs, California, and owned the Ventura County Railroad.

Personal life Skoglund died of a heart attack on November 5, 1977, in Sun City. He was buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.