Woodbury Honors 'Tremendous Leader,' Former Administrator Jim Schug

WOODBURY, MN — The Woodbury City Council on Wednesday night honored former Washington County Administrator Jim Schug, who died April 5 at the age of 72.

Schug was a “dedicated public servant for more than 37 years” in Crow Wing, Redwood and Washington counties, according to a resolution passed by the Woodbury City Council.

Schug was hired as Washington County administrator in 1994 after serving for eight years as director of the county's Community Services Department. He led the county as administrator for about 17 years until his retirement in 2012.

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The council’s resolution called Schug a “tremendous leader” who led the county “through a time of fast growth in population and service demand” while overseeing major construction projects, including R.H. Stafford Library in Woodbury.

Washington County's population increased about 80 percent between 1994 and 2012, the Twin Cities Pioneer Press reported.

Schug represented Washington County with “professionalism and integrity,” and his guidance “resulted in policies that improved the lives of County residents,” the Woodbury City Council said in its resolution.

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“Mr. Schug cared deeply about people, particularly the residents of Washington County and the County staff who provided the services to the public,” the resolution states. “Mr. Schug’s gentle and kind nature, along with his sense of humor and storytelling, will be greatly missed by his wide network of family, friends and colleagues.”

Schug volunteered after his retirement with the Stillwater Rotary Club, Tozer Foundation and Lakeview Hospital's board of directors, according to his obituary.

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"Jim was a devoted family man, friend, and community leader who was known for his kindness, fairness, integrity, and good humor," his family wrote in his obituary. "He touched countless lives with his wisdom and grace.

Schug was born in Minneapolis and grew up in Chaska, where he attended Guardian Angels Catholic School. He earned his bachelor's degree in social welfare from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree from the University of St. Thomas, his obituary states.

He and his wife, Connie, "shared a passion for travel," and he "cherished" cabin weekends with his family and an annual trip with friends to the Boundary Waters, his family wrote.

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He also enjoyed walking his dog around Stillwater, meeting up with his long-standing book club and sharing time with his seven grandchildren, according to his obituary.

A funeral and celebration of Schug's life were held April 13 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Stillwater.

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