If most of King Boreas’ reign is a matter of representing St. Paul, Bill Foussard should have it down pat already.
The 54-year-old hospitality entrepreneur is all about shaking hands, firing folks up and showing them a good time.
He loves to talk business – who wouldn’t, in his line of work? – but he’s just as likely to interview strangers at length about their businesses as he would discuss his own.
He’s more than talk, though. Foussard visits folks in hospitals and nursing homes, and each year he works at the Twin Cities’ 38-year-old Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels project, which he founded.
He’s looking forward to pressing the flesh and talking up St. Paul this year. And with the carnival extended to 12 days for the first time, he’ll have the longest reign ever.
MEET THE KING
King Boreas: Bill Foussard
Age: 54
Home: Highland Park
Status: Single
Profession: Hospitality entrepreneur. Foussard owns the Best Western White Bear Country Inn in White Bear Lake and the Best Western Americana in St. Cloud and operates the Super 8 motel in Golden Valley.
Hours a week he works: “Whatever it takes.”
Education: Associate’s degree in business management from a west-metro community college.
Pedigree: His father, Henri, was Boreas Rex in 1963. His godfather, Walter Dorle, reigned in 1954. His uncle Roger was Prime Minister in 1957.
Favorite Winter Carnival memories: His father entertaining visiting carnival celebrities, including the Smothers Brothers, Dale Evans and Monte Hall; riding in parades with his father and guests; snowmobiling on the Town & Country Golf Course – “Now, there’s no way we could get away with it.”
Number of Winter Carnivals he’s attended: More than 20.
Favorite hot drink: Hot chocolate with a little schnapps.
Other Big Cheeses he’s played: Santa – in nursing homes and hospitals – and a giant fish. He sat for two hours in that fish getup during a 2005 Vadnais Heights luncheon, where he asked Gov. Tim Pawlenty to hold the Governor’s Fish Opener in White Bear Lake.
Favorite hotdish: Lasagna. (OK, he admits it’s not really a hotdish.)
Favorite way to warm up: In front of a fireplace with a hot toddy and friends.
If he weren’t Boreas Rex, he’d like to be: A Vulcan. “The Vulcans were always fun, though they’ve struggled in recent years.”
Reasons he’ll be a good king: The lineage. The enthusiasm. The snowmobiling.
Reasons he might be a closet Vulcan: He picked the Caribbean as his top would-be winter vacation destination and was caught last month cavorting in sunny Arizona while St. Paul froze.
Winter sport he’s not very good at: Skating.
Big Winter Carnival project: A food drive with Second Harvest Heartland.
Proof he’s a cheeseball: He corrals employees and guests to sing “Jingle Bells” during the holidays.
Alex Friedrich can be reached at afriedrich@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-2109.
Copyright 2008 Pioneer Press.