In case you missed it, Feb. 3, 2009, was âÄúBob Bruininks Day.âÄù The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal presented University of Minnesota President Bob Bruininks with an award for executive of the year for 2009 at a luncheon Tuesday, where a proclamation from Gov. Tim Pawlenty also declared the day to be in his honor. Brian McClung, director of communications in PawlentyâÄôs office, said the proclamation to name Tuesday Bob Bruininks Day was requested by the Business Journal, and is typically given along with the executive of the year award. The Business Journal announced that Bruininks would be executive of the year in early January. The honor was given to Bruininks for his strong visions for the University and his outreach to businesses, Dirk DeYoung, editor o f the Business Journal, said. âÄúHe is a strong executive, someone who has a vision for the University and someone who has been able to execute that vision and make it a reality in so many ways,âÄù DeYoung said. âÄúAnd he is doing that while he is making bridges to the business community.âÄù However, Bruininks isnâÄôt the type of recipient usually given the award, DeYoung said. âÄúItâÄôs almost always been a CEO of a company,âÄù he said. âÄúThis is the first time we have honored a CEO of a public organization.âÄù But DeYoung said Bruininks fits well in the category as a person who has a vision and needs to convince those he is leading to execute his ideas, much like a CEO of a company has to do. âÄúHis job is much more political. He has to work with the Legislature and work with the governor, which most companies donâÄôt have to do,âÄù he said. âÄúHe has made decisions that have been popular and unpopular, but has always shown leadership and always explained his positions.âÄù At the luncheon Tuesday, Bruininks said he was grateful for the honor. âÄúItâÄôs very special to have the governor of our great state, someone who IâÄôve worked closely with, extend himself in this way and honor me and the University of Minnesota,âÄù he said. The proclamation from the governor named several of BruininksâÄô initiatives as the reason for the award, including securing funding for TCF Bank Stadium, the creation of the Academic Corporate Relations Center and serving on the board of the Minneapolis Business Partnership. Dan Wolter, University spokesman, said after Bruininks took office in 2002, he worked to mend a fracture between the University and the business community that existed after years of the University being âÄúinaccessibleâÄù to them. âÄúWe are a significant investment for the state of Minnesota,âÄù he said.