Surin Pitsuwan from Thailand, graduated from Rushford High School in 1968. On Friday, July 23, 2010 he appeared on Breaking News in a face to face conversation with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Surin has served for many years in the Thailand Parliament. He also served in a position equivalent to our Secretary of State. He is now the Secretary of ASEAN which is a block of ten of Asian countries.

As an exchange student Surin lived with Ward and Joan Huff. He was always very proud of Rushford and cherished the time he spent here. A few years ago after he had addressed the United Nations in New York he returned to Rushford along with his Chief of Staff. They were guests at the home of Rob and Bettie Lou Bunke. During that visit Surin spoke to the RHS Assembly. That evening he spoke to a large gathering of friends at an Open House at the Bunke's. He told of his career since graduating from RHS. He had a message for young folks that, "they could become whatever they set their mind to". Surin is a living example of that saying. All three of Surin's sons are presently studying in the United States.