
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, April 30, 1990                   TAG: 9004300029
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

THE PEOPLE COLUMN

Rudy Perpich is the fifth American to receive the Grand Cross, the Austrian government's highest award.

Perpich, governor of Minnesota, was presented the Grand Cross Saturday for understanding Austrian culture and history and contributing to the development of relations between the United States and Austria, Austrian Consul General Clemens Coreth said in a statement.

Perpich lived in Austria for about four years while he was a vice president of Control Data Corp.

Other American recipients of the Grand Cross are Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Harry S. Truman and Herbert Hoover and former U.S. Ambassador to Austria John Humes.

\ Michael Moore, director of the movie "Roger and Me," said the movie is a hit in Eastern Europe because it shows audiences what 80 years of capitalism have done to General Motors' company town of Flint, Mich.

The documentary film has grossed more than $7 million since its release in January and still plays in 35 U.S. cities.

by CNB