Broadwell`s Bismarck Beginnings | Video

J.R. Havens | 11/16/2012

While it`s been known to happen, it`s not often that a North Dakota native is at the center of a major national news story. Judge Ronald Davies of Grand Forks was the federal jurist who ordered the integration of Little Rock High School in 1957, which became a landmark decision on racial integration in America. Clint Hill of Washburn was the first secret service agent to reach President John F. Kennedy after he was hit by an assassin`s bullets in Dallas in 1963.

Recently, Paula Kranz Broadwell of Bismarck finds herself at the center of a political scandal that continues to dominate national headlines. Tonight, we have some perspective on the standout Century High School athlete from people who knew her when she was the valedictorian of her graduating class and one of the leading scorers on the state championship basketball team.

Paula Kranz Broadwell is used to the spotlight. She was one of the leading scorers on the 1990 Century High School state championship basketball team. She also excelled in the classroom. She was the valedictorian of her graduating class. In fact, she won a prestigious academic award her senior year, the AAU Mars Milky Way High School All American Award.

After graduating in 1991 she went to West Point, Harvard and Kings College in London.

Recently, the head of the CIA, General David Petraeus, admitted to having an affair with her while she authored his biography creating national and international headlines. The scandal has also created quite the buzz in her hometown.

"I was in complete shock," said Shawn Weekes.

"The one thing that always occurs in situations like that is obviously with the amount of media scrutinization that occurs it does get blown up and strewn out of proportion," said Century High School teacher Ron Wingenbach.

We talked with a handful of people who knew Paula in High School and most of them had nothing but good things to say about her.

"She never lacked any character or as full of integrity as you could find," said classmate Matt Geiger.

"She certainly ranks there towards the top of students that we`ve ever had at Century High School both academically and regards to co-curricular activities," said Century High School teacher Julie Stavn.

According to the people that knew her, the pressure she felt on the basketball court and working hard in the classroom to earn straight A`s helped prepare her for what`s she`s facing now.

"You know she`s got a great family around her and they are going to rally around her in a situation like this," said Weekes.

"I`m disappointed in what has happened if this is what happened if the true story is out there, but it doesn`t change my feelings for her as the person she was when she was here at Century High School," said Stavn.

This story is far from over, many more details will probably surface but according to a former classmate of hers, she`ll be just fine.

"Knowing Paula from back when, if anybody can handle adversity, she can," said Geiger.

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