William Albert Beller - Class of 1918

Concert Pianist and Professor of Music

Deemed a musical prodigy at age four, William appeared in Milwaukee Sentinel at age six for his impressive musical ability. At 16, he won a scholarship to attend Chicago Musical College on Saturdays. He won multiple scholarships and awards through this college: Senior Diploma with the College’s Diamond Medal for Excellence Scholarship (1917), a Gold Medal for piano graduates (1918), and a scholarship for a post-graduate course (1920).  During this time, he also enlisted in the military from October 1918 until being mustered out in March 1919.  

In 1921, he graduated from Chicago Musical College with a Bachelor of Music degree and he took first place in its annual piano contest where he earned the honor of playing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at graduation and won a Mason and Hamlin concert grand piano. He then was appointed to the master school of Chicago’s Bush Conservatory of Music where he learned under the eminent pianist Jan Chiapusso, an appointment that could only be won based on talent and ability.  

In 1925, William gained national recognition when he won the biennial piano competition of the State, District, and National Federations of Music Clubs. In 1926, William was awarded a Juilliard Fellowship to study in New York City with Josef Lhévinne, a Russian-born concert pianist.  Over his career, he has performed across the country and at the Congressional Club in Washington, D.C, as well as Town Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City. He even maintained a private studio at Carnegie Hall.  He also played for two different radio stations in Chicago and made records for both the American Piano Company’s Ampico and Steinway’s Duo-Art reproducing player pianos.  Impressively, William had the honor of playing the piano for President and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge at the White House in January 1928. 

Mr. Beller also had an illustrious teaching career where over the years, he taught at Marquette University’s Conservatory of Music, Columbia University where he rose to the head of the piano department, Dallas Conservatory of Music and Fine Arts, the Fort Worth Conservatory, and the Texas Woman’s University at Denton, Texas  He also taught in Hartford, Connecticut, in Chicago, and at the Bronx House Music School in New York City.  

William Beller died in NYC in February 1986.  
 

Leo J. Warren - Class of 1916

Civic leader, Businessman, College Lecturer, Charity Drive Leader, Fireman

After graduating Burlington High School in 1916, Leo Warren joined the fledgling Murphy Products Co. as a salesman of livestock mineral feed.  Within five years, he rose to assistant sales manager; in 1948, he rose to general sales manager and then eventually he became a vice president on the board of the directors. Other titles of his included vice president and treasurer of Murphy Enterprises, president and treasurer of Burlington Pinecrest Corp., president of Warren Lea Farms, Inc. in which he built up farm properties, member of the International Platform Association, and president of the Racine County Agricultural Society, which sponsors the Racine County Fair. In addition, he has been president of the International Sales Executives Association and the Burlington Kiwanis Club, where he also was elected lieutenant governor of his district in Kiwanis International.  

A long-time, civic-minded advocate for Burlington, Mr. Warren served as mayor of Burlington from 1964-1966, as publicity chairman for Burlington’s Community Chest, and as a member of the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department where he helped to launch the department’s annual midwinter dinner and even personally contributed meat on several occasions.  In addition, he was a member of the St. Charles Holy Name Society, a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and a past Grand Knight of Milwaukee’s Pere Marquette Council of the Knights of Columbus.  He also served as the chairman of the Racine County School Committee and as a trustee of Racine County Institutions.  

In the days of his youth, Leo was known as “Burlington’s boy orator” and as an adult, was in demand as an after-dinner speaker and master of ceremonies, charming audiences with his wit, humor, and graceful remarks. He also lectured a number of times at the University of Wisconsin on sales management subjects.

Active in his church, Mr. Warren helped to pioneer the work of the Milwaukee Archdiocese Catholic Charity Council when it started in the 1930s, and he labored for its success for 33 years.  Shortly before his death in February 1967, he was asked to serve as chairman of the 1967 Catholic Charities and Seminary Fund campaign for the Archdiocese.  Although it was not customary to eulogize the deceased during a funeral Mass, Milwaukee Archbishop William E. Cousins described Leo as a man who had devoted his energies to the world of which he was a part and who was completely dedicated to the interest of the community without regard of costs to himself.  Others spoke of his leadership, many kind deeds, and the void that he left in the community.

 

Timothy Boyle - Class of 1985

Chief Judge, Local Attorney, 4H Volunteer 

A lifelong resident of Racine County, Tim Boyle graduated from Burlington High School in 1985.  Tim graduated with honors from UW-Madison with a B.A. degree in Journalism and Public Relations. In 1992, he completed his Juris Doctorate law degree at Hamline University.  Tim then became a third generation attorney at Boyle Law Office in Burlington.  By serving in Burlington, Tim became a “jack of all trades” and amassed a wealth of experience in all areas of the law and he eventually became a Circuit Court Commissioner.  Tim’s passion for law is shown through his service to the Racine County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee, the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission, and the Office of Lawyer Regulation. He has been president and vice president of the Racine County Bar Association and served on the Supreme Court District Ethics Committee.  In 2012, Tim was elected as a Racine County Circuit Court Judge and is currently the Chief Judge of Racine County Judiciary and the Deputy Chief Judge of Wisconsin Judicial District 2 serving Walworth, Kenosha, and Racine Counties.

In our community, Tim is a routine volunteer. He has served as president of the Burlington Kiwanis and vice-chairman of the Burlington Housing Authority. He is a member of St. Charles Catholic Church & School where he coaches and assists in a plethora of church fundraising and service activities. Tim also assists local Moot Court high school and college teams and participates in the Racine Unified Schools’ legal literacy program, which educates seniors on various legal matters.  In addition, he and his family are very involved with the Burlington Back 40 4H Club and the Racine County Fair. 

To keep a balance in his life, Tim finds solace as an avid outdoorsman and a member of the Pishtaka Wildlife Society. Tim provides leadership in his interest of conservation by serving on the committee of the Fox River Chapter of Wings Over Wisconsin.

A remarkable accomplishment for Tim was the perseverance and grit he demonstrated in overcoming a broken neck injury playing football during his senior year of high school.  The doctors said he was “lucky” because most injuries like his result in paralysis from the neck down.  He had to endure halo screws into his head, a body cast, and neck brace for many months.  Tim recalls feeling scared and angry, but this life-altering event taught him graciousness, tenacity, and integrity. His mantra became and still is “Fight the Good Fight” as nothing good is easy or free.  He still draws on these principles to give him the confidence to do his best and succeed.

Tim cites former BHS teachers Jim Hanson and John Oberwetter as being influential in his life.  With encouraging words, Jim Hanson routinely inspired Tim’s spirit to be tough during his recovery.  John Oberwetter helped Tim write a powerful essay about him surviving his broken neck so Tim would never forget its impact.  Now when Tim speaks at schools, he always conveys that the ability to communicate both orally and in writing is tantamount to success.  

Tim is happily married to his wife Mary Therese and has two daughters Grace, and Lily.
 

Marilee Hoffman - Class of 1971

Innovative BASD Physical and Health Educator

After graduating Burlington High School in 1971, Marilee Hoffman obtained her B.S. in Physical Education, Health, & Coaching from UW - River Falls that then began her 36 successful years of teaching Physical and Health Education with 31 of those years at Karcher Middle School. She earned her M.A. in Teaching from Aurora University (2000) and 46+ more credits, including technology courses.

Besides touching the lives of her many students in classes (evident by her Kohl Fellowship Award in 2010 and student/staff testimony), Marilee has been an innovative leader who has made a significant impact on the BASD school district. She has been a Leadership Team member, a former department head, and a BASD Wellness Committee member. Throughout the years, she also advised/coached the following extracurricular activities: Cross Country, Bowling, Volleyball, Cheerleading, Intramural Basketball, and Student Council where she helped write a Youth As Resources (YAR) grant for an all-school community cleanup project.

Notably, Marilee served over 10 years as the President of Southeastern Wisconsin Health and Physical Education Association (SEWHPEA), a group that focuses on helping to create effective Phy.Ed. & Health teachers.  She brought back her desire to improve herself as a teacher and assist others in our district by keeping up with cutting edge research, by training teachers (in technology, curriculum, student-led conferences, etc.), by implementing successful programs, and by enhancing the PE & Health curriculum. 

In our district, Marilee’s pioneering ideas and desire for physical education to not just be a class, but a lifestyle, was integral for switching from a traditional physical education curriculum to a true wellness program.  She initiated the purchase and installation of fitness equipment, initiated purchase of a Promethean board for health classes, implemented technology with use of heart rate monitors and other fitness tools, and chaired a committee to incorporate the Advisory concept in the school. Programs she helped to implement are the annual DPI Movin’ & Munchin’ Schools Program, FitnessGram (state recommended fitness testing program), a Zumba after-school program, annual All-School Field Day, Karcher Kick-off Days and many all-school assembly programs that helped promote important values.

In the community, Marilee has been a Karcher United Way Representative, a coach, a Little League & Legion Baseball fundraiser volunteer, an active church member, and a Burlington Historical Society member who has helped plan numerous events.  She is still an active volunteer in the community with Waller School and with fundraising events for the Burlington Community Aquatic Center.

She has been happily married for 40 years to Scott, and has two sons (Jason and Kyle) and four grandchildren. 

Beth (Reesman) Holloway, Ph.D – Class of 1988

As Director of the Women in Engineering Program and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of Engineering at Purdue University, it is Beth’s goal to motivate, support and retain undergraduate students in engineering disciplines.  As her advanced education in engineering is rare for women, Beth takes a special interest in advocating for women to join an engineering field and for young girls to play with STEM toys to help break current gender divides.  She accomplishes this through researched published papers, presentations and active involvement as chair and member of ASEE, past president and board member of WEPAN, and advisor to the Purdue Society of Women Engineers and Phi Sigma Rho Sorority, in which this work has earned her numerous honors and awards. 

 

John F. Holzrichter, Ph.D – Class of 1959

As a Stanford Ph.D. Physicist, John F. Holzrichter has led a remarkable life specializing in Optical Physics and Lasers.  At Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, he and his team built a sequence of increasingly powerful fusion lasers called – Janus, Argus, Shiva, Novette, Nova, and the now working powerful NIF laser whose 192 laser beams create temperatures and pressures similar to those that exist only in the cores of stars, giant planets, and nuclear weapons.  John has published over 150 documents and lectures on lasers, fusion, force microscopy, research management, and speech recognition. His work in new science and technology keeps him engaged with 12 patents issued with four in preparation and participation in five companies. Also, he is notable as President Emeritus of Fannie and John Hertz Foundation for 10 years.

 

Florence Marguerite Patterson – Class of 1893

As a World War I Chief Nurse in Roumania and Paris and Assistant Director of Civilian Relief, Florence earned the French Medal of Honor for Epidemics, the Japanese Red Cross’s special Florence Nightingale medal, and the Regina Maria Cross.  In addition, she was the first president of the Burlington Public Health Association, chair of the Burlington Red Cross Chapter, and General Director of the Community Health Association in Boston.  She is an educated, caring humanitarian who is also notable for her work investigating Native American health services in Indian country which shed light on unjust treatment.   

 

Carl Rubach – Class of 1933

As Burlington’s first Eagle Scout and an outstanding scout leader, Carl organized and became skipper of a Sea Scout ship and rescue unit before becoming the second captain and an honorary member of the Burlington Rescue Squad.  Through DeMolay International, he earned the Degree of Chevalier.  Active in the Burlington community, Carl was a member of the Burlington Fire Department, president of the Burlington Little League, member and contributor to the Burlington Historical Museum, owner of two local businesses (Carl’s Tog Shop and The Sportmart), Burlington Kiwanis Civic Band drummer, clock repairer, restorer of old cars for local parades, and a resident magician.  
 

Charles Roy McCanna – Class of 1900

C. Roy McCanna, who grew up and lived in Burlington all of his life, was a Burlington “institution.”  A businessman, philanthropist, and community leader, Mr. McCanna was also a 28 year member and two term chairman of the University of Notre Dame’s board of lay trustees, a recipient of an honorary doctor of law degree from Notre Dame, and a member of the board of directors of the Marquette University School of Medicine.  

 

Paul E. Bauman – Class of 1987

Colonel Paul E. Bauman serves in the United States Air Force as the Commander of the 319th Air Base Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota and is a rated Command Pilot with over 3,800 flight hours in five different aircraft.  He has applied his leadership and professionalism in combat, worldwide strategic airlift, and humanitarian airlift missions on 6 continents.  Colonel Bauman has flown over 70 missions into Afghanistan and Iraq in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

Tammy (Volgelman) Brever – Class of 1971

Currently an employee of Burlington High School for the past 24 years Tammy Brever is a model of Servant Leadership through her dedicated service to our community and its youth.  She serves as the leader of Burlington’s Back 40 4-H Club, Racine County Fair Board of Directors, Superintendent at Racine County Fair, and Chairwomen of the Entertainment Committee of the Racine County Fair. 

Dawn Dundore Hart – Class of 1981

Associate Vice President of AECOM, global architecture, engineering, and consulting firm; LEED Accredited Architect

Upon graduating from Burlington High School, Dawn Dundore Hart attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she earned both her Bachelor of Science degree and her Masters of Architecture degree. While in college, she spent a semester studying in Paris, France at the E’cole Speciale D’ Architecture.

Within her profession, Dawn Dundore Hart has worked on various interior architecture and designprojects, including courthouses in Arizona and California and the first co-educational university in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. As a LEED Accredited professional, Dawn believes it is important to save our natural resources and is doing her part in making the world a better place for the world’s children. Dawn has been published in the 2002 Today’s Arizona Woman and will be featured in the 2011 Who’s Who in Business publication of AZ Magazine as the AECOM highest-ranking woman.

One of her favorite community service organizations is Habitat for Humanity, as she is able to lend her expertise to help eliminate homelessness in our world. She finds working on construction sites to be amazing and rewarding. In addition, Dawn is an active member of St. Theresa Catholic Church, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and a sous chef, and serving meals to those who are less fortunate.

Dawn Dundore Hart is a fervent believer in quality education and appreciated growing up in Burlington, where she was fortunate to have had many great opportunities. She has made every opportunity to do the same for her children and others reflecting, “We owe this to our children.” She chose a profession that had traditionally been male-dominated - something that has changed drastically over the years. “I am proud to be a woman and an architect.”

In addition to all of her professional and community service accomplishments, Dawn Dundore Hart considers her most important accomplishment to be her marriage to Tom and their two wonderful children, Rachel and Ian.

Favorite memory as a student at BHS: “ I had a wonderful high school experience and was active in NHS, Student Council, JV tennis, drama club, and yearbook staff. Dean Dalton and I ran as Co-Presidents of our senior class. It was a great way to share the responsibilities. I have remained close friends with many of my BHS classmates. I had many great teachers while at BHS.”

 

Edwin Ruthven Smith – Class of 1863

Soldier; teacher; principal of Burlington Union School; founder of Wisconsin Teacher’s Association; Superintendent of Schools for Manitowoc County

Edwin Ruthven Smith’s father was one of the first four men who came to Burlington in 1936 to make their claims. His birthplace still stands: the second cobblestone house on the north side of Hyw. 11, just beyond White River. Edwin was the first pupil to enter the doors of the Burlington Union School house, now known as the Lincoln School. He would have been a member of the first graduating class, but, like
most of his male classmates, he joined the Union Forces in 1862.

He served with Company A of the first Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, stationed near Washington, DC. During his service, he met Abraham Lincoln twice, once while visiting the White House and again at Fort DeRussy where both Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward took a drink from Edwin’s canteen.

When he returned to Burlington, he continued his studies and became a teacher in Waterford and East Troy. In 1872, he was hired as principal of Burlington Union School. During his eleven-year tenure he stabilized the school system that had gone through extended turmoil, including abandonment of the high school course and turnover in leadership that saw thirteen principals in as many years. In 1875, the state legislature passed the Free School Law, which provided that schools that organized and conducted education under the law would receive half the cost of instruction, up to $500.00 per year. Graduates would then be eligible for admission to the University of Wisconsin. Edwin Smith led that endeavor.

According to Harriet Dyer Norton, one of his classmates, Edwin was far ahead of most educators of his day in his realization and estimation of the value of teaching music, nature study, and literature in schools. “Fortunate indeed for the community that he returned as a teacher for perhaps no other man could have been found who possessed just those qualities needed during that formation period, who could have been so successful and at the same time so simply, quietly, and unobtrusively carried out his advanced ideas; he understood the people so well, he had the gift of patience, he lacked sordid ambition and worldly motives. Added to his many other good qualities he had a remarkable quality for making friends and binding them to him in unswerving loyalty. Scattered everywhere from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast he had friends. Wherever he went in his travels he found old friends glad to meet him and to extend a cordial greeting.”

Edwin Smith died Feb 13, 1917. He rests next to his wife, May Dickerman Smith, at Burlington Cemetery.

 

Erik Hellum – Class of 1983

Senior Vice President for Townsquare Media LLC; President and Part Owner of GAP West Broadcasting II LLC; Vice President/General Manager of KTAR /KPKX/KMVP - AM/FM in Phoenix; Vice President/Market Manager of WIL/WRTH in St. Louis; Regional Vice President of Sales, AMFM Inc.; Executive Vice President of Clear Channel Group Sales; various senior positions at KATZ Radio

From the moment that he walked into the on-air studio at WBSD and had an opportunity to go on the air, Erik Hellum knew what he wanted to do with his life. The combination of the magic of radio, the intimacy of connecting with an audience, the importance of making a real connection with the community, and the discovery of sharing great music got him hooked from the start.

 

Mr. Erik Hellum earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1987, and is currently the Senior Vice President for Townsquare Media, overseeing 171 radio stations in 35 markets. Previously, he was President of Gap Broadcasting, II LLC, which was acquired by Townsquare Media in Aug of 2010. He is a member of the National Association of Broadcasters, the Radio Advertising Bureau,
and the Arizona Broadcasters Association where he served as the Vice Chairman.

Erik Hellum’s leadership helped to create one of the first and most successful news/talk stations on FM, and built Phoenix’s first successful sports talk station on KTAR-AM. This accomplishment drew the attention of the National Association of Broadcasters, who awarded Erik with the Crystal Award for Community Service.

As a member of the board of directors of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Mr. Hellum has assisted in raising awareness and funds necessary to create and build the museum. As a board member of the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, he helped to raise awareness and funds to create and build the new state of the art journalism school located in downtown Phoenix. The Cronkite School is recognized as one of the top five journalism schools in the nation.

According to Mr. Hellum, his greatest accomplishments have been his marriage to his wife, Jennifer; their two sons, Luke and Noah; and the strength and closeness of their family.

Favorite memory as a student at BHS: “I was fortunate to have many wonderful English and history teachers, including Wade Boughmann, Ken Morrall, Judy Dalton, John Oberwetter, Alice Petracchi, and others. These great teachers helped me shape and communicate my thoughts, open my mind, make new connections, and, most of all, love the process of learning: all skills that helped me in college, business,
and life.”

 

James Bauman – Class of 1961

President of M & I Bank after serving as bookkeeper, teller, mortgage officer, commercial loan officer, and Branch Bank Manager; Certified Financial Planner; Manager of Finance for Love, Inc. a non profit organization dedicated to helping those less fortunate; Music Minister at St. Charles Catholic Parish

Jim Bauman is the consummate self-made man. He began his career in banking as a bookkeeper and teller. He took numerous banking courses, attended a commercial lending course in Oklahoma, and another at Harvard University in Boston. He was especially interested in financial planning and did extensive studying in investing, eventually becoming a certified financial planner. This drive did not go
unnoticed at the bank, as he earned several promotions before finally being named President of M&I Bank.

Perhaps Jim Bauman’s greatest gift has been his selfless desire to be of service to others. For the past 50 years the Burlington Area Community has been blessed with his generosity of time and talent. He has been a member of several service organizations, including Jaycees and Rotary. Mr. Bauman was the secretary and president of Kiwanis and was the treasurer of the Chocolate City Festival for several years. He was a member of the Memorial Hospital Community Foundation Board for ten years and served as the president of the Board. As business manager for St. Charles Parish, Mr. Bauman oversees all of the finances for the parish. He has also served as the Chairman of the Finance Committee and Trustee for several years.

In addition to volunteering his skills to these many community-based organizations, Mr. Bauman is the volunteer Treasurer for a non-profit organization called “Together International.” This organization helps provide necessities in third world countries throughout our world. One example was the digging of two water wells in Nicaragua.

Mr. Bauman is a self-taught handyman who has remodeled two houses and did major parts of three other houses. He is a musician, playing both keyboard and guitar in numerous dance bands, including a family band with his wife and children. He and his wife volunteer as music ministers for St. Charles Catholic Parish. He and his wife of forty-six-and-a-half years have four children and nine grandchildren.

Favorite memory as a student at BHS: “I drove the tractor and wagon in the 1958 homecoming wagon in the 1958 homecoming parade. The float theme was We’ll dunk ‘em! We won first prize.”

 

Major General Davis C. Rohr – Class of 1948

Major General in the United States Air Force; 35-year military career, including fighter pilot with over 4700 flying hours; Assistant Professor of History at the United States Air Force Academy

Davis Rohr attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY in 1952; he completed Squadron Officer School in 1955; and earned a master’s degree in Russian affairs from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1960. His thesis was entitled Stalin and the Purge Trails. He then completed the Industrial College of Armed Forces in 1972.

After receiving his commission, General Rohr entered pilot training and received his wings in August 1953. He departed for South Korea in January, 1954 and served with the 51st Fighter-Inceptor Wing flying F-86Fs. In July, 1954, he transferred to Misawa Air Base, Japan and in September, 1955 he became a flight commander, flying F-86Ds and F-102s at Youngstown, Ohio.

After earning his master’s, General Rohr was assigned to teach military and Russian history at the U. S. Air Force Academy, CO. In 1965, he was assigned to the 50th Tactical Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He served as the squadron operations officer until transferred to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho in 1968.

General Rohr joined the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, in August 1969. In October 1969 he took command of the 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron there. He flew 245 combat missions as a F-100 pilot while in Southeast Asia. From August, 1970-September, 1973, General Rohr was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs, as country director for South America. He then moved to Headquarters Tactical Command, Langley Air Force Base, VA, serving first as executive officer to the deputy chief of staff of logistics, and later deputy director of maintenance engineering.

He became vice commander of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Bergstrom Air Force Base, TX, in July, 1975 and took command in May, 1976. In August, 1977, he took command of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah and was the commander during the initial introduction of the F- 16 air combat fighter into the U.S. Air Force inventory.

 

In October, 1979, General Rohr was named chief of the Office of the Military Operation, Cairo, Egypt,serving as advisor to the ambassador on military matters as the U.S. defense representative. In August, 1981, he became director of plans and policy, J-5 at the Headquarters of U.S. European Command, Vaihingen, Germany. Major General Davis Rohr was then chosen to become Deputy Commander in Chief
of the U.S. Central Command at Mac Dill Air Force Base, FL. The general’s military decorations and awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Purple Heart.

He was promoted to Major General in September, 1980 with date of rank July 1, 1977. Upon retirement on July 1, 1987 the general was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal by the Secretary of Defense.

Favorite memory as a student at BHS: “Making lifelong friendships and graduating!”

Henry Allen Cooper – Class of 1865

Lawyer; Racine County District Attorney; Wisconsin State Senator; Member
United States House of Representatives

Henry Cooper graduated from Northwestern University and Union College of Law before
being elected to the Wisconsin State Senate where he authored the “Australian ballot”
law requiring secret ballots in all Wisconsin elections, the first in the U.S. He served in
the US House of Representatives from 1892 until his death in 1931 except for one term
right after World War I, which he voted against the U.S. entering but which he later
supported once war was declared. As first chairman of the House Committee on Insular
Affairs, established after the Spanish-American War, he worked out a bill that gave the
Philippine citizens a voice in their territorial government. A bridge there was named for
him and at his death, flags in the Philippines, as well as Washington D.C., and the
Wisconsin’s First District, were flown at half staff. He was instrumental in having the
Lincoln Memorial built and the naming of Constitutional Avenue in Washington, D.C.

Described as “honest, uncompromising, cultured and urbane,” he was close to Presidents
William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and was an intimate friend of President William
Howard Taft.

A gifted musician and athlete during his days at BHS, Cooper was also a noted orator
with a delightful sense of humor, giving many speeches throughout Burlington and
elsewhere. He was the first to suggest the Soldiers Monument in Burlington Cemetery,
the first in southeastern Wisconsin, and gave the dedication speech in 1880.

Out of respect, both Houses of Congress recessed for an hour the day after Mr. Cooper’s
death, both houses appointed committees to accompany the remains back to Wisconsin
and the government provided the train for the journey home.

Charter Member – Inducted 2010

 

Richard L. Peterson – Class of 1960

Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army; Teacher; Coach; BHS Assistant Principal; Deputy
Chief Burlington Volunteer Fire Department

Mr. Richard Peterson lettered in football, basketball, and baseball, attended Badger Boys
State, and was a member of the National Honor Society. He graduated from the UW
Madison with a B.S. in Education and M.S. in Educational Administration.

Upon graduation from college he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant serving for
26 months active duty. Upon release from active duty he was assigned to Army reserves
and served for 23 years in Reserve achieving rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Graduate of
Army Command and General Staff College.

He began teaching at BHS in 1967 where he coached baseball and football. In 1973 he
was appointed Assistant Principal at BHS and served until retirement in 2001. Mr.
Peterson is an outstanding leader who possesses personal integrity and is a dedicated
professional who demonstrated compassion, empathy and genuine concern for students
and their families. His leadership ability inspired an extraordinary level of cooperation
with the police department and social service agencies.

He has been a member of the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department for 42 years and
currently holds the position of the Deputy Chief. He continues to serve our community in
numerous ways as the co-founder and President of BHS Scholarships, Inc., member on
the Board of Directors for Love, Inc., and a lifelong member of Plymouth Congregational
Church bringing thought provoking insights to various committees and boards within the
church.

Favorite memory as a student at BHS: “During my senior year, I learned to play
Sheepshead in Advanced Algebra on a snow day and was a member of BHS’s first
championship baseball team. My mathematics teacher for three years, Mr. Geiken
inspired me to go into education. My classroom association with Mr. Belden kindled my
interest and inspired me to pursue a degree in history and social studies.”

Charter Member – Inducted 2010

 

Mary Lynn Bird (Middleton) – Class of 1982

United States Army; First Sergeant, Retired; Community Volunteer; Foster Parent

In high school Mary Bird was notably a rebellious student. She did the minimum to pass
classes and even quit for a semester. Lacking purpose and direction, Mary remarked that
she was a source of “aggravation” for fellow inductee, then Assistant Principal, Mr.
Peterson.

Upon graduation Mary enlisted in the United States Army in the maintenance field as a
52C, Utilities Equipment Repair Specialist. Maintenance was still a male dominated field
yet during her first three-year tour Mary was promoted to Sergeant and in charge of her
own shop of mechanics. During her second tour of duty in Germany she was sent to
school and graduated at the top of her class in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare.
During her third tour she was the Team Chief in charge of intelligence equipment before
being promoted to Staff Sergeant as a recruiter working in community relations,
volunteerism, mentorship and public speaking. Later she was promoted to Sergeant, First
Class and served as an Inspector General where her tact, diplomacy and patience were
called upon frequently. She retired from the U.S. Army after 21 years of service.

Once retired Mary became the first Hospice Volunteer for the Geary Community
Hospital in Junction City, KS where she has been recognized for her compassion,
commitment, and professionalism. She has become the “go-to-volunteer” when difficult
assignments came up. She also serves on the local thrift store board a non-profit store
raising funds for scholarships and grants for deserving organizations. She organized
“Eyes for Education” a program that purchases eyeglasses for students in low-income
families. She also is a leader in supporting the local animal shelter. She plans and
executes fundraisers and is the web-master for the organization.

As a foster parent Mrs. Bird and her husband have provided safe and loving shelter for
countless traumatized children. She has provided love and understanding and a sense of
normalcy at a time when these children were most vulnerable.

She was in Berlin when the Wall fell and Germany was united and has set her goal to
give back for everything she has been blessed with.

Favorite memory as a student at BHS: “My favorite memory is walking across the
stage and receiving my diploma. I will always remember the teachers who helped make
it possible by reaching out and encouraging me to look within myself and not give up;
those who believed in my potential when even I didn’t.”

Charter Member – Inducted 2010

 

Eda Meinhardt – Class of 1883

Cashier/Co-owner, Meinhardt Bank; Community Volunteer; Philanthropist

Eda Meinhardt attended the University of Wisconsin but before graduating she was called
into the banking business by a family friend in Oakland, Nebraska. She returned to
Burlington five years later to work as a cashier at the new Meinhardt Bank, organized by
her father, which opened January 1, 1891. Due to her father’s death shortly after the
bank opened, the bank’s operation fell largely on her shoulders. In an era when women
in business were a novelty, she guided the bank through the trying days of the early
1890s and built a foundation on which the bank stood firmly through the succeeding
years.

Miss Meinhardt took a keen interest in the community and her kindly counsel was always
ready for a civic endeavor. Among her many interests were the Burlington Cemetery
Association, which she helped to organize and served as treasurer for over thirty years;
and Burlington Memorial Hospital, which she was a leader in establishing in 1926 and
served as the director and vice president until her death in 1943. She was a member of the
School Board when Lincoln School building was remodeled and re-opened as a school in
1911.

Any move for the beautification and improvement of Burlington had Miss Meinhardt’s
wholehearted support. It was her inspiration that brought about a connection of Kane and
Dyer (now N. Kane) streets and created the triangle where Lincoln statue has stood since
1913. Also, with her brother, Albert, she donated two parcels of land to Burlington’s park
system – the Henry Benson property adjoining Wehmhoff-Jucker Park on the east bank
of the Fox River on the south side of Jefferson Street.

While these public services marked her as an outstanding citizen, perhaps her greatest
contribution was her wise and generous aid she gave to the helpless and needy. Seeking
no return but the satisfaction of unselfish service, she was ever ready with kind and
sympathetic help for the many who called upon her.

Charter Member – Inducted 2010

 

Lawrence Wilets – Class of 1944

Professor Emeritus of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle; Author; Teacher,
Accomplished Scholar; Renowned Speaker

Lawrence Wilets served in the US Navy upon graduating from high school from 1944-46,
earned a BS degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison (1948), a MS (1950) and
PhD (1952) from Princeton University where he was a National Science Foundation
Predoctoral Fellow. After spending time with the Matterhorn Project at Princeton (1951-
1953) and the Lawrence Radiation Lab, Livermore (1953), he held a Postdoctoral
Fellowship 1953-55 at the Institute for Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen. He was a
staff member at Los Alamos National Lab from 1955-58, but spent a year (1957-58) at
the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. In 1958 he was appointed Associate
Professor at the University of Washington and Professor in 1962. He held a number of
visiting positions while at UW: National Science Foundation Senior Postdoctoral Fellow
at Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel (1961-62); Princeton University; 1969; Cal
Tech, 1971; Guggenheim Fellow while Nordita Professor in Lund, Sweden (1976) and at
the Weizmann Institute (1977); the University of Melbourne (1989); as a recipient of the
von Humboldt Senior U.S. Scientist Award, working at several German Universities. He
published two books and more than 180 papers on atomic, nuclear, and particle physics.
Of special note is a paper “A Method for Automatic Computation of Stellar Evolution”
which introduced the Henyey-Wilets numerical algorithm which is now standard for
stellar structure calculations.

After 37 years of teaching physics, and researching atomic, nuclear, and elementary
particle physics, Lawrence Wilets retired in 1995.

Lawrence Wilets’ influence and accomplishments since graduating from BHS can be felt
world wide as you enter his name in a Google Scholar search and find 17,000 entries, the
first being “Nuclear Surface Oscillations”. He has lectured throughout the USA, Canada,
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Spain,
Portugal, Austria, Hungry, Yugoslavia, Russia, Israel, Egypt, South Africa, China, Japan,
Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil.

Favorite Memory as a student at BHS: “I was Valedictorian of my graduating class.”

Charter Member – Inducted 2010

 

Deborah J. Rumsey – Class of 1979

Statistics Education Specialist and Auxiliary Professor, Ohio State University;
Author; Professional Presenter; Conference Designer

After graduating from BHS Deborah Rumsey attended the University of Wisconsin
LaCrosse where she earned her BS in mathematics in 1984, and continued her education
earning an MS in Mathematics from Illinois State University (1987), a second MS from
Ohio State University in Statistics (1990), and a PhD in Statistics from Ohio State (1993).
Ms. Rumsey has taught over 40,000 students so far in her career and has won two major
teaching awards – Distinguished Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence and
William L. Stamey Undergraduate Teaching Award, both from Kansas State University.
She has authored six books including Statistics for Dummies that has sold well over
125,000 copies worldwide and has been translated into German, Dutch, Russian,
Portuguese, and Greek.

She is also the co-founder of CAUSE, the Consortium for the Advancement
Undergraduate Statistics Education. This is a national group that specializes in helping
teachers of statistics across the country. Deb Rumsey received the Merlot Award for the
most outstanding contribution to CAUSE web (2007), and was selected as a Fellow of the
American Statistical Association (2006).

Along with her duties as a teacher and author Ms. Rumsey has designed and chaired
several United States Conferences on Teaching Statistics (USCOTS), a nationally
recognized conference.

Things in high school did not always come as easy to her as it did to others. She spent
many hours after school reading, memorizing, and studying to reach the high goals she
set for herself. Perhaps this is why one nominator wrote “Deb is one of a current group of
superstars when it comes to undergraduate statistics...She is a national leader in
reforming undergraduate statistics education... I find her to be a fountain of original
thinking on teaching issues – knowing how to dream but also how to pull back and make
things practical.”

Favorite Memory as a student at BHS: “I am especially grateful for what I learned not
only about music but also about character and integrity, from our high school band
director, George Werve. In 1978, the BHS Symphonic Band made a record album, which
we all got copies of. It is one of my prized possessions, and holds a prominent place in
my home. It reflects our drive, determination, and desire for nothing short of excellence
– the outstanding music we created was frosting on the cake.”

Charter Member – Inducted 2010