Circuit Judge – Local Historian

You recently completed a distinguished 29-year career as a municipal, county and circuit judge. During this time, you also gained wide respect for your dedicated service in many sectors of community life and skill as a historian of this area, of which your family has been a part for four generations. You earned a law degree at the University of Wisconsin and served with the Navy in World War II before establishing legal practice here. Appointment to the local municipal court in 1949 launched your judicial experience. A decade later, Governor Gaylord Nelson elevated you to the circuit bench. Chairman of the Wisconsin Board of Circuit Judges in 1978 and for three years chief judge of Rock, Green and Walworth Counties, you helped implement the concept of traffic school for juvenile offenders and draft the state code covering children’s rights, care and supervision. Concurrently, you have been an energetic civic leader, heading the city and county historical societies, the local Red Cross and Children’s Service Society chapters, and the Beloit Art League. Your bicentennial book, Pioneer Beloit, received enthusiastic response, prompting you to pursue a new career – writing history. Your Alma Mater proudly acknowledges your fine achievements by presenting this Citation to you.