Name/Title
Waupun Hockey Association, Inc.Scope and Content
Historical information on Waupun Hockey Association, Inc. for 1976 Bicentennial Celebration in Waupun, WI.
*Facts are typed and was scanned with mistakes, if any, left uncorrected.
WAUPUN HOCKEY ASSOCIATION, INC. HISTORY
The Waupun Hockey Association was officially incorporated on December 1, 1964, as a charitable non-profit organization. Initial directors were: Robert Rompre, Robert Bentley, James Rehbein, William Byron, and William Miles.
The object of the association is to promote and develop the sport of amateur hockey for all youth who wish to participate in the City of Waupun and surrounding areas.
Membership in the association is open to all adults who are interested in promoting ice hockey and ice related activities in the Waupun area.
The present officers and directors of the Waupun Hockey Association are: President-Robert Bentley, Vice President-Gene Lambert, Jr., Secretary- William Byron, Treasurer-Donald Dvorak, Directors-Carl Hansen, Daryle Miller, John Tomassoni, E. John Gysbers, Orville Schulz, and Ronald Giannoni.
The "World's Fastest Sport" was introducted to the City of Waupun by Robert Rompre, a local businessman and a former member of the 1952 U.S. Olympic Hockey team, in the early '60's.
After persuading the City Recreation Department to provide materials for the side boards, a group of volunteers constructed the City's first hockey rink in the winter of 1962-63. This group included: Harley Gysbers, James Grant, Jack Nickel, Elzy Cooper,Jr., Edward Uecker, Everett "Red" Steinhoff, Robert Rompre and Robert Bentley.
The winter of 1963-64 seventy-eight enthusiastic boys signed up for this program. Adult volunteers formed teams, helped flood the ice and supervised the program. The hockey program provides the opportunity for boys sixteen years and under to participate and compete in this popular sport.
From a crude beginning at McCune Park where the city crews set up the side boards each year, the program has grown to a point where a permanent rink was installed in 1969 next to a new warming house in the Spring Street Recreation Area. The second hockey rink was constructed by volunteers in 1972.
In March, 1970, a group of interested hockey fans in Waupun, and Bob Johnson, Hockey Coach at the University of Wisconsin, presented plans for high school hockey to the local School Board. When the Board voted to add hockey to their varsity athletic program, they became one of nine high schools in the State of Wisconsin to offer this program--which has since expanded to twenty-three. Under the direction of Coach Mike Cowan, a former University of Wisconsin player, and John Tomassoni, Waupun has competed in three WIAA sanctioned State High School Tournaments.
Hockey has gained tremendous popularity in Waupun. In this our 13th season, over fifteen hundred boys have competed in our hockey program.
Also, with the rinks conveniently located near the Waupun Senior High School, over one hundred and fifty boys and girls from the physical education classes use the rinks each day during January and February for Broom Ball Hockey and figure skating.
The past three years the members of the Hockey Association along with other civic minded people, have been raising money for a facility that would house an artificial ice rink for ice skating, figure skating, hockey, along with other recreational and civic uses.
Waupun's "Hockey Unlimited Banquet", chairmaned by Attorney James Grant, has been a tremendous success. Nearly 400 have attended each year and it has had fine support from our local business' who have donated many auction items and door prizes.
During the early part of 1975, the City and Hockey Association worked out plans for constructing a Community building.
Once plans were formulated an area-wide fund drive was conducted by our local radio station WLKE. When the 30 hour Radio-thon was completed nearly $60,000 was raised. This money along with $66,500 city money, and nearly $40,000 from Hockey Unlimited Banquets was used to start construction in early June.
During the construction, there were thousands of hours of donated labor by volunteers, along with equipment and materials donated.
The building was completed in early November and a dedication ceremony was held on November 15, 1975. This building was also the City of Waupun's official Bicentennial project.Acquisition
Accession
2016.0075Source or Donor
Waupun Area Chamber of CommerceAcquisition Method
Donation
