2016 Hall of Fame Inductees

Career and Professional Accomplishments

• 36 year teaching career

• 26 years coaching at the Wisconsin Dells Junior High

• Curriculum Coordinating Committee, Team Leader

• Staff Development Committee, Native American Education Committee, Outdoor Education Program

• Unit Leader of the Individual Guided Education Program

• President & Treasurer for Wisconsin Dells Teachers’ Assoc.

• Insurance and Negotiations Chairperson for WDTA

• South Central United Educators Board of Directors

• Served in the Wisconsin National Guard

Honors & Awards

• 1984 – Wisconsin Dells Junior High Teacher of the Year

• Nominated State Department of Public Instruction Teacher of the Year Award

• 1994 - Scott Klug Friend of Education Award

• Nomination for Ron Gibbs Award for Excellence in Science Education and Wisconsin Elementary Science Teachers Distinguished Teaching Award

Community Involvement

• Wisconsin Dells Jaycees Treasurer

• Bethany Lutheran Church Council and Scholarship Committee

• 42 year career as pilot on the Wisconsin River

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree at Marquette University

• Graduated cum laude, University of Nebraska College of Law

Career and Professional Accomplishments

• Executive Director of Hawaii Family Forum, 1998 – 2008.

• Director of the Hawaii Catholic Conference

• Chair-elect of the Hawaii Children’s Trust Fund

• Vice President of Community Outreach at Focus on the Family

• Co-founder of Focus on the Family’s “Wait No More” foster care adoption program

• Author of the book “Wait No More” chronicling her family’s foster care adoption journey, Tyndal House Publishers, Inc.

• Adoption and Orphan Care Initiative, Sanctity of Human Life Department, Option Ultrasound and Community Care

• Board of Directors for March for Life Education and Defense Fund and Board of the Mustard Seed Ranch in California

• Spoke at the White House celebration of National Adoption Month and testified before Congress about “Wait No More”

• 3,000 families from 20 states have initiated adoption from foster care through the “Wait No More” program

Honors & Awards

• Speaker and panelist on topics of sanctity of human life and adoption and orphan care

• Featured in the Wall St. Journal, Denver Post, New York Daily News, Christianity Today, National Review and numerous radio and TV outlets throughout the country

• November 1, 2014, designated by the Gov. of Kansas as “Wait No More Day” throughout the state

Career and Professional Accomplishments

• Captain in the U.S. Marines serving from 1943 – 1952

• President of Riverview Boat Line for 33 years

• Oversaw and managed Upper and Lower Dells Boat Tours, the Original Wisconsin Ducks, Fort Dells, Riverview Park,  Pirates Cove Mini-Golf and other properties

• 35 years as Director of the Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau

• Former Director of the Bank of Wisconsin Dells

• Gov. Warren P. Knowles appointee to the Natural Resources Board  1969 – 1975, Gov. Tommy Thompson appointee 1987 – 1993.  Board Chairman 1991 – 1993

Community Service

• Alderman in Wisconsin Dells from 1966 – 1968

• Columbia Co. Supervisor from 1965 – 1970 & 1979 – 1986

• Elected Columbia County Board Chairman

• Captain in the U.S. Marines serving from 1943 – 1952

• Explorer Scout Leader

• Involved with planting 240,000 pines in Adams and Columbia County, purchased and held more than 700 acres for hunting and wetland preservation

• 60 year member of the American Legion

• 15 year volunteer for the Kilbourn Fire Department

Honors

• 1971 Game Commissioner of the Year representing 15 states and three Canadian provinces

• 2,000 acre Springvale Wildlife Area in Columbia County renamed “The Pete Helland Wildlife Area”