Mar 27, 2015 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2013
Tom Klein was a 1953 Berlin High School graduate. As a sophomore, he was injured in a high school football game that left him a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. Prior to the accident he was an outstanding athlete in grad school and high school, earning varsity letters as a freshman.
Despite his injury he became a successful sports and news reporter for the Berlin Journal and the Oshkosh Northwestern for many years. At one time he covered Berlin sporting events in his motorized wheelchair attending all the sporting events he could until his death in 2002. Tom was named “Berlin’s biggest sport fan” in 1982. He was an avid computer enthusiast and he used a talking software program to record all of his sports stories.
Tom was an inspiration to all to never give up no matter what life hands you. He was one of the longest living quadriplegics in medical history. He is quoted in his book, Defying the Odds, saying: “For now, I’m enjoying life as much as I ever have and look forward to the next day no matter where I am or what I am doing. Until He calls me, I’ll try to keep defying the odds.”
Mar 27, 2015 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2013
After graduating from Berlin High School in 1973, Julie continued her education earning a Bachelor of Arts in Classics (the study of antiquity) at St. Olaf College and went on to earn her Masters Degree in Divinity in 2012. She has been an entrepreneur and business owner since 1980. Julie started her collectibles design as the co-owner/designer/sculptor at Good-Kruger Dolls Inc. from 1980 -2000, selling dolls both nationally and internationally and earning numerous awards. She has been a free-lance designer for famous companies including Ashton-Drake Galleries, Danbury Mint, Disney, QVC, HSH and Silvestri. From 200-2004, Julie was Senior Manager of Product Development for the Doll Division at the Boyds Collection, Ltd. Continuing her career in design, Julie then became the owner/designer of Inglenook Tile Design, LLC for which she earned the SCORE Business Development Award in 2009. Then in 2013, Julie started yet another business titled, Julie Good-Kruger Designs which is a design house represented by a licensing company titled, The Buffalo Works.
Along with Julie’s design career, she is also a Clergy counselor. Julie’s success as an entrepreneur and owner of several businesses came with many hours of dedication and determination. She is truly an inspiration to all.
Julie’s advice to inspire others includes two messages: First, I have learned that everyone will experience success and failure, if you live long enough, but they are both teachers. Neither one defines a life. Second, I have never accomplished anything alone.
Mar 27, 2015 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2013
This 1982 graduate of Berlin High School went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UW-Platteville. It is his sideline/hobby that has earned him the title of “World Champion” and gained him a strong reputation in powerlifting. Using weightlifting as a training tool during high school and college sports, he entered his first Bench Press competition in 1989 on a dare. The next year he competed in his first National Championship and finished 4th.
Since then he has been 13 times USA Powerlifting Drug Free National Bench Press Champion; six times International Powerlifting Drug Free Bench Press World Champion and has held multiple State, National and World Records in the Bench Press.
He has coached high school lifters and volunteered to judge at high school meets for over 20 years. He also shares his passion for Drug Free Lifting through numerous speaking engagements at schools and civic groups.
His advice to youth and anyone: No matter what happens in life, stay positive and never quit. Your success will not be measured by the number of medals you win, but by the number of people you can inspire to be better than they ever thought.
Mar 26, 2015 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2013
Connie graduated from Berlin High School in 1965 and went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UW Madison. She continued her education receiving a MSN at DePaul University, EdD from Northwestern Illinois Univ., Physical Assessment program at Loyola University School of Medicine, Labor Management program at Univ. of San Francisco School of Business, and Executive MBA from Harvard.
She has made a career of being a Nurse Professor at several universities; Dean at the Medical College of Wisconsin; Entrepreneur; and Corporate Executive. In 2013 Connie listed her present career as the Founder and CEO of Best on Board which assists hospitals and health systems with human resource issues and Chairman of the Board of DeVry Inc. she was the founding executive director of C-Change, a national organization focused on the eradication of cancer.
As a nursing and education advocate, she has received numerous prestigious achievement awards and positions. These include being honored in Who’s Who in American Women; International Who’s Who in Education; Outstanding Achievement Award in Healthcare Management, Women’s Health Executives Network; member of the Governing Council of American Academy of Nursing; and Senior Scholar in Residence for the Institute of Medicine, just to name a few.
Connie is also one of the most prolific scholars in the field, with more than 200 publications and several research programs to her credit. She served as editor of Nursing Economic$ for 18 years. She is a continuous inspiration for nurses, health careers and business entrepreneurship.
Connie inspires BHS students with these words: With a solid BHS education, hard work, and refusing to give up – Success is a Certainty!
Mar 26, 2015 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2013
After serving as Senior Class President and graduating from Berlin High School in 1956 and then Northwestern University in 1960, Jim Carey was not sure where life was going to take him. Then the war in Vietnam and the draft board helped make that decision for him and intent on doing his duty to his country, he joined the Navy in 1962, graduating from Officers Candidate School as ENSIGN Carey, and made two overseas deployments to the South China Sea and Vietnam aboard U.S.S. TOPEKA. He returned to start a business career in Chicago in 1966 and by 1972 was named President of the Chicago Offset Printing Corp. By 1977 he had started his own business in international military training to foreign navies. These international activities brought him national recognition and to the attention of newly elected President Ronald Reagan in 1981, who designated Carey a Presidential Appointee as a Commissioner of the U. S. Federal Maritime Commission. He was elected Vice Chairman of the Commission in 1983, reappointed by President Reagan in 1985, and then appointed Chairman of the Commission in 1989 by President George H. W. Bush, where he served until 1991. He is the recipient of the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission GOLD Medal Award for Leadership, the Commission’s top award.
James Carey spent 33 years serving in the U. S. Navy and later, the U.S. Naval Reserve, retiring with the rank of Rear Admiral. His list of personal decorations included four awards of the U.S. Legion of Merit and numerous other awards and recognition, ranging from those of the United States to world governments and organizations. He has also served “In Special Consultative Status” with the United Nations and is the elected National Chairman of a war Veterans organization of over 3500 USA military admirals and generals.
He has indeed “given back to America” throughout his life and has a long and distinguished career in the field of humanitarian aid and charitable good works. With his interest in the youth of the U.S. becoming future national and international leaders, he founded the Washington Scholars Fellowship Program in 1984. In 2008 he launched the Admiral Carey Foundation, “the purpose of which is to endow organizations, programs and projects that will help train young Americans as future national and international leaders.”
Never forgetting his hometown, Admiral Carey has named several Berlin organizations to receive Admiral Carey Foundation funds. He has also supported the FFA at Berlin High School, the Berlin High School Alumni Assn. and the Boy Scout program in Berlin and throughout the USA. He himself attained the rank of Eagle Scout while at Berlin High School and in 2013, in recognition of his lifetime of achievements and accomplishments, was designated one of 235 out of 2.2 million Eagle Scouts to receive the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award.
A thought to share: Win a few, lose a few, but suit up for every game.
Mar 26, 2015 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2013
Born in Berlin, Wisconsin in 1890, the son of a Scottish stone cutter, Donald L. Brown was an early innovator of aviation, having been involved with the development and building of aircraft engines in aviation’s early years.
Although he was a hard worker, it took Brown some time to find his calling. As a young man, he worked an assortment of jobs, including newspaper carrier, journalist, store clerk, assembly worker and steel worker. After attending Northwestern University, he started his engine development career as head of engine assembly at the Simplex Automobile Co., which later evolved into the Wright-Martin Aircraft Corp. He later became a factory manager for Wright Aeronautical Corp. (formerly Wright-Martin Aircraft).
Brown worked his way through various positions within aviation and became a co-founder and also President of the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Co. In 1934 he became the first President of United Aircraft Corp. Under his leadership the company became one of the world’s largest producers of airplanes, engines and propellers. He worked closely with the U. S. military in the production of power plants for airplanes doing much to maintain the preeminence of American aviation.
He was also very involved in his community (Hartford Conn.) with various boards, commissions and directorships. He was a member of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the Connecticut Aeronautical Development Commission.
It was stated at his funeral that two outstanding characteristics dominated his every act. One was his passion for orderliness, the other his deep and abiding interest in the welfare of his associates and employees. He was always tolerant of the other man’s views, and always ready to listen.
Tom Klein was a 1953 Berlin High School graduate. As a sophomore, he was injured in a high school football game that left him a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. Prior to the accident he was an outstanding athlete in grad school and high school, earning varsity letters as a freshman.
