MONROE - Forrest Kubly opened the 57th annual Monroe Badger Days banquet and Sports Preview with a hug from University of Wisconsin women's basketball coach Lisa Stone and a standing ovation Tuesday night at Ludlow Mansion.
Kubly, Monroe, was named the Badger of the Year. Kubly was one of the nine honored out of 385,000 alumni nationwide.
Paula Bonner, the president and chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Alumni Association, made the announcement in a packed Ludlow Mansion.
"It was because of his depth, love and gifts back to the university," Bonner said.
Tuesday, the culmination of the Monroe Badger Days bash, was filled with golf, renewed friendships, jokes and recruiting updates from University of Wisconsin coaches.
The two-day event was started by Monroe resident Pat Kubly's father, Ray in 1954. Ray would invite friends and coaches to town for golf and drinks. Pat Kubly took over as Badger Days host in 1967 after his father died.
"It's not quite as dramatic as it used to be in the early days," Pat Kubly said. "We used to made a significant contribution to the budget. We are small potatoes to their budget now."
Monroe Badger Days chairman Sheila Berrey said about 200 volunteers from Swiss Colony put on the event.
"It's a little diversion from their normal day," Berrey said. "It's like a reunion. It's a good cause for Badger athletics."
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, Stone, Mark Johnson, women's hockey coach; Mike Eaves, men's hockey coach; Bo Ryan, men's basketball coach; and Bret Bielema, football coach, took turns updating the Badgers fans on their teams.
"I have a fondness in my heart for Monroe and the people I got to know in my first year at the golf outing as a coach at Wisconsin," Ryan said. "This is a tradition. There are so many cities that can't lay claim to what you have done so well for so long."
Matt Lepay, the voice of Badgers football and basketball radio broadcasts, agreed to donate his fee for serving as the emcee. He donated half to Monroe Badger Days and half to the Mike Muranyi Junior Golf Foundation.
"Hopefully, we can send them $70,000 to $80,000," Pat Kubly said.
Kubly, Monroe, was named the Badger of the Year. Kubly was one of the nine honored out of 385,000 alumni nationwide.
Paula Bonner, the president and chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Alumni Association, made the announcement in a packed Ludlow Mansion.
"It was because of his depth, love and gifts back to the university," Bonner said.
Tuesday, the culmination of the Monroe Badger Days bash, was filled with golf, renewed friendships, jokes and recruiting updates from University of Wisconsin coaches.
The two-day event was started by Monroe resident Pat Kubly's father, Ray in 1954. Ray would invite friends and coaches to town for golf and drinks. Pat Kubly took over as Badger Days host in 1967 after his father died.
"It's not quite as dramatic as it used to be in the early days," Pat Kubly said. "We used to made a significant contribution to the budget. We are small potatoes to their budget now."
Monroe Badger Days chairman Sheila Berrey said about 200 volunteers from Swiss Colony put on the event.
"It's a little diversion from their normal day," Berrey said. "It's like a reunion. It's a good cause for Badger athletics."
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, Stone, Mark Johnson, women's hockey coach; Mike Eaves, men's hockey coach; Bo Ryan, men's basketball coach; and Bret Bielema, football coach, took turns updating the Badgers fans on their teams.
"I have a fondness in my heart for Monroe and the people I got to know in my first year at the golf outing as a coach at Wisconsin," Ryan said. "This is a tradition. There are so many cities that can't lay claim to what you have done so well for so long."
Matt Lepay, the voice of Badgers football and basketball radio broadcasts, agreed to donate his fee for serving as the emcee. He donated half to Monroe Badger Days and half to the Mike Muranyi Junior Golf Foundation.
"Hopefully, we can send them $70,000 to $80,000," Pat Kubly said.
