South Central Wisconsin Shamrock Club’s 42nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration & Banquet
<P>The South Central Wisconsin Shamrock Club’s 42nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration & Banquet will be held on March 10, 2012 at the Voyageur Inn in Reedsburg.<P>
The highlight of the evening will be the introduction of the 2012 Irish Rose, Pat Hanes from Baraboo and the 2012 Irishman of the Year, Charlie Montgomery from Reedsburg. <P>
The culmination of the celebration will be drawing of the Marguerite Murray Scholarship Raffle for the trip to Ireland, a getaway to an Irish Inn, golf package and other great prizes.<P>
Irish Entertainment will be provided.<P>
There will be a social gathering beginning at 5:30 p.m. followed by a full Irish Dinner served at 7 p.m. A chicken strip basket is available for children 12 and under.<P><P>
Advance reservations are required. Tickets to the banquet are $25 per person and $9 for children. Mail reservations with check to: Gloria Judge at 2227 Winfield Dr., Reedsburg, WI 53959.<P><P>
For More Information contact Dick Fish at (608) 985–7068.<BR>
South Central Wisconsin Shamrock Club’s 42nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration & Banquet
<h2>Charlie Montgomery - South Central Shamrock Club 2012 Irishman of the Year</h2><P><P><BR>
Our 2012 Irishman of the Year’s ancestors owned over 72,000 acres in 13 counties of Ireland. Charlie is descended from Sir Hugh 1st Viscount Montgomery of the Great Ards, who moved to Ireland in 1606, and was a founding father of the Ulster-Scots or better known in America as Scotch-Irish. Hugh pioneered a massive migration from the Lowlands of Scotland to County Antrim and County Down. Over 10,000 made the voyage across the Northern Chanel to transform barren Ulster into an industrial powerhouse. Charlie’s ancestors from that point forward were born in Ireland, up until immigration to the United States in 1718.
<P><P> Charlie was born and raised in Reedsburg and has lived in the Reedsburg area his entire life. The twinkle of Irish eyes led to our Honored Irishman becoming 100% Irish in 1949 when he married June Howard and became part of the Fitzgerald family. Together they raised five children, Mike, Sue, Mark, Jeff and Rita. All are proud graduates of Wisconsin universities and known to enjoy a green beer or two as well. <BR>
Charlie graduated in 1944 from Reedsburg High School, and attended UW-Madison shortcourse in agriculture. He enlisted in the Marines in 1946 and following a medical discharge, was drafted in the Army from 1949-1952. He farmed for 11 years before a tractor accident started him on an illustrious career with Foremost Farms and AMPI. During this time he also served as president of the State Fieldman’s Association.<P><P>
One of the more enjoyable parts of this career has been his
involvement with Butter Putters of which he served as chairman for 26 years.<P><BR>
Charlie’s civic involvement has been, and continues to be a lifetime commitment. He was a member of the Reedsburg City Council for 14 years, nine years as president. During his time on the city council he was influential in developing Nishan Park. He is currently the chairman of the Reedsburg Police and Fire Commission. Charlie is one of the cofounders of the Reedsburg Butter Festival and a co-founder of the Reedsburg Area Medical Center Golf Outing. He is a past president of the Kiwanis Club; past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus; and a member of the Reedsburg Hospital Foundation Board for nine years.<P><P> There isn’t much going on around Reedsburg that Charlie has not had a hand in or been involved in creating. In his spare time, he coached football and basketball at Sacred Heart grade school, and was a member of the chain gang at Beaver football games for 22 years. <P><P> In 2005, Charlie was honored as a Distinguished Alumni of Webb High School.<P>
Charlie was a prominent and honored member of the Sauk County Board for 18 years. During that time he served as chairman of the Law Enforcement Board for 11 years; chairman of the Jail Building Committee; and a member of the Sauk County Housing Authority for 18 years.<P><P>
Not only does his family trace its roots back to Ireland, but also the customs, culture and history of Ireland have always been an important part of his family’s life. An old Irish work proverb says, “Make hay
while the sun shines.” <P>
In Charlie’s world the sun is always shining!</P><BR>
<h2> Patrica Hanes - South Central Shamrock Club Irish Rose of 2012</h2>
This year’s nominee for the Irish Rose Award has been an active member of the South Central Wisconsin Shamrock Club for 15 years. She has been a frequent worker at club activities. <P>
Pat Hanes, and her husband Bob, are residents of Baraboo and members of St. Joseph Catholic Church where she sings in the choir and is a member of both the Council of Catholic Women and the Daughters of Isabella. Community activities include past membership on the Board of Directors of the St. Clare Hospital Auxiliary, long time member of PEO and an active golfer at the Baraboo Country Club.<P><P>
A frequent traveler, Pat has been to Ireland and has kissed the
Blarney Stone. It is this act that leads her to believe she has a legitimate right to claim Irish heritage.<P><P>
After graduation from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, with a Bachelor of Science degree, she attended Graduate School at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She taught in the Amherst, Melrose and Antigo school systems. She left teaching to raise three children, Lori, Robert and Patty. This family has now grown to include two sons-in- law, a daughter in-law and six grandchildren.<P><P>