Hall of Fame

2020 

Dr. James Algiers and Dorothy Algiers

 Dr. James Algiers was born, raised, and lived in Hartford, Wisconsin.  Jim attended St. Kilian's School, In high school, he wrote for the school newspaper, was a quarterback on the football team, and ran on the track team. He graduated from Hartford Union High School in 1944 and later was drafted into the Navy. After a tour on Attu, an island in the Bering Sea, he returned to Hartford to work at Libby's Canning Factory (now the Schauer Arts & Activities Center) while attending college at Marquette University, where he earned a B.S. degree. He went on to medical school and in 1953 received an M.D. degree from the Marquette School of Medicine. 

After an internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Milwaukee, he practiced General Medicine for six years in Hartford. During that time, he married Dorothy Reis and they went on to have five children. 

In 1963, he founded Parkview Medical Associates. He witnessed the event of emergency medicine and saw the need to have an emergency room in Hartford. He established a lecture series in Hartford, inviting physicians from the area to come and listen to topics on developments in medicine. Hartford soon became a hub for continuing education in the Greater Milwaukee area, a move that brought patients and physicians into our area and established Hartford Hospital on the map. Under the guidance of Dr. Algiers, the Hartford Lions Club sponsored the first and second ICU's in the hospital, and instruction of nurses followed. It was the first ICU in Washington County in 1969. 

Dr. Algiers is respected, remembered, and loved by many as he saw his patients as fellow human beings and did everything he could to understand them as such. This in-depth understanding and amazing perception of their psyches and beings are what made him such an amazing physician and community member. Patients came back to him because they felt they were heard and understood. 

During his time practicing medicine, he also was active in the community - serving on the Valley Bank Board of Directors, the Lions Club, the Hartford Hospital Foundation, and St. Kilian's Board. 

He remained extremely active in the betterment of Hartford on many levels. He started the annual Goldbug Golf Outing to raise funds to build the 1022 Adult Day Care Center (now known as The Threshold). He continued to participate actively in the Lions Club fundraising efforts. He worked alongside his wife for many years on the Hartford Christmas Committee. He organized a group of retired friends and secured and distributed medical supplies to clinics in impoverished areas in rural Wisconsin. 

His career and community service have positively impacted thousands, and he well deserved the many awards he received including the Golden Circle Certificate from the Medical College of Wisconsin for 50 years in medicine, the Humanitarian Award - Distinguished Alumni Award by the Medical College of Wisconsin, and Lions Club Awards. He was named a Walter Zeit fellow, and he and Dorothy are members of the Campanile Society for their donations to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. 

Dorothy Algiers -St. Kilian School Graduate 1941, lifelong parishioner & endowed supporter HUHS Graduate 1945 Member of HUHS Drill Team, Band.  At HUHS, she excelled in academics, played the saxophone in the band, and was a member of the drill team. She worked at Jake Frank's shop on Main Street during high school. Due to the times and family financial constraints, she was unable to go to college. She remained in Hartford and worked as the secretary to the plant manager of the West Bend Company. She worked there until marrying James and then worked at Allen Bradley and Western Electric to help put him through medical school. 

In addition, she was a member of the Hartford Garden Club, Hartford Hospital Auxiliary, Volunteer Jack Russell Library, Board Member and President - 31 years Schauer Arts & Activities, Steering Committee Founding Member, Chair Building Committee Paul Harris Award Recipient Jack Russell Library, Achievement Award 2011 Medical College of Wisconsin, Walter Zeit Fellow Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Campanile Society.

Dorothy's family always came first, and she worked hard raising her five children, who also attended St. Kilian's School and HUHS. She encouraged her children to take part in activities that helped make others' lives better. Giving back was always a theme, and Dorothy used her time and talent as a volunteer for the Hospital Auxiliary, various charities, and at St. Kilian's school and church. 

She also helped to establish the Oil Painting Program at the center and participated in art classes for several years. 

November and December meant one thing for Dorothy and Jim Algiers - time to work on the Hartford Christmas Committee, which they were involved in from its start. Each year, they would attend planning meetings, participate in the parade to draw attention to the need for support, and eventually help with the two-day distribution. 

Scott Henke

“Mr. Hartford”, graduated from HUHS in 1981. After high school, Scott attended the University of Wisconsin - Washington County.  He then went on to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Fitness.

Scott was the youngest Mayor of Hartford and served the most terms (four) of any Mayor of Hartford.  Scott served on the Board of Directors for the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce. Being Mayor, Scott had a liaison position on the Board and served as the Executive Director of the Hartford Chamber for five years.  Scott was also a member of both the Hartford Lions and the Kettle Moraine Lions for a total of 15  years. During the same time period, Scott was also on the Board of Directors at the Hartford Golf Club in which he served three terms as President. 

Approximately 10 years ago, Scott joined the Board of Directors for the Hartford Historic Preservation Foundation, a position that he still holds. Scott also currently serves on the Hartford Union High School Board of Education as the Vice President. He also is an elder of his church, Divine Savior, and keeps stats for the HUHS's football team. Currently, Scott is the Washington County Treasurer.

Scott has been involved with many other things in Hartford:

• City of Hartford Planning Commission Member of Board of Directors, Hartford Area Development Corp 
• Advisory Board Member, Hartford Historic Preservation Foundation Board of Directors, United Way of Washington County Member of Board of Directors, Washington County Convention & Visitor's Bureau 
• Member of Board of Directors, Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives (WCCE) Advisory Board Member, City of Hartford Alderperson, 1st District, City of Hartford Rec Dept Golf Coach, and Hartford Golf Club President. 

Scott was awarded the UWWC-1999 Outstanding Alumnus and 2009 Hartford Achievement Award from the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce.

Scott has helped attract and hire school superintendents, helped pave the way for such projects as the Cobblestone Hotel and the Rincon apartments. He has created new events such as the Wednesday Night Market and Iced on Main. His dedication and focus on creating a positive impact are unparalleled in this area. Scott has unselfishly dedicated his personal and professional life to the Hartford community. His success has been Hartford's success.

John Spielmann

John Spielmann, graduated from HUHS in 1955. John Spielmann was born in the city of Hartford in 1939. He spent much of his career working in the area of city planning and economic development first in the City of Erie, Pennsylvania for three years and then serving the City of Hartford from 1974-2003. During this time, John contributed greatly to the development of the Greater Hartford Community. 

John played a key role in attracting the Quad/Graphics Company's fourth Wisconsin plant to Hartford 

A major role in establishing and fostering the Hartford Area Development Corporation in its multiple economic development efforts over three decades, resulting in the fostering of 2000+ jobs in Hartford, and the annexation of 1,000 acres to the City.  Volunteer EMT-D member of the Hartford Emergency squad, including three years as Chief.  John was a major supporter of Hartford downtown renovation, Harthaven Senior Housing, Millpond redevelopment, Recreation Center relocation, establishing the Hartford Taxi Service and the Pike Lake Utility District, and other major projects accomplished between 1974 and the present.  He played a key role in "Saving the Schwartz" (Zivko's Ballroom), facilitating the start-up of the Schauer Arts and Activity Center, fostering Hartford's first Day Care Center, and upgrade of the Wisconsin Automotive Museum.

John was elected Chairperson of the HUHS Board Annual Electors Meeting, 15+ years beginning in the 1990s.  He was a Town of Erin Board of Review member 10+ years, and Election Poll Worker for 6+ elections.  John has been a Hartford Rotarian 34+years, including the following: 

Served multiple terms as Secretary, Treasurer, and Board Member. Served multiple terms as President and Secretary of the Hartford Rotary Foundation.  He played a key role in Rotary fostering the construction of twenty-three VISION homes (one each school year) in Hartford and served as a translator and medical support on four ten-day Southeast Wisconsin Rotary missions to Guatemala promoting health care and clean water in the pueblo of Oliveros in rural southwest Guatemala.  John was a  Host family for a half dozen international students attending HUHS as well.

Internationally, John was an Assistant Professor of English and Linguistics, including curriculum writing, University of the East, Cumana, Venezuela, Lay Missioner, primarily in economic development, Catholic Archdiocese of Yucatan, Mexico. Board Member of the Comunidad de Amigos NPO in support of transitional housing and support services for migrant workers, including the construction of the 16 unit Comunidad del Sol complex in Hartford. Member and Officer, Hartford-Matagalpa Partners of the America and related Nicaraguan and Wisconsin Partners intercultural efforts, including Advisor at international gatherings. Volunteered as a tutor for a half dozen limited English language speakers in Hartford. including helping two green-card-holders prepare for and obtain U.S. citizenship.